How many of you have switched to road disk and did you keep your rim brake bike?

Arequipa

Evening,

I hope you are all well.

I have x2 rim brake bikes and notice that the industry has completely switched from rim to disk.

I am happy with my rim brake bikes, but am getting tired of wearing through rims and having to get wheels rebuilt, particularly after riding daily, through Winter in Dublin… with all the grit, gravel and rain… rims do wear quite quickly.

And I think with our rainy climate… disk brakes are definitely better….

So how many of you have switched to or bought a disk brake roadbike?

If you still have a rim brake bike….. do you still ride it and plan to keep it? or are you consider passing it on or selling it?

Thanks for reading,

A.

at1withmyself

Similar thread here might help

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058344845/rim-brake-wheel-wear-vs-disc-brake-wheel-wear-any-feedback

Arequipa

Hi, yea I read this thread...

I am more interested in asking here…who has switched to disk & do they still keep the rim brake rothar?

nicksnikita

Still on rim here. No plans to move to disc.
6k km on most recent bike on stock carbon wheelset. No sign of wear on the brake tracks. Ride the bike in all seasons.

Magilla Gorilla

Just built up a Ritchey Road Logic rim brake frame. Have two other rim brake bikes. And one disc brake which hasn’t seen any action sine the Ritchey hit the road. 😁

Kaisr Sose

What sort of wheels (rims) do you have that are wearing so quickly? Have you got hard or soft brake blocks and check them for embedded grit regularly ?

In my experiebce, rims if kept clean will last many thousands of km (10k plus is easily achievable)

I have no plans to change to disc. If I did, it would be because rim brake bikes are getting scarse. However, I would probably build a new bike with existing groupsets on a new frame. Rim brake calipers last a long time and are easy for me to maintain.

ednwireland

cannondale synapse disc, the old focus is the turbo bike.

Arequipa

hi!

yea.. i wash the bike once a week.. probably could check the actual blocks more often...

I have ridden wheels with mavic open pro rims.. they seem to wear relatively quickly...

CantGetNoSleep

I already changed a few years ago. Took me a while to get used to in the beginning. Probably didn't make the right switch, went from a Canyon Ultimate which was only about 7.2kg to a Cannondale Synapse which was 9.5kg with the stock wheelset so a big jump.

Total convert now though, will never go back. Bought a rim brake CAAD12 because it was for sale cheaply near me and rode on it outside twice I'd say.

Wider tires are another big advantage

Alanbt

Firmly in the rim brake Luddite camp. Have spare frames, parts and wheels that should see me through for a good while yet.

Had disc brakes for a short while, just didn’t like the squealing brakes (and having to learn how to maintain hydraulics). Luddite, as I said

Alanbt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122054788#Comment_122054788

Nice. That’s one I’d consider getting. Pricey frameset now though

CramCycle

Have both, will continue to ride both. Very shocked at how quickly you are wearing through rims though. You definitely need to check your pad type, a rim should last a few years even if it's your only, use everyday, bike. Maintenance is easy on both, have had minor issues with cable routing at the start of internal and found avid BB7s a bit of a pain to use at the start but there, in my opinion, is no real difference in ability required or effort needed for both. Latest purchase was a new rim brake groupset, the carbon wheels I have which have done a few seasons of racing and 2 winters of daily winter commuting, may as well have come out of the shop last week.

Arthurdaly

Still on rim brakes across my 4 bikes. I have around 200,000km across the 3 of those bikes and only twice had to replace wheels to to rim wear. A pair of Shimano Dura Ace C24 and Mavic Comics were binned due to rim wear but I would have got at least 20,000km out of each set.

Good quality brake pads and regularly cleaning the pads and rims will extend their life.

My carbon rimmed Campag Bora Ones on the race bike must have around 30-40k on them and nowhere near the point of replacement due to rim wear.

Sticking with the rim and mechanical groupset until I am forced into a new bike purchase.

secman

Similar here, 4 bikes, all mechanical and rim brakes. 2 winter bikes on alu wheelset and 2 summer bikes on carbon wheelset. Have replaced one alu wheelset but had fair amount of years/kms on them. Retired one carbon front wheel, developed a crack, but had bought them 2nd hand so unsure of kms on it. Am currently thinking of treating myself to a disc/Di2 new bike...not enjoying the search though, generally have a dislike to shopping...tend to hold on to cars for long periods too, latest one 10 yrs and not looking to change…shopping is so over rated 😁

CramCycle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122055827#Comment_122055827

Get a DI2 rim brake upgrade kit for your current bike, problem solved

fat bloke

Interesting question. I'm still on rims because that's what my garage is full of but I am wavering toward disc. I got a new emonda sl5 105 disc as a winter trainer, on the heavy side, but comfortable and all that, a fine bike. But going back to rims at the end of spring and pulling the brakes on damp carbon was a bit of a shock reminder of how much better disc brakes perform.

There's some great deals out there at the minute on top bikes which are very very appealing but on the flip side, tight now you literally can't seem to even give away a rim braked bike so for the next while you're as well off to keep what you have and in the dry rims brake fine.

Amazing time to buy a top rimmer now if you wanted one.

joey100

I've moved all my bikes to di2 and disc. Mainly cos I've bought few new bikes and they were the options available. When they work they are great, but have found discs more hassle than rim brakes, from squeeling to rubbing pads and other stuff. At moment I'd like to have one nice rim brake bike that I can just use without having to worry about any disc issues, and may try pick up something second hand. Probably should just learn to get better at maintaining and working on the discs but there's something nice and simple about rim brakes.

07Lapierre

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122055937#Comment_122055937

are those upgrade kits still availalbe?

secman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122057915#Comment_122057915

Bike discount .de have them on a special ultegra for under €1,200

Wishbone Ash

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122054924#Comment_122054924

One of my rim bikes has Mavic Open Pro and they are nearing the end of their life now but that's with over 20,000kms on them. Are you using very hard brake pads? If the pad isn't wearing, the rim is - so better to use softer pads and replace them more often.

You also need to clean the pads regularly - scrub them with a toothbrush and remove little fragments of metal/stone which can become embedded in them.

To answer your main question, I have converted to discs on 3 of my bikes and wouldn't go back. However I still have 2 bikes that I like with rim brakes and will continue to use them.

Arequipa

Evening!

Thanks for the replies...

It does seem that the bike industry has left rim brakes behind and it is disk all the way...

Great opportunity for them to sell lots of new bikes with this technology...

it is fab that a few of you traditionalists are keeping your rim.brake bikes alive and well!

re the rim wear.. i bought a load of rubber brake blocks on ali express.. they wear put quite quickly…

i ride 40-50kms per day daily for work in all weathers and seasons... so it does seem to wear on components.. but i think i can definitely clean the brake blocks more regularly...

mvt

Two decent bikes with rims, a work hack with rims,another with rims & a very old mountain bike with discs which I think put me off them for a long time.

I'm going to say that I have been in the Alps,Pyrenees & the Sierra Navadas on numerous occasions & never felt that I lacked for braking power. I accept that might be more due to my conservative descending style, there has to be a reason disc's are so dominant now.

Wishbone Ash

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122058625#Comment_122058625

In fairness, we all thought drum brakes were fine on our cars until disc brakes came along. No one would dream of driving with drum brakes now (not that you'd get them as standard now anyway).

mvt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122058927#Comment_122058927

I forgot to mention that my car is a Model T.

gmacww

Ah I think the whole bike industry forcing us is a bit overblown. Technology moves and improvements are made. Bikes used to be all steel and cabling was all outboard. The biggest pain in the rear these days is integrated aero cockpits.

Anyway aside from all that I'm fully rim brake. Not out of any hardcore standing just I build up my own bikes, take care of them meticulously and at the moment they are still (3 of them) in pristine condition despite the age. At some point I'll build up a disc bike whenever I need something new.

Rim wear is something I've not experienced in a few years and at that it was only on the commuter bike which is going in through the city center every day pre covid WFH. Constantly on the brakes in all conditions the wheels wore after about 18months and christ knows much distance. It was 70km round trip. I used to buy entry level Fulcrum 7 or shimano's for commuting for that reason. Are you in a predominantly built up area where you're constantly stopping? Are the blocks you're using cheaper BBB options or something like that? Like others I've wheels that have 20k on them and plenty of life left in the rim. That said I'm based in Wicklow so ride 99% country roads so only really on the brakes in short spells downhill.

GandhiwasfromBallyfermot

I think we're only a few years away from coming back full circle when Specialized release their 'ultra lightweight, climbing specialist bike' and its just an Aethos with rim brakes.

fat bloke

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122060683#Comment_122060683

😁 Well, I don't see rims ever coming back but they're definitely on the slim fast diet again after almost a decade of trying to convince us that price per kilo was the true measure of bike quality 🙄

07Lapierre

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122058927#Comment_122058927

Some EV car models come fitted with Drum Brakes.

tomasrojo

I did a short check in the Drury Street parking garage the other day, and I'd say most bikes in circulation are still rim brake, though that's a lot of cheap and legacy bikes. The question here is probably about road bikes really?

The bikes in my house are a mixture of rim brakes, coaster brakes and roller brakes (tourer, Brompton, bakfiets, kid's bikes; the kid's bikes are a mixture of coaster and rim brakes on the same bike). If rim brakes disappear from the market, I'll probably switch to a Dutch-style bike with roller brakes when the tourer gives up the ghost; they're adequate for me and very easy to maintain. Though maybe you'll still be able to get entry-level tourers with cantilevers.

Arequipa

Hi! i ride from the Northside through Dublin city centre and out the southside... so in Winter the roads are messy and with traffic, pedestrians and obstacles you are on the brakes a lot...

so i think i do put my brakes and rims to work...

i bought cheap rubber brake blocks from Ali express... i am not sure if these will excessively contribute to rim wear?

tomasrojo

Not sure about the blocks, but wipe the rims clean periodically, especially after riding in the rain and that should help.

magicbastarder

More important to check the blocks I'd say. I once got caught in a massive downpour on country roads and by the time I was near home I could hear grinding when I used the brakes - grit embedded in the brake blocks which was pulling aluminium off the rims. I had to pull it all out with a pin.

Wishbone Ash

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122063505#Comment_122063505

Although urban commuting requires more braking, it's relatively light/short braking compared to shedding 80km/h on an Alpine descent heading for a hairpin. Have you checked the surface of your brake pads since starting this thread?

fiacha

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122063505#Comment_122063505

Inspect the blocks and see how they are holding up. Is there any contamination in them that could be causing additional rim wear ? Are the blocks wearing unevenly ? If so, I'd go for something better quality.

I've had the same rims on my single speed since 2009. The breaking surfaces are still perfect. I give the rims and blocks a very quick clean after every wet spin and give them a proper clean every couple of weeks. I don't do hills :) so they don't see any regular hard breaking. Blocks are just standard Shimano R55C? for alloy rims.

Preventative maintenance is the key for longevity of even consumable parts like brake blocks.

07Lapierre

inspect the pads frequently and if you notice bits of metal/grit embedded in them, sand them down with some sandpaper or a file until they are clean. Sanding the pads also helps prevent the pads squeaking!