Cycling Thread 2

[squiggs96]

V brakes
Pros: Light, replacing pads is simple, fairly easy to adjust the V so it doesn't rub on your rims.
Cons: Brake cable can be annoying, basically won't stop if it's raining, especially if you have carbon rims

Disc brakes:
Pros: Will stop you in any weather regardless of rims
Cons: Slightly heavier than V brakes, brake rub can be annoying

There is zero chance I will ever own a road bike that doesn't have disc brakes again. They stop the bike quicker and more effectively than V brakes. On a long descent I am not worried about the rims warping or getting hot. If it rains they still work exactly the same. I am not worried about the extra weight. On my S5 it doesn't matter, as it's an aero bike for crit races. On my Huru if I really want to lose the weight in brakes there are so many other places to take it from (saddle, groupset, rims, etc.).

[Icantwhisper]

There aren't really any descents in Alberta that require them, I've been to California and was a little worried about the rims heating up but found at worst they were warm.
I'm starting to think these stories of tubes bursting from rim heat are either due to poor braking technique or marketing from disc brake companies.
As far as rain, how many of us really ride in the rain, maybe 2 to 3 times a year for me.
As far as weight, my EE brakes weigh 150grams for the set, hard pressed to make that up at a reasonable cost. Cost of a groupset and rims you may as well buy a new bike.

[Fuzz]

Well ya, I'm not going to upgrade. But if I ever get around to buying a new road bike, it's gonna have disc brakes. Total no brainer for me.

[flylock shox]

I've always thought the trouble with disc brakes on road bikes is that they offer more stopping power than the tires can really benefit from, particularly in wet conditions which is when you'd typically want discs.



I used to think the cantilever brakes on my old CX commuter were really weak in the rain, but after spending some time testing things out, came to realize it was actually the tires' traction on the wet road that was the issue. The brakes could stop the rotation of the wheel, but the tires didn't have the grip on wet pavement for that to make any difference. In short, I was skidding.



I would add that I'm also not a huge fan of any system I can't fix with simple tools on the road, so have never been a huge fan of hydraulic brakes for this reason (and cable-pull discs don't have the same modulation as hydraulics).



That said, like Fuzz, I'd probably get discs on a new road bike if I bought one, largely because that's becoming the standard on higher end bikes. But I certainly wouldn't "upgrade" my road bike for that feature. I expect I'd get way more bang for my buck by putting the money into a new set of rims.

[Icantwhisper]

Also as disc becomes more mainstream there are great deals to be had on rim bikes (Pre covid of course)

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by Icantwhisper

There aren't really any descents in Alberta that require them, I've been to California and was a little worried about the rims heating up but found at worst they were warm.
I'm starting to think these stories of tubes bursting from rim heat are either due to poor braking technique or marketing from disc brake companies.
As far as rain, how many of us really ride in the rain, maybe 2 to 3 times a year for me.
As far as weight, my EE brakes weigh 150grams for the set, hard pressed to make that up at a reasonable cost. Cost of a groupset and rims you may as well buy a new bike.

This sounds like a discussion with Cliff on why some households have more than two cars. Just because he doesn't do it, he can't see any reason why a house could possibly have more than two cars. When reasons are presented, since they don't apply to him, he still considers it crazy.

Do you 100% need disc brakes in Alberta? Of course not. In fact, you don't even need a bike. You can just walk everywhere, or even just never leave the house and have everything delivered to you.

Some people feel safer with disc brakes. Some people ride all year round. Fuzz and habernac ride in the winter, so just because you only ride twice a year in the rain, doesn't mean there aren't people who do.

Everyone has a different reasonable cost. My Huru cost me about $13,000, with disc brakes. A guy I know bought the same frame and it cost him $26,000, also with disc brakes. He has about 10 bikes like that. Some people feel like spending money on making their bikes lighter. Others still ride the bike they've had for 25 years. If you don't want to have disc brakes, don't. Ride what makes you happy. Telling people they don't need something when there are many others that like it is annoying. There is a gear grinder thread for that.

[Icantwhisper]

I’m not against disc brakes when needed, I have them on my cross bike for winter riding as I also rode year round before covid. I’m simply stating that the benefits aren’t all they’re cracked up to be and disagreeing with some of your pros and cons.
Of course I’m free to do what I want, as are you, but if I don’t agree with your pros and cons I’m also entitled to say so.
I can see great value in people using them due to arthritis as previously stated.

[Icantwhisper]

Originally Posted by squiggs96

This sounds like a discussion with Cliff on why some households have more than two cars. Just because he doesn't do it, he can't see any reason why a house could possibly have more than two cars. When reasons are presented, since they don't apply to him, he still considers it crazy.

Do you 100% need disc brakes in Alberta? Of course not. In fact, you don't even need a bike. You can just walk everywhere, or even just never leave the house and have everything delivered to you.

Some people feel safer with disc brakes. Some people ride all year round. Fuzz and habernac ride in the winter, so just because you only ride twice a year in the rain, doesn't mean there aren't people who do.

Everyone has a different reasonable cost. My Huru cost me about $13,000, with disc brakes. A guy I know bought the same frame and it cost him $26,000, also with disc brakes. He has about 10 bikes like that. Some people feel like spending money on making their bikes lighter. Others still ride the bike they've had for 25 years. If you don't want to have disc brakes, don't. Ride what makes you happy. Telling people they don't need something when there are many others that like it is annoying. There is a gear grinder thread for that.

My assumption was based on Ktrain going for a ride earlier this week in the rain and most people thinking it was crazy, even HAF.
Maybe I'm wrong and lots do ride in the rain, however I also know people with $13,000 bikes don't ever take them in the rain, they have dedicated rain bikes and those are always older bikes with rim brakes.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by squiggs96

V brakes
Pros: Light, replacing pads is simple

Disc brakes:
Cons: brake rub can be annoying

Interesting, I would answer the opposite from my experience. Changing pads on V brakes requires getting them perfectly aligned with the rim. Changing discs requires remembering to push the pistons in with a screw driver before taking them out, but is otherwise fool proof as there is no adjustment.

I've never had discs rub, but I think this is more a function off through axles vs. QR setups, which don't guarantee the wheel is in the same location after reinstalling it.

[Tron_fdc]

So is the cycling thread exclusive for roadies in tight shorts?

Last year in Fernie I got back into DH biking, and that has evolved into buying an Enduro Ebike seeing as I live at the base of world class trails. This is quite possibly the most fun I have had in a looooooooong time. I can hammer up trails in a fraction of the time, and the bike performs like a DH bike on the way down. I don't even notice the battery.

It's the future of biking IMO. If you put in the same pedal effort, you are getting 3 times the runs, which multiplies the fun. I think it's going to be a PITA if trails get busy in the summer though.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

So is the cycling thread exclusive for roadies in tight shorts?

A hobby that involves hanging out in car traffic makes no sense to me.

That said, I'm convinced that committing to DH riding is a guarantee off future broken bones, so I land somewhere in the middle.

I actually get sick pleasure out of the climbs and being able to make something at the end of the season that I didn't have the power/fitness/balance for at the beginning of the season.

I saw a guy riding an e-fatbike at Edworthy this winter, and it was hilarious to watch his headlamp zipping all over the hill sides. It covers so much ground. I'll save it until my body is falling apart.

[habernac]

A bike is a bike. We welcome all forms of cycling here.

[Icantwhisper]

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

So is the cycling thread exclusive for roadies in tight shorts?

Last year in Fernie I got back into DH biking, and that has evolved into buying an Enduro Ebike seeing as I live at the base of world class trails. This is quite possibly the most fun I have had in a looooooooong time. I can hammer up trails in a fraction of the time, and the bike performs like a DH bike on the way down. I don't even notice the battery.

It's the future of biking IMO. If you put in the same pedal effort, you are getting 3 times the runs, which multiplies the fun. I think it's going to be a PITA if trails get busy in the summer though.

It's a double edged sword, you get in more runs but it becomes accessible to more people and the trails get busier, maybe there will be more trails built though.
Most importantly, does your bike have rim or disc brakes

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by habernac

A bike is a bike. We welcome all forms of cycling here.

Except for gas motors strapped haphazardly to peddle bikes. Those folks can get bent.

[Tron_fdc]

Full disc hydraulic. I need the stopping power.

It seems like all the brands are coming out with their version of an Enduro Ebike. Back in the day I always rode Kona, Norco or Santa Cruz, so I went with the new SC Heckler. 46lbs so not a lot of difference between that and an old school DH, with similar fork travel. I've seen the E fatbikes and they're cool, but I think those were first to market. It's now turning more mainstream in lightweight models.

I heard K country trails were literally lined up last year. Any truth to that?

[Icantwhisper]

Originally Posted by Tron_fdc

Full disc hydraulic. I need the stopping power.

It seems like all the brands are coming out with their version of an Enduro Ebike. Back in the day I always rode Kona, Norco or Santa Cruz, so I went with the new SC Heckler. 46lbs so not a lot of difference between that and an old school DH, with similar fork travel. I've seen the E fatbikes and they're cool, but I think those were first to market. It's now turning more mainstream in lightweight models.

I heard K country trails were literally lined up last year. Any truth to that?

No idea, not much of a mountain bike anymore, I know the trails right now are pretty much closed due to the moisture, riding them right now just destroys them.
I'd believe it though based on the amount of hikers and people in general getting out to the mountains.

[Ryan Coke]

West bragg, which I am guessing is one of the busier mountain biking areas around Calgary, can get busy on weekends apparently. I never go out there on weekends though, I’ll typically go somewhere else that isn’t as busy. But during the week, I’ve never had it be much of an issue, including last year.

Fact that shocked me when I heard it, but west bragg is actually busier in the winter with the combination of Fatbikers, snowshoers, and skiers. There were a couple of days around the Christmas break that it was absolutely bonkers busy out there, with the parking lot completely full, and cars parked on the side of the road in for quite a distance. But we were coming in to do night riding as everyone was leaving.

Oh, and many of us do multiple kinds of riding....and I have different “costumes” for each kind. Tight shorts and jerseys for the road, baggy on the mountain bike, and warm (but not too warm) for the fatty. Just never mix the wrong clothes for the type of riding...

But disc brakes on all types of bikes

[RichieRich]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Except for gas motors strapped haphazardly to peddle bikes. Those folks can get bent.

We have a couple of "youngsters" in our 'hood that last fall took great pleasure in ripping up and down the main drive here belching noise, exhaust, and blue smoke. Am surprised they never took a spill. No conception either of road safety. I anticipate they'll come out soon like the other annoying bugs.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Except for gas motors strapped haphazardly to peddle bikes. Those folks can get bent.

Those aren't cyclists.

[RichieRich]

Originally Posted by RichieRich

Thought I'd post this here... because horse racing has been a crazy pharmaceutical experimental live-laboratory for a few decades from a performance enhancement point of view. Really not that different than cycling was 15-40 years ago when it seemed almost anything was ok, as long as it wasn't obvious and you weren't clearly caught out.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/kentuc...test-1.5420402

Not that I follow horses and doping, but this horse looks to be allowed to race at Preakness... just not with it's trainer/coach that did the doping. How does that work?