Rim brake road bikes becoming rare

byrnem31

Two things i dont like on road bikes which ive had on my defy, tubeless set up and disc brakes. Tubeless punctured up in the hell fire which didn't seal. Lidl hand pump fell apart when putting air in. Had to walk back with bike. The disc brakes gave me a bit of ongoing bother screeching etc.

Sold defy and have gone back to shimano 105 rim. I love the simplicity of older bikes, much lighter too. The canyon i bought for a 1/3 of the price of a defy advanced is 1.5kg lighter. (I know its 2nd hand).

I think discs, unless you are gravel riding are overkill on a road bike. Its sad to see so very few road bikes with rim. Bikes now are weighing in at nearly 10kg and cost 3k. They are like fashion items where every year you need the latest technology. 11 to 12 speed, wirelees, disc etc. Thats why i love my new bike, its simple and fun. You just jump on it and go like the clappers.

Will rim completely die out or will we see a resurgence of rim in the future?

IMG_20220514_155928.jpg

magicbastarder

Lidl hand pump fell apart when putting air in.

not something you want to skimp on, to be fair.

Large bottle small glass

Different technologies require different tools and skillsets, you seem to be lacking in both.

Chips Lovell

I'm pretty much resigned now to having to move to disc at some point. Additional expense and complexity for additional braking power I've never needed. I thought that a few comical wheel changes involving drills would create a backlash among the professionals but they've just addressed that problem by throwing out a spare bike anytime someone punctures, a luxury most of us don't enjoy.

When you think about it, the switch to discs is the paydirt for the bike industry. You need a new frame, new wheels, new groupset (or at least half of one). Everyone makes money, so there's no way they're going back.

Macy0161

Only thing is wheels should last longer, with no rim wear?

tbh the only additional time with wheel changes, at least with their team, is the fact they can't have the punctured wheel out while waiting on the mechanic.

I'm only tubeless on my gravel bike, and they're "tubeless ready" wheels, so I could set them up tubed if wanted. Biggest pain has been getting them to seat, but again, that's down to my lack of equipment.

ednwireland

only reason I have carbon rims on the road bike is because of disks, and I don't miss cleaning aluminium slurry of my rims, pads and frame.

byrnem31

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119083972#Comment_119083972

Good to see you have the intellectual maturity of a two year old. Thanks for the reply. Ive obviously hurt somones feelings because ive insulted their 10kg, €4000 ride.

Flinty997

I don't have a road bike. But I've cantilever on my MTB I use for commuting. I've had the odd occasion fully loaded where grit and water have got between pad and rim and I've had trouble stopping. like sandpaper on the rim. I dunno if you'd ever have the same issue on a fast descent on a road bike.

Mostly I set up rims or my cantilevers so I can usually lock the wheel if I want.

xxyyzz

MTBer here, disc brakes require very little maintenance. I bleed them maybe once a year at the most and changing the pads which is far easier than lining up the pads on a rim brake. They work as well in the wet as they do in the dry. I can't understand the reluctance to them. I've been using them for 10 plus years. It's comical hearing some of the arguments against them.

Large bottle small glass

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119084176#Comment_119084176

My road bike is a 2013 rim braked bike, still about 10kgs though.

I've used discs, both hydraulic and cable in at least four bikes and tubeless in 3 bikes. They require different tools and skillsets, agreed?

I wouldn't be playing the smart card when you can't do a basic repair on a 2k plus bike because you couldn't foresee the downside of buying a cheap pump..

byrnem31

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119084200#Comment_119084200

The last three bikes ive had before were disc and they worked fine for the most part. Ive gone back to rim and they work very well, even in the wet going down hill. I just think they are overkill on a road bike and have added 1kg or more to road bikes plus cost more. The giant defy advanced 2 2020 i had was a lovely comfortable bike but it was 9.5kg roughly i think. Road bikes few years back for €1500 in rim were well under 8kg and great for the hills.

monkeyslayer

On expensive carbon rims that you want to use often discs are the only way to go really, even the pads for carbon rim brakes cost too much and wear too fast.

Personally don't see the point in tubeless, for slightly less performance I'd put up with the inconvenience of carrying a tube or two and knowing I'll be up and running again in 5 minutes and that I'll be getting home.

xxyyzz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119084232#Comment_119084232

I ride up mountains on a 15kg mtb so my heart doesn't bleed for you 😁. Seriously though, I've been riding nothing but disc brakes for 12 years and recently picked up a second-hand roadbike with 105 rim brakes. It was like stepping back to the dark ages, the initial bite in the wet is non-existent.

GandhiwasfromBallyfermot

Just wait until Specialized release the new 'S-Works Tarmac Aero Featherweight Edition' with revolutionary rim braking technology that shaves 1.5kg off the previous years model. Then we'll all be back to rim brakes and the cosmic ballet will go on.

GandhiwasfromBallyfermot

But seriously if the UCI ever do away with the 6.8kg weight limit for road bikes then rim brakes are back in business baby.

Macy0161

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119084233#Comment_119084233

You still need to carry a tube with tubeless, well I carry one anyway, for tears that won't seal even with bacon strips. I don't have the wheelsets to go tubeless on the road - but when I did have to patch a tear on my gravel (it still got me home on bacon strips), I was surprised how many "punctures" I'd had that had sealed.

Peterx

The other of looking at new tech/marketing is that is makes formerly expensive high end bikes relatively cheap second hand.

A second hand ultegra 10 speed rim braked road bike is good value. And light.

The marketing pressure is real though. I used to fool myself that it didn't affect me but there I was on Sunday, riding my 10 speed rim braked road brake with 2 lads on newer sexier models and finding myself wondering when will I buy a new one..

It's worse again on MTB. I'm not that good technically and always find myself thinking I need different tyres, a bouncier bike....

ednwireland

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119084410#Comment_119084410

I picked up a cheap 26 inch full suspension mtb that's 10 years old. running formula r1 brakes just switched to 1x12. don't feel under any pressure on the trails 😁

byrnem31

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119084233#Comment_119084233

I had a set of hunt aero 33s discs and they were stunning. Sold them cause i had no bike and wanted to go back to rim. When i did have them on the bike though, i was worried id put a ding in the rim so i couldn't really relax on the bike as they cost nearly a €1000. Now i have a set of alliminium mavic askuims ones and i can thrash them about which is more fun as i dont care if i knock the crap out of them. So previously, i had a new heavy carbon disc bike with carbons wheels, yet im enjoying a 7 year older bike more with alliminium wheels and rim brakes. Back to basics for me, old school and im lovin it.

Chips Lovell

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119084294#Comment_119084294

They won't. They know where the sponsorship money is coming from. Same reason they allowed discs in the first place.

fat bloke

That Canyon is a grand bike OP but still only a relatively lowly mid level machine in its day. Imagine how good a top tier rim braked bike with top shelf components and a bananas-light wheelset will be by comparison. Now's the time to bank a peak rim-braked bike. I've bagged a couple of super-light-weights for myself and the Mrs so I'm immune to the new bike showroom-envy for the forseeable.

byrnem31

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119085298#Comment_119085298

I have a cube agree c62 ordered that im going to cancel as there is no hope of getting it this year. So i will have potentially 3k for a rim brake bike.

Would you get a decent rim brake bike for 3k? . Tcr possibly or would they be mid level also and not much difference from what i have?

GandhiwasfromBallyfermot

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119085461#Comment_119085461

I recently got a Ridley Helium with 11 speed Di2 and rim brakes for under 2.5k but I bought it without wheels. Bike was ex demo so only been ridden a handful of times and is spotless. You might have to be patient and keep your eye on the facebook page of some shops around the country but there's great bargains to be had at the moment on bikes with 'old' tech. My last bike had disc brakes but I just found them overkill and the benefits you get over the added weight were marginal so I sold it, mind you I'm 68kg so a lack of stopping power has never really been an issue with me.

Macy0161

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119085461#Comment_119085461

I have a 2017 TCR Advanced 1 (rim brake), and can't fault it except the standard PR2 stock wheels. Got second hand C60's on it now, and that's really killed any desire to upgrade I had.

fat bloke

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119085461#Comment_119085461

3k in the second hand market ftw! Get something positively stupendous.

Daroxtar

I specc'd direct mount rim brakes on the new bike I built up last year. Absolutely top drawer stopping power on carbon rims and under 7kg without resorting to ridiculous exotic components. I can't see discs being any better. I only ride that bike in dry weather and my other bike has aluminium rims so they're adequate in the wet.

magicbastarder

i can definitely tell the difference between my two bikes; one is ultegra 6800 rim brakes on zondas (with the ultegra pads), and the other is trp hy-rd brakes (so not full hydraulic) and you don't need to pull nearly as hard on the second bike to get full stopping power.

ednwireland

My old mountain bike had magura hydraulic rim brakes so I've been a fan of hydraulic brakes for 25 years. So discs ain't much of a change apart from the lack of rim wear.

Keep_Her_Lit

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119086036#Comment_119086036

I'm considering an investment in a decent rim braked bike myself, new or secondhand. Do you have any recommendations for where to buy secondhand? As for new options, the Canyon Ultimate CF SL 8 looks like a pretty good deal at €2.5k for 7.0kg with full Ultegra. Rosebikes X-LITE SIX ULTEGRA comes in at 6.4kg for €4.25k but seems to be end of line now with most sizes unavailable.

CramCycle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119089537#Comment_119089537

I have the X lite six ultegra, love it. Price has jumped 500euro and the weight is +/- 5%. For me it was definetly + and came in at 6.7kg on the button. Drop me a PM and if you can meet up for a test ride or once over you can try it out.

Magilla Gorilla

Bought my first disc-braked road bike last year. Have an MTB already. I don’t think there’s much additional maintenance on them and stopping power is excellent. I think lack of wheel rim wear is the biggest benefit to be honest. I’ve worn out so many aluminium rims….

I don’t rate tubeless as an improvement. Have had so many roadside stoppages waiting for my riding mates to put in a tube in a failed seal.

Electronic shifting is a far bigger and more useful improvement in my opinion

fat bloke

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119089537#Comment_119089537

Donedeal and adverts are the only game in town second hand really. Market is quiet enough at the minute, I'd say most people have sorted themselves out and are happy to hang on to whatever they have at the minute and just ride it for the summer.

But there are still some crackin bikes there if you're lucky with sizing.

New is a tougher nut cos stock in everything is low and they're aren't any bargains. I did notice that Canyon cfsl ultegra. That's a bloody great deal and a magnificent bike by any standards.

What size are you anyway?

I'd love disc brakes. Commuting in a lot of damp weather and 105 rim brakes are unpleasant. My pleasure cycling is mostly short jaunts around the dublin foothills and i can feel the limitation of the rim brakes very quickly and they are not at all confidence inspiring.

In neither situation is the limit tyre grip. I'd take confident, reliable braking over a slight weight gain any day of the week - going faster is nice, being safer is nicer.

MojoMaker

105 calipers are excellent. Stick a decent brake block in there - Swisstop Green or Yellow Flash - and it's all you need for any descent in this country.

Keep_Her_Lit

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119090461#Comment_119090461

Thanks for your reply. Most manufacturers would advise a 56-58cm or Medium sized frame for my dimensions (88.5cm inside leg, 179cm height). So probably one of the more popular sizes and hence quickest to sell in these times. Age is really slowing me down now, so I need something lighter to help maintain the denial for a bit longer! Ta for your advice, it's appreciated.

MojoMaker

179cm / 88.5cm is some funky offset!

Large bottle small glass

If one's goal is old school simplicity, the bike has been a solved riddle for a very long time; two triangles welded together with attention to detail in terms of sealing of bearings, quality bearing, wheel design and build etc etc were all possible and available long before the advent of

• disc brakes
• electronic shifting
• internal cable routing
• press fit bottom brackets
• innovative cockpits
• tubeless etc etc

All of the above add complexity and often reduce reliability and off course the cost to the end user (in terms of purchase price and maintenance) but are required for the continuation of the bike industry.

As far as I'm concerned they could have stopped at 7800/Sram red 10 speed, but of course it'll never stop. Pretty soon the bike industry will be convincing users they need something else.

I'd rather if I could buy a replacement 7800 derailleur, 7900 freehub or whatever but that wouldn't be good for Shimano's share price...

fat bloke

I've 2 full sram red tenners on the go and I'm going to keep them alive and kicking for as long as I possibly can. Only a few short years ago over 7kg was heavy. Reading a review of the new Colnago C68, best bike in the world, all the best components, 15 grand or thereabouts.. and its 7.2 kg or something

We've 3 bikes in the low sixes and anything over 7 is a winter bike! Manufacturers and reviewers can say what they like about aero and comfort and explain away the extra pork however they like but you can't hide it out on the road. It makes a massive difference.

I know this started out as a disc V rim but really for me it comes down to weight and cost. If disc braked bikes were lighter I'd be top of the queue, but the industry conspiring to tell me lightness doesn't matter a sh1te anymore, and bigger wider heavier tires on heavier bikes were actually quicker - pissin on my boots and telling me it's raining etc, and charging for all those extra grams at pick'n mix sweet shop rates! :).

Mr. Cats

There’s a lovely looking Canyon Aeroroad on Adverts at the mo. Rim, mechanical dura ace should suit all the luddites 😂

Whole lot of bike for the money in fairness

https://www.adverts.ie/26828299

cletus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119094800#Comment_119094800

Just over 7kg? For 3 grand? Pure madness 🤣😄🤣

byrnem31

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119094800#Comment_119094800

That's some yoke. Have to get my deposit back off the shop first before i start looking. I was out on my 2015 canyon today though after turning the handlebars towards me so the grips are nearer to me. I also got a new saddle and its even more comfortable now. Im in two minds now about getting anything at all.

magicbastarder

just weighed my merckx - 6800 mechanical rim brakes, with zondas on it. 7.9kg.

fat bloke

That canyon is nice but it's not a bargain. That was a cheap bike new - with 105 and the Reynolds wheels it was a bargain at 2600 sterling. So as a used bike albeit with DA on it it's pricey enough imo.

The current brand new aeroad sl with ultegra disk is available now and is 3900. But it's (imo) unacceptably heavy at 8.2kg for that money.

Mr. Cats

I think it can probably be bought for c2.5k (price reduced now to 2850). Looks like value to me compared to 3900 for new with Ultegra (albeit disc). Probably this spec if available today would be c. 4.5k new?

A lot will depend on condition and mileage on frame and components. If it’s fairly fresh (big if), then I think you could do a lot worse for 2.5k.

But, as ever, it’s only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.

DaveyDave

I have rim brakes on my carbon bike and discs on my commuter ebike. If I was buying a new road bike I'd be happy with rim brakes. With SwissStop pads I can't fault the braking power, although I think my cables need to be replaced as the lever feeling is a bit vague. The only issue I have with rim brakes is commuting, particularly in the Winter the rims would get absolutely filthy and I'd be cleaning them every 2 days.

magicbastarder

With commuting on discs, I found that the rear pads got contaminated quickly enough. To be fair, I was going past Dublin port on grubby enough roads.

Alanbt

ill be clinging onto rim brakes for the foreseeable.

couple of disc brake bike a few years ago and just found them more of a pain than rim brakes. Likely due to first time on hydraulics, but often had issues with noise etc. Rim brakes just so simple to maintain.

Have picked up a few groupsets to see me through for a while yet.

But another reason is aesthetics. I just find most modern disc brake bikes ugly. And for me a not insignificant part of the appeal of bikes is how they look. Rim brake bikes just look nicer imo

xxyyzz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119092950#Comment_119092950

Sorry but disc brakes do not "add complexity and often reduce reliability". MTBers have been using them for years and years, not to mention motorbikes and cars. They are extremely easy to maintain and in terms of performance I'd take them any day over rim brakes. If you don't like them, that's fine but some of the unfounded garbage that has been posted about them in the last few years by roadies is frankly embarrassing. The whole safety thing about razor sharp discs was comical when discs are completely blunt and the same cyclists were blissfully riding with bladed aero spokes etc.

Ask any mountainbiker would they go back to rim brakes and they'd laugh at you. Shimano disc brakes are absolutely bombproof in terms of reliability and performance. Rim brakes do a job adequately and there's nobody being forced to change but the disc brake hysteria of the last few years is ridiculous.

Disc brakes have more stopping power, better modulation and work as good in the wet as in the dry.

MojoMaker

...and are largely unnecessary on the road.

So we're all aligned I think?

Chips Lovell

I don't really understand why people get cross or sound offended if someone thinks disc brakes are unnecessary.

Large bottle small glass

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119103053#Comment_119103053

I've been using disc brakes on my mountain bikes for over a decade and I'm well aware of their performance and advantages.

Bleeding brakes, fitting hydraulic hoses is significantly harder than tensioning a brake cable, so yes it is more complex and difficult for an average ROAD cyclist.

What some SNIP posted about getting cut by a disc is relevant to my post how.

I don't know why I would ask a MTB rider, this thread is very specific to road cyclist and the increase in weight and cost from an unnecessary technology for most road riders.

People btw are being "forced" by planned obsolescence by the bike industry, such that rim braked bike market is very much reduced.

Most road cyclist would benefit from improving their braking technique rather than switching technology; that improved skillset will stand to them irrespective of the braking mechanism.

My current gravel bike has discs but other than not having to clean rims I managed to never lose control on my old cx Ridley canti bike on really lumpy off road rides; circa 1000m climbing in a 40km spin with lots of 15-20% gradients. Having to re rim after 3k km was a pain but at €30 a rim cheaper than changing bikes and all the waste that goes with that.

With just road riding I've gotten 40k km from my hplus sons so the rim wear argument doesn't hold much water with me. Lots of that 40k would have been clocked up spins in wet weather in the 200km to 450km range; i.e. I wasn't anal about rim cleanliness.

If a road cyclist needs disc brakes to stop because of their undeniable advantages he should probably go back to cycling school 🙂