Convince me on disc brake option

jrar

Considering the Cannondale Synapse (Ultegra) which is approx €2600 retail versus the same bike with disc brakes (plus some additional kit like Cannondale crankset) for €3200

Major upgrade for me from an entry-level aluminium bike I've ridden for the last 4 years.

So many carbon options to choose from but have narrowed it down to the Synapse - but torn between going for the standard option or making the jump to the disc brake 2015 version

Comes with Mavic Aksiums as standard - choice of wheels for disc brake road bikes still somewhat limited but growing I believe

Thoughts ??

07Lapierre

Also are the brakes hydraulic or cable operated?

kenmc

longer lived wheels due to no wear on braking surface - I find that most if not all the wheels I scrap are due to sidewalls becoming too thin from brake wear.
no danger of overheating rims causing blowout on long descents if you're a nervous, braky descender,
more consistent braking in wet conditions,
slight wobbles or hops don't cause rub..

Ryath

Lumen has one though he upgraded to Ultegra di2

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=93880199&postcount=31

I was tempted to stretch to a hydraulic disc braked CX bike with my BTW but decided they are still a little pricey. I'll wait till the price drops a bit.

You consider the Ridley Fenix C30 disc @€;2500? 105 derailleurs but you could upgrade them to to ultegra for less than a €100, the brakes and shifters are the same as the cannondale synapse

http://www.revolvebikeshop.ie/8872/products/2015-ridley-fenix-c30-disc-105-11-speed-carbon-road-bike-in-black.aspx


The hydraulic disc brake set doesn't seem to badly priced could be worth getting a mechanical disc braked bike and upgrading.

http://www.bike24.com/1.php?content=8;navigation=1;product=102807;page=1;menu=1000,4,320,322;mid=0;pgc=11876:11877

Red Belly

Forgive the probably stupid question.....do disc brakes make it much more difficult to repair a puncture on the road?

rb

Big Eejit

Red Belly wrote: »

Forgive the probably stupid question.....do disc brakes make it much more difficult to repair a puncture on the road?

rb

No. Easier if anything, as you don't need to disengage anything except the skewer.

Lumen

Bit short of time, but quick summary of my last few weeks experience of the Synapse Disc with Di2...

Pros
- It loves to stop. I didn't believe it was possible to enjoy braking, but on a bumpy, off-camber, wet, downhill in commuting traffic the brakes are just awesome. Total control.
- The ride quality is super-super smooth.
- Di2.

Cons
- Looks-wise, it's everything I hate in a bike. It's just awkward and gimpy looking.
- The chainstays are long which means it doesn't feel as snappy as a proper race bike.
- I can't get as comfortable on it as I am on my Canyon Ultimate AL. This is surprising from a comfort-oriented bike. It's a position thing, not about ride quality.
- It is heavy.

Overall I'm very pleased, but I wouldn't be satisfied if I didn't have other more racy bikes to take out when the sun is shining.

Difficult to separate the Synapse from the discs, but the issues are somewhat interwined since the discs require different geometry.

disco1

I got the 2015 disc giant defy advanced. It has mechanical discs which I will change to hydraulic soon.
As for wheels , there is a fair few available to upgrade...I got the krysium pro disc for 1100 euros. Also an option are the shimano rd 830 which are basically disc c35 wheels with the carbon limanate construction.
If you can afford it go for the disc option .

outfox

Lumen wrote: »

Overall I'm very pleased, but I wouldn't be satisfied if I didn't have other more racy bikes to take out when the sun is shining.

This about sums it up for me too. Disc brakes make for a great winter/workhorse bike. But the weight, handling and looks take from it slightly. Especially the weight. And I have to say I don't really notice much difference in braking when dry (I might add here that my disc brakes are cable actuated hydraulic - if the bike you're looking at is fully hydraulic from the lever, it'll probably be better). Braking in the wet is superb.
OP, if you're keeping your existing bike, you'll probably use that for winter etc. So you may not need disc brakes on the new bike.

gambeta_fc

Just made the same exact same decision very recently, a good discount on retail price helped (-€400) and I went with disc in the end.

Got to take it for a test spin and the feel of the brakes won me over. Longer spin since has me even more convinced I made the right choice, it's a super comfortable bike that really suits what I was after, more interested in endurance than racing and I'm based in the north west so plenty of rain and bad road surfaces to contend with

I don't mind the look of it but I get where Lumen is coming from, it's probably a good bet that it won't appear in the "images of beauty" thread There is a matt black option available for both Ultegra versions in most other countries that I would have preferred but the UK/Irish supplier chose not to bring them in here.

There is a weight penalty for disc version, I think it's around 700g or the same as an additional 750ml bottle of water as one review I read put it. I would have liked a lighter bike but in a trade off the brakes won out for me. Even so, there are lighter disc wheels options currently available than the Aksiums and I'm sure there will be further improvements so I wouldn't let weight rule out your decision without a test spin.

Hope this helps, your mileage may vary ...

triggermortis

I'd agree with Lumen on he looks part as well. I have hydraulic disc brakes on my MTB and they have given me grief from day one. Not as impressed with them as I thought I'd be, even upgrading the disc size in front and changing from Hayes to Shimano.
I've had problems with bleeding, leaking pistons and trying to get the hoses to the correct length, without leaks, on a full suss bike.
I'm looking to get a decent road bike for the summer and I'm not even considering discs

jrar

07Lapierre wrote: »

Also are the brakes hydraulic or cable operated?

Hydraulic I understand

jrar

outfox wrote: »

- if the bike you're looking at is fully hydraulic from the lever, it'll probably be better). Braking in the wet is superb.
OP, if you're keeping your existing bike, you'll probably use that for winter etc. So you may not need disc brakes on the new bike.

Yep, never rains in Ireland in the Summer :rolleyes:

Seriously, they are valid points, and yes, my intention is to keep my existing bike as my winter bike ....so now I'm swinging back towards the non-disc version

jrar

gambeta_fc wrote: »

Just made the same exact same decision very recently, a good discount on retail price helped (-€400) and I went with disc in the end.

Got to take it for a test spin and the feel of the brakes won me over. Longer spin since has me even more convinced I made the right choice, it's a super comfortable bike that really suits what I was after, more interested in endurance than racing and I'm based in the north west so plenty of rain and bad road surfaces to contend with

I don't mind the look of it but I get where Lumen is coming from, it's probably a good bet that it won't appear in the "images of beauty" thread There is a matt black option available for both Ultegra versions in most other countries that I would have preferred but the UK/Irish supplier chose not to bring them in here.

There is a weight penalty for disc version, I think it's around 700g or the same as an additional 750ml bottle of water as one review I read put it. I would have liked a lighter bike but in a trade off the brakes won out for me. Even so, there are lighter disc wheels options currently available than the Aksiums and I'm sure there will be further improvements so I wouldn't let weight rule out your decision without a test spin.

Hope this helps, your mileage may vary ...

If I got €400 off the current list price, then it would be a no-brainer and I'd go disc brakes

Like yourself, my choice is based on the more relaxed geometry and overall ride comfort suiting my needs ideally

The standard Ultegra c/f is that light almost powder blue finish, the disc version is the black and lime green combo.. Neither would win awards but to be honest, I'm more interested in how a bike handles and suits my overall needs than I am about colour, looks, finish (within reason !)

Thanks for your input - good to hear direct from someone who gave themselves the same dilemma to solve !

youtheman

I'm in the market for a new bike at the moment. Wanted to 'treat myself' to Di2. Also wanted a carbon frame and a 'relaxed geometry' as I'm a 'MAMIL'. When I looked around I found that a lot of the 2015 bikes were offered with disc brakes. I was seriously looking at a Giant Deft Advanced Pro 0 http://www.giant-cork.ie/en-ie/bikes/model/defy.advanced.pro.0/20117/79360/ at close to 4 grand. Then I found the Rose Xenon CDX 3100 http://www.rosebikes.com/products/bikes/road/disc/xeon-cdx/ at almost a grand cheaper. So I'm at the 'will I/won't I' stage.