Just spotted: German Focus road bike with disc brakes!

unixnerd

I parked up next to a BMW touring with German plates in Inverness today. Hanging off the back was a Focus road bike with disc brakes! Nothing to say what model of Focus it was but it didn't look like a CX bike as it had 23mm tyres with little clearance for anything larger.

A new model being tested or something not available in the UK?

Didn't have a camera with me, sorry.

meanredspider

The 2012 Mares 4.0 will have discs but that is a CX

unixnerd

It wasn't a Mares, no mudguard mounts and too little clearance. That Mares looks like a superb winter bike especially at that price and with proper mudguards.

greasedscotsman

Kona do a road bike with discs...

http://www.konaworld.com/road.cfm?content=honky_inc

meanredspider

unixnerd wrote:

It wasn't a Mares, no mudguard mounts and too little clearance. That Mares looks like a superb winter bike especially at that price and with proper mudguards.

I know - I'm wondering if I wasn't a little hasty in getting the Boardman CX but it wasthe best thing available when I was choosing.

desweller

Orbea did one a couple of years ago (the Diem Drop) but it never caught on.

maddog 2

You don't see many Orbeas full stop though..... not in the UK.

There's a few companies dabbling with discs but it will take a while for this to influence the mainstream. The use of discs in CX will have a big influence so hopefully 2012 will see some decent disc forks hit the marketplace.

Once that happens I'll definitely convert my commuter.

Monty Dog

It's the limited choice of brakes at the moment - whilst Avid BB7s work fine, they're a hefty lump. SRAM are reputed to be working on a Red electronic shifter with hydraulic brake for next year which should have an impact in CX circles and beyond.

chiark

I had a quick spin on my MTB for the first time in months at the weekend... The difference in braking is shocking between my Cannondale with R580s and the rock lobster with Magura Julies... The Julies are 8 years old, I reckon!

I'm not saying I'd even want disc brakes on a road bike, especially when I can get to the limit of adhesion of the tyres with the 580s, but by gum they're good!

Cressers

I thought the use of discs in CX was prohibited by the UCI.

gilesjuk

I think discs are legal in CX now.

But the real downside to discs on road bikes is getting the wheels. There's few wheels with the mounts for rotors.

Not to mention you're up against the purists who think they look ugly. But if you get rid of the usual rim brake callipers there's more room for a mudguard up there.

Also your wheel rims don't wear out.

Cressers

And there's more tyre clearance/mud room. But in closing the can of worms that are rim brakes you open another can of worms that are disc brakes.

Ginjafro

The Focus you have spotted could be the "Focus Corrente Force" in their "fitness" range
http://www.focus-bikes.com/gb/en/bikes/bikes-2011/category/fitness-5/model/corrente-force-1.html

Redhog14

Discs are now legal as of May this year in CX, too late for me.

Concur with the comments on discs being too strong for Road bikes, last year during an adventure race I was following an MTB downhill on my CX bike a car appeared round the corner we braked and he shot past me backwards like he was attached to a cable. MTB's are heavier and have much more rubber to put down. Saying that smaller discs might be the answer, then all the roadies will learn the misery that is bleeding brakes!

Cressers

Or use cable-op discs...

maddog 2

I find the argument that crapper brakes are better quite funny.

balthazar

Redhog14 wrote:

Discs are now legal as of May this year in CX, too late for me.

Concur with the comments on discs being too strong for Road bikes, last year during an adventure race I was following an MTB downhill on my CX bike a car appeared round the corner we braked and he shot past me backwards like he was attached to a cable. MTB's are heavier and have much more rubber to put down. Saying that smaller discs might be the answer, then all the roadies will learn the misery that is bleeding brakes!

A road bike (with slick tyres) on dry tarmac will brake a lot more forcefully than an MTB off-road, because it has much more adhesion. The limit isn't brake power or tyre grip, but–quite literally–the tipping point: eventually the bike tips forward catapulting the rider over the bars, whatever attempts are made to prevent it.

meanredspider

In the wet, the limit (in my experience) is the friction at the rim for the pads. Good brakes, also, isn't just about ultimate locking but the ability to modulate the braking force. Having now ridden my CX bike (with BB5 mechanical discs) I'm certain that this is going to be a better wet weather set-up for me during the winter months. Add the that the ability to fit 35mm studded tyres but ride on the drops in the wind (and downhill) and I'm looking forward to the winter months more than I was with either my road or MTB bike.

Monty Dog

I've had a disc-shod CX bike for over 5 years and it's seen plenty of fast road use too - you can do things with discs that you wouldn't dream of with rim-brakes - very-late braking or even mid-turn if you fancy your chances. The power and modulation of discs would make high-speed Alpine descents very interesting - yes adhesion does come into it, but lightweight carbon rims are far better in the wet with brakes that work!

balthazar

Just to be clear, I've not expressed any preference about different brake types here, for whatever different applications. I commented only to refute the claim that existing MTB's (knobbly tyres, loose surface, etc) brake more forcefully than existing road bikes: they do not.

However, I'm steadfast that the limiting factor in slicks on dry road- whatever kind of bike, or brakes- is the tipping point. It's easy to lift the back wheel in such conditions with caliper brakes. At that point, there's no more braking to be had. You might get there a different way with discs, but you cannot slow any more rapidly, once tipping.

I think disc brakes have plenty of reasonable applications on bicycles. However, that's not the point I called into dispute.

maddog 2

balthazar wrote:

It's easy to lift the back wheel in such conditions with caliper brakes.

No it isn't.

You can get the back wheel off the ground when coming to a stop but I very much doubt you do that easily when actually riding a descent.

Discs have more power and better modulation, therefore control is improved. If you're literally able to hit the tipping point easily, and regularly, when riding then you're talent is something else.

I've raced BMX, MTB and big motorbikes in my time and can handle a bike but caliper brakes are way off being able to lift the rear consitently and controllably into corners IMO. You've got a chance with discs though, on smooth surfaces.