Disc Brakes Took over the Cycling World. Here's Why That Was a Mistake • Hacker News Board

Re: Disc Brakes Took over the Cycling World. Here's Why That Was a Mistake

#91

Post by davidw » Sun, Oct 22, 2023, 8:16 PM UTC

nikau wrote: post #67

davidw wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The limiting factor with a road bike is the tires, not the brakes. It's super easy to lock up a wheel with rim brakes.

>It's super easy to lock up a wheel with rim brakes. Yes, that's one of the benefits of disc brakes, the "better modulation" you hear about equates to finer control and not locking up the brakes.

Maybe, but I don't buy a bit better modulation cutting braking distance in half.

Re: Disc Brakes Took over the Cycling World. Here's Why That Was a Mistake

#92

Post by sleepybrett » Mon, Oct 23, 2023, 7:05 PM UTC

JohnFen wrote: post #86

sleepybrett wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They make cable disc breaks and cable actuated hydraulic disc breaks as well.

Yes, but I don't hate the hydraulics, I just like cables better, so I'm not going to go to the hassle and expense of changing what's already on my bike. My next bike, though, won't have the hydraulics. Just the discs.

I only mention because I've got a pretty heavy cargo bike (rad power bikes expand) that comes with cable disc brakes that's i've found to be a little under-spec'd and went looking for options. Fully hydraulic seems like a bit of a pain (bleeding etc) and found some 'hybrid hydraulics'. In different forums I found some people that were pretty positive on them so I took a gamble and ordered but have yet to install them, they just showed up last week.

Re: Disc Brakes Took over the Cycling World. Here's Why That Was a Mistake

#93

Post by seec » Wed, Oct 25, 2023, 1:12 AM UTC

davidw wrote: post #91

nikau wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>It's super easy to lock up a wheel with rim brakes. Yes, that's one of the benefits of disc brakes, the "better modulation" you hear about equates to finer control and not locking up the brakes.

Maybe, but I don't buy a bit better modulation cutting braking distance in half .

There is no real difference with a skilled operator but proponents of "the better gear" will tell you otherwise, forgetting that their main problem is in fact their lack of skill.

In the end disc brakes bikes are everywhere for the same reason 2 tons SUV are everywhere. It does not have much to do with real needs or actual real-world performance with skilled operators, sadly...