Disc Vs Rim Brakes: The End Of The Debate?

[@ShadowzKiller]

Shimano 105 rim brakes are by far the best bang for your buck. 40,000km and no issues and the pads are cheap and easy to replace.

[@metroidandroid]

Though if rains you're in trouble

[@deejay6083]

@@metroidandroid I don't get why would anyone ride a bike when raining unless you are a competitor. But then either you are a pro and have a sponsors or you are a rich man.

[@wyattchoia2473]

I ride in the rain sometimes... Rim brakes are more than sufficient. Perfectly safe.

[@madyogi6164]

@@metroidandroid I did 40k myself over quite few years, using rim brakes... I never felt I' m in any trouble! Sure, rim brakes are weaker when wet, but how many times you decide to ride when it rains? When rain grabs you half way home - well. it is what it is - just pull bit harder on a brake. If not interested in getting wet to the bone - just don't brake at all...

[@solitaryrefinement6787]

105 brakes with SwissStop pads stop about as good as my Dura-Ace 9100 brakes!

[@ImranShaikh-gh2wd]

I’ve just bought a rim brake bike for ease of travelling with it

[@hunterkiller009]

This makes me regret changing to disc.

[@bowsershark]

I love rim brakes for very comparative lower cost, lower maintainence, ease of repair by me and lower weight. A rim brake wheel costs less. I don't usually ride in the rain. I don't ride really fast. And, disc brakes are almost to immediate for response for me. A rim brake is all I need.

[@omniyambot9876]

@@bowsershark yeah rim brake is just perfect. I don't need to brake instantly, in fact, no one does especially when you are really fast. You brake gradually.

[@bowsershark]

@@omniyambot9876 Yes, I agree with you. And, my awesome rim brake pads last for a multitude of years.☺️

[@robtankbuster5215]

These new disc brakes bikes are just a real pain, more weight, more fuss, why?

[@kujux800]

"disc brake requires less maintenance" - I dont know what you are smoking

[@randalclark6283]

You don't have to adjust disc brakes for pad wear. Rim brakes you do.

[@a1white]

@@randalclark6283 adjusting rim brakes takes a couple of minutes (and I can do it). In theory hydraulic should self adjust, but they don’t always and then it’s a pain.

[@randalclark6283]

@@a1white if your hydraulic disc brakes are not self-adjusting, then there's something wrong with them. Most likely the cylinders are gummed up

[@a1white]

@@randalclark6283 yeah there was something wrong with them. Took it to the bike shop and they told me the problem was very common. You get my point? I’d rather spend a minute adjusting my rim brakes every couple of months rather than hoping that my expensive hydraulic discs will sort themselves out.

[@randalclark6283]

@@a1white here is my experience. I've been running hydraulic disc brakes since they came out. I pretty much neglect them, just change pads. Shimano brakes, bleed them every 3 years or so. Other brands, in my experience, don't need bled. I've only had a sticky caliper once. It took just a few minutes to clean with some brake cleaner. That's, one time over 20 years and multiple brands. If it happens to you again, take the caliper off, pull the pads, squeeze the brakes until you can see most of the pistons (a few pumps). Then just hose them down with brake cleaner from the auto parts store. Push the pistons back in, reinstall pads and caliper.

[@wyattjardine2333]

As a bicycle mechanic for a profession spanding over decade; disc brake pads wear out MUCH QUICKER in comparison to rim brake pads (for both alloy and carbon braking surfaces).

[@richdyer2000]

Yep. He’s saying the pad material itself is more durable, but that does not translate to more longevity - a rim brake has a much longer lever arm (radius of wheel vs radius of disc), so the pad is doing much less work. I can’t say I’ve noticed any nett difference with sintered pads, but what you describe matches exactly what I see with organic pads.

[@tims_builds]

Weird bc I have a bike with a disc front and rim rear and over the 5 years I've owned it I have changed the rear pads, but never the fronts, and I do use both brakes when coming to a stop normally. In fact, typically when I am only using 1 brake it is the front only and I know my front brake does most of the stopping work most of the time. I actually limped the bike home on front brake only once when a rear pad literally disintegrated (old pad put on as a temp fix, should have known better). Your milage may vary, but I've definitely seen a decidedly longer pad life on discs than on rims, mile for mile, side by side, same bike.

[@SeeYouUpTheRoad]

You are correct Wyatt - rim brake rubber pads last years disc brake pads only last a few months. As a shop owner I see this first hand with my customers not to mention my own personal bikes. This is another of the bullshit videos from GCN doing their disc brake bidding.

[@MisterAndyS]

Same experience. I replace disc brake pads 2-3x per year, but rim brake pads every 2-3 years. The rim brake pads, even good ones (Kool Stop), are also generally cheaper.

[@barneyklingenberg4078]

I rent out MTB’s and i must second that fact. Organic disc brake pads wear out fast especially in wet conditions. They are cheap however. I’d much rather replace a steel disc then a carbon rim long term.

[@janwillemkuilenburg7561]

Well, for many like me I guess it is a matter of budget. Because of absurdly raised price levels I have no budget to renew my bike, so no disc brakes for me. By the way, I love my current rim brake bike so I feel no need at all to replace it.

[@JSC131]

Totally agree with you I'm in the same boat as yourself I'm happy with my rim brake bike.

[@madyogi6164]

Upgrading is always some pain! As for rim / disk brakes transition - is it even possible? 1st - new wheels is a must. 2nd - how to mount the brakes? Old parts have no dedicated mount holes - front fork - ok - "go and buy a new one". Bike frame - pretty much the same... Additional "transition kits" available? Adding extra weight - no way, not mentioning disc brake-sets are already heavier than old rim-based... Considering above - it's just easier to go and buy new bike... As for me? Never... I love the bike I have! Worst part in it is me/myself. Cheers and keep on rolling!

[@cycomiles4225]

Well, most of stuff these guys talk about is race specific. So in all honesty, nothing or very little what they say really matters to a common person in videos like these, what matters is that rim brake bikes are cheaper than same disc brake bikes. My personal opinion is that if a bike works, there is no need for a replacement. Especially converting a rim brake to disc brake bike, its a big no no, it screws up your handling.

[@simonm1447]

@@madyogi6164 some bike frames have both mounting points, but that's not always the case and may be rare in the case of road bikes. A frame without mounting points for the caliper can't be used for disc brakes, and if the levers are made for cable brakes they would have to be replaced for hydros, or can only be used with cable disc brakes or the relatively expensive cable/hydraulic caliper.

[@gam1471]

@@simonm1447 I have to confess that I've never understood the reason for hydraulic brakes on a bicycle. Cables are light, simple, proven technology, easily and quickly installed and highly effective. Modern dual pivot type cable brakes of any type are light in operation, barely a touch on the lever is needed - so why hydraulic?

[@richardharris8538]

I'm building a bike from the frame up. I decided to go with rim brakes because, 1) they're cheaper 2) maintenance is easier 3) they're more aero 4) they're lighter * 5) I avoid riding in rain 6) I'm light - 55 kg. 7) there aren't many hills where I live :-(( * I bought aluminum wheels as they're cheaper than carbon, provide a better braking surface, although there is a weight penalty. And I've also seen video of carbon rims failing catastrophically.

[@JimbobB1978]

There is no weight penalty with an aluminium rim unless you want deep wheels. Again it`s marketing telling us carbon is lighter when it`s actually not, The rim is about the same weight with both it`s just the faring that can be made lighter. 99% of us can`t benefit from an aero wheel anyway so all these people buying aero wheels are only buying them as they they look `cool`. Shimano Dura Ace 9100 C24 clincher rim brake wheelset is 1395g with an alloy braking surface.

[@mididoctors]

I have yet to find a wheelset better than campag neutrons which campag sadly stop making spares for

[@81caasi]

Campagnolo Zonda wheelset are light and alloy if you haven't already checked them out!

[@lidge1994]

55kg? How? That seems low for a guy, no matter the height! But I am a 198cm 123kg guy, so there may be an odd view of weight on my part.

[@richardharris8538]

@@lidge1994 I was always the smallest boy in my class through school. In boxing, 55 kg would be Junior Featherweight or Super Bantamweight. There are six weight divisions below this. I switched from boxing to cycling because there wasn't anyone as small as me locally. The last time I was in the ring I was up against a welterweight, and I could make flyweight, so I thought, to Hell with that. My BMI is 20.2, which is in the normal range. Your BMI would be 31.4, which, I'm sorry to say, would be classed as obese. There are some climbing specialists in the pro peloton weighing about 55 kg. I can still get down to 53 kg if I put the miles in.

[@888julianman]

The 95 gram weight difference between group sets you mention is NOT representative of the weight difference as a total system! The differential varies from bike to bike, but when comparing same models (where a build is still available in rim brake) typically, the difference is more like 400 grams (ish).

[@janmitvora4510]

Even more

[@alostgeordie]

Yeahh i really don’t know how he came up with the 95g difference…

[@themindgarage8938]

He mentioned the frames and wheels often have a weight difference too, but yes that bit could have been more clear

[@joules531]

This is true. With discs, braking forces are nearer to the centre of the wheel, and so everything has to be stronger, and a lot heavier. Sometimes, frames just arent strong enough, even though they have been beefed up, which is why you see some many frame breakages with disc brakes. You never see frame breakages due to rim brakes.

[@Sebmondo]

In my experience the total weight difference is around the 400g mark.

[@mikeywikeybikey]

Cycling marketing: A 7 watt saving for a rim brake won’t really make a difference. Also cycling marketing: Buy this $700 OSPW that will save you 1 watt.

[@JimbobB1978]

Yep it`s crazy. GCN preach to us that every watt matters then they tell us 7 watts doesn`t really matter. So which is it?

[@Jotters92]

That section was laughable - what good is a riderless bike? 13w saving at 35kmh is a significant saving for sure. As you say, if that was a purchasable saving on a wheelset or tyre upgrade, 13w would be the difference between cat 4 and WT riders. Clear disc bias on this video, start to finish.

[@Pastamistic]

@@Jotters92 having a rider on the bike creates a variable that can't be controlled all that well. Ollie's position will have slight differences from test to test no matter how hard he tries to stay the same. Could have easily made the disc bike faster with rider but slower without the rider. Testing the bike on it's own takes the variable out of the picture which might be a little more of an accurate representation of how much slower discs are if at all. 7 watts doesn't matter if you aren't racing and he made that clear. You can gain or lose that much with a different chain lube or being a few psi high or low.

[@sepg5084]

@@Pastamistic 7 watts do not matter for people with high power output, but for casual cyclists like me 7 watts is significant. When i am racing against my own strava times, the calculated average power of my new achievements are just 5 to 8 watts higher than my previous ones but still equate to around 30 seconds on a 20 minute hillclimb. Rim brake bikes are lighter and more aero than an equivalent disc brake model, and can be cheaper too, if people actually care about riding a road bike. For real bicycle commuters who are not racing there is no debate for rims or discs, they would just get a commuter bike instead of a road bike lol 😂 cheaper, more versatile, less fragile, and more comfortable to use for commuting.

[@Pastamistic]

@@sepg5084 if you made an attempt on one bike and went for a PR using the same bike does this still apply? Or do you often attempt a personal time trial on a road bike and then switch to a TT bike to beat it? Did using a rim brake bike with a 7 watt advantage get you a Strava KOM? If you used the same bike for each attempt that's a 0 watt difference. Rim brakes are always going to be cheaper short term until you need to replace rims. My current road bike is rim brakes, wife's is disc. I put down the same time on a 30 mile course I mapped. Her bike doesn't need the rims cleaned on a regular basis or the need to pick pieces of aluminum out of the rubber brake pads and brake performance is excellent. Next bike will be disc.

[@sjurk81]

A few comments: - When looking at costs the rotors aren't mentioned. So the groupset is more expensive when you opt for discs, possibly the wheels as well, but there is no mention of the rotors. Even when wheels are priced the same, you'll still need the rotors which will add to the price difference. - The weight difference is for mid-range or high spec bikes, which is one of the problems other channels mentioned before: the weight difference is lower at the higher levels. The bikes 'normal' people buy don't offer that advantage. One example: the cheapest complete bikes from Trek are the Domane AL2 rim and disc. Both have Claris groupsets but the disc model is 1 KG heavier. Even the carbon SL4 is slightly heavier. - Aerodynamics: I think we can agree that we all want to ride our bikes, not use our bikes without a rider. In that case over 10 watts of difference for a recreational rider (250w FTP) is pretty significant. - Mantenance: according the the other reactions this is plausible, and I agree. My rim-pads last for years and need almost no maintenance, my disc-pads last two years max. (but that's for my situation and those will differ for everyone). So the end of the debate? I guess not. For me it's very simple: from March to October I use rimbrakes for almost all my rides, the other months discbrakes. Discs are better in worse conditions so I prefer them when the weather is worse. Other than that I prefer rimbrakes for easy of use, maintenance, weight and ease of transport.

[@SixSioux]

Simple and effective reasoning here. The real problem is that the cycling industry, for pure greed, is not giving us the choice anymore.

[@curtvaughan2836]

@@SixSioux At the high end, this is also happening with groupsets - high priced electric systems are replacing mechanical offerings.

[@SixSioux]

@@curtvaughan2836 Absolutely true. In some cases also creating new standards (free wheel, hubs, etc) to oblidge you to change all your system to fit the new mechs. Another sad reality.

[@GK-zr9cq]

Excellent comment

[@siulilomay628]

All my bikes are rim brake however, when I come across carbon wheelset, not many choices for rim brake anymore and they are more expensive then the equivalent disc brake version due to the special treatment they have to apply to rim brake brake surface and once they wear out, they worth nothing.

[@HiopX]

Two points why I favour rim brakes: 1) my roadbike is as old as myself and does not have an option for discs 2) in case there needs to be maintenance done, rim brakes are a lot easier to handle

[@Jeff-bd4gg]

On point 2 that is more a case of hydraulic vs cable actuated and not mutually exclusive to either. Hydro rim brakes exist and cable disk brakes exist.

[@metroidandroid]

Although you need to do waaaay less maintenance on disk brakes

[@Apex820]

You can see where this video is gone without watching it till the end. It’s all about promoting disc. They are just salesman for the bike manufactures.

[@oOoACFREEMANoOo]

@@Apex820 he actually promotes rim at the end ...

[@matthewlewis2072]

Errrr... I have found disc brakes require less faffing

[@kalijasin]

In 2020 Olympics everyone was running disc brakes, except the guy who won the Gold Medal. 🙊

[@alen-commentnazi8774]

What does that prove lmao

[@DjDeepfry1]

That’s not true. His trade teammates from Ineos were also riding rim brakes. Why did they not win silver and bronze?

[@matthewlewis2072]

So?

[@kalijasin]

@@DjDeepfry1 Cycling in Olympics is an individual event.

[@phatrickmoore]

Now that he won something maybe he'll have the money for some proper brakes at the next one

[@76booge]

Rim for road, disc for mtb. Why have bikes gotten way heavier and way more expensive with disc brakes? Because riding bikes is the new golf for people with disposable money. Anyone who argues hydraulic disc brakes are easier to maintain/service and adjust than rim brakes honestly has rocks in their head. *I did once have an older cx bike with cantilever rim brakes.....that thing was frightening and I'd say unsafe due to fork judder and not so powerful brakes. Modern rim brakes are great.

[@MrChippinator]

Exactly, I am tired of all the new "tech" that's supposed to be better. Look, I pass people all the time on a rim brake tiagra AL bike riding the newest carbon fibre machine with disc brakes. Unless you're a UCI tour pro, you don't need all the tech.

[@truedarklander]

@@MrChippinator I mean when it comes to breaks, they're much easier to feel the difference.

[@kinghadu9611]

I had a Promax Hydraulic Brakes on my bike, thing was a nightmare it would always lock up while riding in the sun etc. Multiple bike mechanics didn't know how to fix this crap, ended up selling the bike and just got one with mechanical rim brakes and couldn't be happier I service it myself and performs exactly as the hydraulic. Disc brakes are mainly a marketing selling point on roadbikes because it simply goes against all form of commonsense and logic except when you realize if they are being PAID to promote disc brakes. One of the things they will never tell you is that Hydraulic Disc Brakes were created for motorized vehicles where the weight of the vehicle and speed it can actually travel at is such that it would make sense to have the motor pump hydraulic fluid and do all the work for you for stopping such a machine. Including it into light weight bicycles creates far more problems than it can ever solve and is in fact way more dangerous given the fact that fluid can leak onto the rotors and causing you serious injury or death.

[@truedarklander]

@@kinghadu9611 if it locked up its because you had too much strength lol

[@kinghadu9611]

@@truedarklander no it kept locking up even tho I never touched it. Often kept rubbing on the rim, sold it to a guy he came back and asked for his money in return even tho I told him the issue that was happening. Threatened to shoot me etc and tossed the bike into my yard. Never touching another bike with hydraulic brakes after that, I do have a mechanical disc brake currently and its a million times better but whenever I take out the wheel to patch a flat I have to readjust the calipers on the rotors to prevent it from rubbing. To me the only real benefit of disc brakes is it looks a lot better aesthetically and saves your rim from wearing out.

[@Fetucinee]

Having both disc and rim brakes among my bikes I say the overall advantage goes to disc brakes but not enough to make a wholesale switch across the board. There's one point in the video I disagree with: maintenance. My rim brakes (canti's, V-Brakes and road calipers) are simpler to service; I'll take a ten minute pad swap over a brake bleed any day.

[@darkm4g1c]

This is a little bit disingenuous no? Comparing like for like, swapping pads is just as easy as rim, with the only addition being you have to pull the wheels. I feel like the whole "BrAkE BleEdiNg iS ToO HaRd" crowd has never actually ridden a disc setup for an extended period of time. I have multiple bikes with disc at this point, with multiple types of fluid, and I never felt the need to do more than swap the pads. One bike is over 5 years old!

[@tfleishman1]

Exactly! and how much cheaper?

[@lionelbrink]

If you are going to make a comparison: I have found hydraulic brake bleeding to be relatively procedural - replacing internal cables is next level frustrating!

[@tobycolin6271]

@@lionelbrink I’d agree but in a Majorca bedroom brake bleeding on my mates venge was a nightmare (no kit) went to the shop next day and there was a whole shop ful of bikes that needed a bleed loosing a day of a mini break was costly.

[@sepg5084]

I never needed to bleed my brakes every time i change pads, and i only get a full bleed once a year along with my yearly maintenance stuff from a bike mechanic. My local bike shop mechanic has better tools anyway, but i do sometimes perform my own maintenance from time to time if it's just re-tightening bolts cleaning/lubing the chain, etc. The only reason i use disc brakes is that i like how they feel to operate.

[@samtravis4822]

So basically, rim brakes are lighter, cheaper, easier to maintain and work just as well in the dry. So rim brakes on your nice, light, summer bike. Disk brakes are good for your commuting bike or winter bike

[@santiagobenites]

That's exactly what I think!

[@jxdirsdt1045]

Ok

[@jason200912]

hell no rim brakes are awful in the wet

[@davidofoakland2363]

The few times I've ridden a disc brake bike I was constantly annoyed by the brake rub. The braking performance of the disc brakes was superior, in my opinion, but not that much superior to compensate for the damn rubbing noises! Rim brakes are more than adequate for my needs, and quieter too. If it's wet, I just go slower.

[@grumpynerd]

In theory -- and usually in practice -- disk brake rub is very easy to get rid of. But sometimes you can't because there's something wrong other than the mounting of the caliper body. For example the disc rotor may be bent. The pistons may be sticky and need cleaning. Occasionally a problem elsewhere manifests in disk rub -- like bearing play in the hub, or even just mounting the wheel crooked if you've got quick release. In rare cases defects in the the frame, fork or hub can make it impossible to align disk brakes correctly, although if you're buying through an LBS they should sort this out before you ever see the bike. I've been working on bikes as a hobby for about forty years now, and one of the virtues of old school technology like rim brakes is that they don't require high levels of mechanical precision. Back in the day bikes were built by craftsmen who were often very good but never robotically perfect, and the industry developed standards that were practical given that fact. But many newer technologies *do* require high degrees consistency and precision. One of them is disk brakes. If you can get everything dialed in, they work really well, but occasionally there's a reason you can't do that easily and need a good mechanic. I ride both types of brakes and have a *slight* preference for disks, but that may be shaped by the fact I do my own repairs and tune ups. I never have to ride around cursing the bike for making annoying noises, I just fix them straight away. But if given the way *you* ride and maintain your bike you've had better experiences with rim brakes, the answer is clear: rim brakes are better *for you*.

[@crimson177]

@@grumpynerd I think discs provide better breaking as well. But the rubbing is a serious problem and the rotors warp so easily which wouldn't be so bad if the clearance between the pads and rotor wasn't so tiny. And then other crap like you've mentioned such as sticky pistons. Rim brakes just work, even a moron like me can wrench them. I will always have at least one rim brake bike (alongside my best bike w/ discs) that I can rely on to always function properly. Even if one day rim brake frames are no longer made, I will get a custom frame made.

[@davidofoakland2363]

@@cc-000 In wet weather? Yep, I prefer going slower.

[@davidofoakland2363]

@@cc-000 I'm glad that you, too, go slower in wet weather, even with disc brakes.

[@jason200912]

disc brakes are easy to tune just like rim. loose two screws and gorilla squeeze the brakes and tighten the screws. done, brakes now callibrated.

[@kidstux]

Rim brake is essentially a big disc brake. It just need the rim brake track rather than the disc 🤣🤣

[@kalijasin]

That may be true but there are a myriad of differences between the two.

[@hashy4940]

disk brakes have more breaking power and contact on thew disk, so that doesn't matter at all

[@drivemenuts3011]

A difference is that disk brakes work after riding through a muddy puddle. Rim Brakes don't.

[@mmeysarosh]

Who needs brakes? Only takes out the fun from descending!

[@SixSioux]

I think one should not exist at the expense of the other. They both have pros and cons, and we as cyclists should be able to choose between them. Thing is, bike manufacturers and relative marketing people as usual want to force the final user towards the more expensive technology, abandoning more and more the other one - being less profitable for them. The only point I am not totally agreeing with you Alex is about maintainance. I definitely think Rim Brakes are MUCH much easier to maintain and fix by the average cyclist, compared to an hydraulic system. A safety spare cable and pads can be carried anywhere. Nice video as usual!

[@DaveCM]

Well, consumers fo want disc brakes. Few people want rim brakes.

[@rejeancomeau]

A bit of bias comes out in every gcn video, this time favouring disk brakes

[@SixSioux]

@@DaveCM Did you conduct a sample research on a relevant number of bike consumers? Waiting for research papers and numbers. If that is not the case, I suggest you to avoid this kind of poor statements.

[@brankododig1585]

There's no conspiracy. Bike manufacturers are phasing them out because people aren't buying them.

[@Jeff-bd4gg]

@@brankododig1585 this

[@antoniopaiva6659]

GCN is becoming a TV Shop network.

[@drivemenuts3011]

GCN conveniently failed to include the 260-gram weight of the disk rotors.

[@broccoli5408]

'Becoming'?

[@reginaldscot165]

Disc for dirt and rim for road. Over 20 years on rim brakes and I simply see no advantage in Disc.

[@event4216]

Disc brakes came from MTB. Why bother with road bike? Let's just use light hybrid bike with disc brakes for everything. A little bit of off-road, some stretches on road, and rest in-between. One bike, one size of frame, on semi-slicks with knobby sides. Neither here or there, this or that.

[@anzman911]

you don't but manufacturers do. $$$

[@Nyarlathoth]

I commute with rim brakes under heavy rain, braking is admittedly weak but more than enough, I am not that crazy to go fast on wet roads! Meanwhile my disc brakes bike is staying at home waiting to be bleeded...

[@NeouItier]

Disc brake for mtb is legit, but for roadbike is just too sell more carbon wheel which can't brake efficiently on rim and way more expesnsiv for nothing, buy people more and more... :(

[@DavidWhiteOfFleet]

How does the equation change with alloy wheels? Carbon isn't great for rim brakes but alloy works really well. Anybody here remember riding chromed steel rims? You'd need several metres of wiping water off the rims before anything happened but alloy isn't like that.

[@alen-commentnazi8774]

Steel rims braking power is basically no braking power

[@charlestaylor3195]

Do they make disc brakes for chrome rims? Chrome rims on a road bike.....that would look cool.

[@jefferycampbell2243]

@@charlestaylor3195 Chrome rims on a road bike? That pretty much describes every vintage bike I've ever seen.

[@charlestaylor3195]

@@jefferycampbell2243 Hey, I ran into a pick up truck, and had to replace my forks, but not the steel wheel, maybe it was cast iron. Ha, ha.

[@gam1471]

@@jefferycampbell2243 I started cycling back in the 1960s, and alloy rims were in use even before then on racing bikes. Fiamme and Mavic were popular makes. Chromed steel rims were seen on utility bikes only. Anodised alloy rims weren't availble then, and stainless steel eyelets hadn't arrived. Weekly polishing was needed. Alloy rims, polished to a deep lustrous shine and built up into into wheels with chromium plated spokes were an inspiration to ride as they glittered in the sun on a summer's day. I suspect that it's wheels like this you have in fact seen.

[@bikeralemanha]

Surprised to hear that you said that disk brake pads should last longer than rim brake pads!!! My experience is completely the opposite!! My bike with rim breaks I changed the pads with 15000km and the bike with disk I changed with only 4000km less than 1/3 of the km!!

[@yankw5187]

I have the same experience. The radius of rim is about 4 times that of a disc rotor, meaning that the pressure to be applied on disc brake pads has to be at least 4 times higher in order to provide the same braking force of a rim brake. This excessive pressure tranlates to faster pad wear.

[@dawoudabdulaziz9920]

The only reason for me is that rim brakes are easier to maintain.

[@SixSioux]

200% with you on this point

[@lendri83]

Yup, save some trips to the bike shop

[@emt3889]

It's a tradeoff. You either do easier maintenance on a regular basis, or a mote skillful maintenance on a not so regular basis.

[@kpizzle1985]

On my disc brake bike I change the pads every 5000 to 10,000 miles. Other than that I never touch them. Have to pick out debris in rim brake pads every week and rim brakes make your wheels filthy.

[@SixSioux]

@@emt3889 Even in the case where you must take off the rim break calipers, eeeven open them up to clean the spring and grease, it's an easier job than opening and re doing hydraulics. I mean, not even a question.

[@panzerveps]

On maintenance: Hydraulic fluid will need to be replaced every now and then, sram's dot fluid especially since it's hygroscopic. This is a lot more work than replacing the cables. Disc brake pads wear out faster than you think. A good quality carbon rim brake wheel with the correct pads will last tens of thousands of kilometers (mine is at 20k now, and shows no signs of wear. Hilly and rainy country).

[@vtecmossy]

Same fluid 5 yrs you talking alot of gibber jabber pads take less then 2 mins to change unless your a special case Disc is superior and has been for years Only dinosaurs stuck in their ways would say rim is best 😁😂

[@panzerveps]

@@vtecmossy that fluid should've been replaced a long, long time ago. Hygroscopic brake fluid absorbs moisture from the air, resulting in a lower boiling point and poor lubrication of the pistons. Worst case scenario is that the brake fluid starts boiling during a descent, leaving you with 0 braking power. I have seen this happen. Brakes get hot. Fast. On a car, the normal flush interval for brake fluid (the same kind of hygroscopic fluid) is around 2 years, depending on local climate. Shimano use a different kind of hydraulic oil that's not hygroscopic, but a complete flush is still recommended for optimal performance and lubrication of the pistons in the system. I do this on my MTB every year, and the once pink fluid turns black in just one season.

[@JamesSmith-vz8yr]

@@vtecmossy FIVE YEARS?? Very poor maintainance shedule there - that stuff is hygroscopic.

[@keithreed5009]

I'd rather bleed the hydraulic brakes on my road bike than have to change internally routed cables for rim brakes!!

[@vtecmossy]

@@panzerveps I know I have 6 bikes one is bound not to get the love but the bike works perfect Nd when I did do the pads Nd fluid it was same as any other bike be it a bit darker, shimano mineral oil doesn't obsorb crap like dot fluid would over 5 yrs so u won't get away with it with sram crap brakes but on a not much used bike u can get on and go for 5 yrs no issues it's possible I have done it before and so have others 🤔😁

[@SWatchik]

It's amazing how people have started acting like in the past few years it's become impossible to brake in the rain on rim brakes, when it's completely manageable and people have ridden rim brakes in the rain for decades. Unless you're racing and on the actual limit of braking performance rim brakes can cope.

[@kidShibuya]

Yeah tell this to my bike with carbon wheels and sram red rim brakes. I constantly ride the brakes just to make sure I have some stopping power if a taxi pulls out. If I am not constantly applying some braking force then when I do go to brake next to nothing happens.

[@tomnewham1269]

You are right that people for a very long time survived on using rim brakes but technology has moved on from them and have come up with disc brakes. But you could also say that for decades people got on well enough on riding Penny Farthing bikes but when is the last time you saw a Penny Farthing being rode along by an ordinary cyclist. That is because the modern bike is better than those old bikes and for a lot of people they find disc brakes are better for them too.

[@SWatchik]

@@kidShibuya Different pads or alu wheels are a smarter choice if you're riding in city and commuting, irregardless of weather .

[@mididoctors]

Nice stage of the tour was a shambolic demonstration that disc brakes on tarmac is trumped by tyre compound and rider ability

[@janeztomazic5546]

even if you are racing on the actual limit; just ask pogacar, carapaz or bernal

[@Sebmondo]

Disc brake Maintenance is not as straightforward as GCN implies, fully integrated hoses can be a nightmare if you want to service headset bearings or add headsets spacers,pads that get contaminated from road surface pollution in wet weather, availability and cost of disc brake pads when you need to replace them, more often than not due to my second point. If you are a fair weather rider then I say stick to rim brake, all year round for sure, go disc brake but avoid fully integrated.

[@matthewlewis2072]

The integrated hose thing isn't a fault of the brake, it's a fault of the bike design.

[@ChrisPoepping]

Don't forget you have to bleed the brakes more often than changing cables and housing. The black death is a thing

[@veloveritas9963]

@@ChrisPoepping That’s just not true. In wet climates you need a brake cable change once a season, or dry every couple seasons. Housing easily falls apart if its cheap, or corrodes even if its not. Hydro disc can go several seasons without needing any bleeding whatsoever. OVerall, as a professional mechanic, I find hydro brakes much easier long term to maintain than mechanical rim or disc brakes.

[@mikebrooks1102]

Absolutely. Many newer riders or those who have been riding for only a few years (welcome btw) don't factor in these points. Great for bike shops (I'm a bike mechanic) but costs to the customer build up insidiously with disks. And they take a lot more effort and costs to service.

[@richardstoner866]

I ride rim brakes....lighter....easier to maintain.....easier to remove.....apparently more aero.....they work perfectly in the dry....and fine in the wet....as the carbon wheels have a proper brake track surface....Campag.....but winter I use my winter bike with good alloy rims.....oh and I find that good quality pads seem to last for years....and are easy and cheap to replace at that......long live rim brakes! ✊

[@kenhorii6166]

Disc for wet, rim for dry. My road bikes all have rim brakes and I like it that way. My gravel and mountain bikes have discs. Unless you are descending the Alps at 50mph in the rain on a road FONDO or race, rim brakes are lighter and easier/cheaper to maintain- and offer excellent stopping power in everyday use. Rim brake frames are cheaper now because of the industry push to go disc. Your review is very good, but you neglect to include a disc fork weight when comparing “frame”weights. A frameset for discs includes the much heavier fork and overall weight can be significantly greater. Top end frame sets compensate for this, but most mid or lower tech frame sets suffer from some significant weight penalty for disc accommodations. If I raced, I’d have discs. As a sport rider, I’m happy with my rim brakes.

[@Jammeelly]

Disc for training rim brakes for racing

[@joeshmoe7967]

I have never found my rims to be easier than the discs I currently have. They are always squealing. Some times it is funny as you come up behind someone grab the brakes and the screech scares them out of their shoes...LOL. I love disc, but will ride with what ever the bike comes with. Out of 5 bikes I currently have only 1 is full disc (cable) and 1 is rim rear, disc front. All the rest as well as every other bike I have ever had was rim. The pads do melt at the bottom of a huge hill, hauling you down from 70-80kph will do that but pads are cheap.

[@kenhorii6166]

@@joeshmoe7967 My discs squeal horribly in the wet on my gravel bike, my rim brakes never do- Campagnolo carbon Bora rims and SR brakes. Your rim brakes may be out of proper alignment.

[@markstone722]

Why don't we have a disc on the back and rim on the front. Keeps everyone happy.

[@J88HNT]

😂

[@iMadrid11]

Late 90's to early 00's MTB suspension forks have option for both rim forks and IS mount disk brakes. I'm tempted to upgrade my front wheel to disk brakes on my hardtail 26er MTB. But I find it unnecessary cause the rim brakes is strong enough.

[@coffeejack7458]

* Spits out gel * .. * Cough Cough *

[@Dennis4523]

Disk brakes are just heavy, sluggish, costly , maintenance hell, and so unnecessary for road bikes it’s laughable people even think disk brakes are necessary

[@enternamedad]

Just rub your vans on the back wheel

[@moopt7339]

If you want a decent weight bike (about 7kg or bellow) price difference on groupset alone will be way more than mentioned £250. More like £1500... Plus wheelset, plus weight saving finishing kit plus marketing bull and you're over £3000-5000 more... One more thing: new, less experienced riders on group rides with discs: a danger zone! Only 2 people who really need disc road bike are: one that rides in the rain all the time and the other who descends 20k long -15% alpine passes regularly

[@niceracleous9999]

Disc brake bikes are heavier, less aero, more expensive, harder to self maintain, that does not sound like a win for disc brakes to me!!

[@jonathanallen6753]

Rim brakes are far easier to maintain(a lot less hassle), far faster climbing(especially on longer hilly routes), don't overheat on long steep descents. The braking is more more than adequate, you've only got to watch bike racing from 5 years ago to see this. I use a gravel bike & MTB(for Winter riding) with discs and for that discipline they are perfect. You can transport a rim bike easier too. At the end of the day you get used to whatever you have and make the most of it....

[@DaveCM]

Rim brakes do overheat. You can delaminate carbon wheels or overheat aluminum rim to the point the tire fails. If you overheat disc brakes, you will overheat rim brakes.

[@MJarthur95]

Rimbrakes are know of wheels failing on descending, Disc do not. Oh yea, the chance of your inner tube blowing out is significant on rim brakes. Not on disc brakes.

[@mikebrooks1102]

@@DaveCM if you alernate your front and back braking carefully, you can lessen this effect. Maybe.

[@The2808erik]

95grams savings ? Do you count the disc rotors ? It's more like 300 grams.

[@drivemenuts3011]

With a pair of 160mm disk rotors being 260 grams, more like 400 grams.

[@vittocrazi]

@@drivemenuts3011 also disc brakes use bigger hubs...

[@hoopdoggydogg]

Rim brakes. Easy to mount, easy to service, lighter, more aero. If you add jagwire compressionless outer housing, the braking performance increases significantly. With a nice carbon bike with carbon wheels, I won't be riding outside in wet weather. 16w at 45km/h is a significant watt saving. Grand Tour GC contenders are likely to agressively use their brakes very little, so the aero and weight advantage of rim brakes will suit them better. Disc brakes serve a benefit over rim brakes when it's wet/muddy it makes braking more predictable. But the potential of brake squeel, bleeding brakes, plus the extra weight, drag and expense. No thank you.

[@janmitvora4510]

Exactly

[@rickeverett3304]

Misleading and incomplete. Rim bikes can be half a pound lighter or more, (frame and fork savings, wheel savings, brakeset savings) A light Rim fork can be 300 grams and feels responsive and absorbs road shock, a Disc fork is 450 grams and feels dead. Rim brakes need very little maintenance and pads last years. Discs are much more prone to maintenance and need special bleeding tools. Discs also rub a lot more often, couple that with the less aero penalty and a rim bike will always be faster.

[@ragwort3369]

I use both. I like rim brakes because they look right on the sort of bikes I usually ride and they're easy to service. I like disc brakes because they don't wear out my rims and they're also easy to service. I haven't really felt the need to choose between one type or the other, to be honest.

[@chapmag6578]

Thats a bit sensible mate 😁

[@BlackMamba-lt8oe]

@@chapmag6578 ask him what will he do if his rims bend 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Expertzero6Dingley]

I’d like to say that Bernal won a rainy stage of the Giro on RIM brakes.

[@SWatchik]

Fake news, Rim brakes have stopped working in the rain as of 2015. s/

[@supermitendo9654]

Doesn’t matter. He’s a pro and we’re normal human beings who bikes for fun. Most people don’t need to sacrifice braking in the rain to win stages. I have both bikes, and in the rain, absolutely disc brake all the time.

[@kpizzle1985]

Didn't he ship a load of time on the descent though? On a disc bike he would have gained more time on the descent than he would have lost in the climb.

[@supermitendo9654]

@@ark8tct That’s true. I wish most companies would still make both rim brake and disc brake options.

[@sebastiengagnon7510]

For having a few bikes (MTB, CX, Fat, road) with hydraulic disc brakes and an older road bike with rim brakes, I can say that unless you RACE your bike in the rain, disc brake are not essential for most of all on ROAD bikes. I never ruined my rim brake wheels for braking too much. My Cervélo RS is lighter than my Caledonia. New rim brake bikes could be lighter than disc brake bikes, if they had not stop designing them. I agree the feel of my ultegra disc brake levers is way smoother than my 10 yo ultegra rim brake levers. My rim brakes never rubbed. Overall, I think they shouldn’t consider rim brake as obsolete and keep making them. It’s cheaper and a well proven solution to stop your bike. Remember all the orgasms bicycle reviewers had when testing ultegra and Dura-Ace rim brakes…

[@guyroebuck8510]

Just what I think. The rim wear thing. Only if you spend your lifetime on a bike will rim wear be a problem. You wilk probably buckle youe rims on a pothole before you eear through it. Rotors wear too....

[@peterwillson1355]

@Guy Roebuck I wear out a rim each year but it's cheaper than tyres are and I enjoy building wheels

[@Mengcharsway]

I am unconvinced by disc brakes. They cost more, are less aero, weigh more, and more often end up rubbing and needing to be adjusted. Of course these adjustments are harder to do than on rims as well. Aesthetically, they also make the hoods protrude father upwards and look quite ugly. They also tend to squeal. Discs do brake better in the wet, but I only really really feel the difference when I am in really quite heavy rain. The only significant advantage I can think of is that you also don't have to grind away on your fancy rims while braking. I have found rim brakes to be great; simple, easy to maintain, and effective. Why is there such a push for disc brakes on road bikes? Am I missing something?

[@chadkline4268]

Yeah, the corporate profiteering factor 😊

[@jason200912]

some tests show they are more aero. gcn finds them to be less aero unless in adverse non sunny environments in which gcn found that disc were significantly faster by a longshot.

[@chadkline4268]

@@jason200912 well, they didn't test disc brakes in winter conditions, and I can 100% guarantee you they can freeze and lock and not only leave you with no brakes, they can leave you stranded in 0F weather in the middle of the night, and there's no way to fix frozen disc brakes in those conditions. In my view, they are extremely dangerous in freezing conditions.

[@chadkline4268]

The 'path less pedaled' channel has a recent interview with someone from Rivendell bicycle mfg, and he explains the situation well IMHO. He says that corporations like Shimano have a marketing/sales requirement that pushes engineers to constantly generate a minor change every 2 years, and a major change every 4 years. And the needs and requirements of the marketplace don't matter. So, even when they create the perfect product, and they have, they must destroy it so that marketing+sales can keep pushing new things and selling the corporation as an innovator. And that means destroying all the old tooling required to make the products because they become tax liabilities, taxable assets even if they are not making anything with them. So, perfection cannot be allowed to sit still, and all the tools required to make perfect products must be destroyed. So, nobody can make perfect products anymore even if they knew how, and they don't know how. Nothing is allowed to sit still in this world. The business models demand constant growth and change, even if it is for the worse.

[@jason200912]

@@chadkline4268 wouldn't rim freeze as well

[@Vii_DT]

With due respect Alex, you forgot to mention how disc brakes are less tolerant of warped/untrue braking surfaces compared to rim brakes because of how narrow that gap is. Ask anyone who had to deal with howling or ticking rotors mid-ride.

[@DaveCM]

Howling disc brakes mid ride is usually due to contamination. The rotors got wet most often. Yep, a little annoying.

[@kv8824]

@@DaveCM I think op refers to rotor gets slightly out of true as opposed to the contaminated braking surface. This happened to me just recently. I have both systems, TRP hy/rd cable actuated hyrdo disc and rim, I would pick the disc any day of the week. However it is a pain when the rotor is warped, just a slight warp and it can be a nightmare to fix or have to get a new rotor.

[@chrisbinch800]

No respect due with this biased video.

[@phillipcowan1444]

I think the much vaunted advantage of discs in the wet is overblown, at least for me.I rarely start a ride in the rain. If I do get caught out in the rain I simply slow down amd ride a lot more conservatively. In recent memory I don't recall feeling underbraked on my rim brakes in the wet.

[@blubaughmr]

Some of use bikes as cars, and live in places (PNW in my case) where it rains a lot, and we have lots of downhills which inevitably have stop signs or red lights on them. After about 8,000 miles of that in the wet, rims are shot, and on the way to being shot, they put lots of grey goo all over the tires and the lower parts of the bike. Great fun when it's time to fix a flat!

[@phillipcowan1444]

@@blubaughmr I totally understand your point. If discs are your preferred solution to your everyday challenges then I say good onya. In my case I prefer the simplicity and ease of maintenance of rim brakes. What's really burning my ass is the bike biz portraying discs as vastly superior (theyre not) and intentionally killing off rim brakes just so they can sell us some new dispoable plastic bikes.

[@blubaughmr]

@@phillipcowan1444 There will always be rim brake bikes available because there are people who want them and will pay for them. But, that also means buying bikes for the quality, and not the name stickers. For a couple decades, I wanted a Cannondale. When I finally got one, I discovered it is just an expensive low quality bike made by some low bidder bike factory in Taiwan, with the Cannondale name stuck on it. The three bikes I have bought since have been two Surlys and an Erickson. Not flashy, fashionable names, but much higher quality. The Erickson has Dura Ace sidepulls. It's a nice weather bike.

[@jason200912]

i did, went down a hill in light mist rain. rims have a second of delay to clear out the water and it's quite dangerous.

[@samtravis4822]

An important point on servicing, rim brakes might need to be looked at more often, but are very simple to adjust and service. Hydraulic disk brakes need a bit more know how

[@lafamillecarrington]

Servicing disk brakes is different, but - in my experience - definitely no harder.

[@EatMyPropwash]

…Except how often do you change brake fluid? I’ve had the same fluid in my 2 roadies and 2 triathlon bikes since they were assembled. Oldest one being 5 years ago, neeest being 2 years ago….. Change the pads, rotors, recalibrate caliper, off you go. Minus the rotor, no different than rim.

[@johnbeardslee3811]

This is probably the biggest downside to disk brakes in that you need some special equipment to properly bleed and service hydraulic disk breaks. I actually still have cable disk brakes on my mountain bike for this very reason.

[@lafamillecarrington]

@@EatMyPropwash I've replaced the fluid about every two years. Never looked like it really needed changing, though!

[@johnandrews3568]

I don't get this... 44 years on rim brakes and no issue ever. Only maintenance is tightening the cable as pads wear and the replacement of pads like ever 5-10 years

[@JamesSmith-vz8yr]

Rim brakes (proper bike brakes) thanks.

[@kcabsquadron4873]

Summary: Rim is better in everyway except when riding in MTB conditions.

[@guyroebuck8510]

Wish I could be so succinct 😁

[@Guoenyi]

If you ride in wet mud or just low tyre friction scenarios (pretty common in MTB), even disc brake can be ineffective because the tyre slips first. The rider must learn to handle the bike when wheels are locked and sliding.

[@michaelfisher9760]

If you treat yourself to an expensive carbon framed summer bike, then surely you won’t use it in the rain which negates the primary benefit of discs. (Aside from that discs are more expensive, heavier and uglier) Ironically your winter bike is likely to be your old bike which will have rim brakes. So you could end up with rim brakes for winter and discs for summer 🤔.

[@gam1471]

What hasn't been mentioned is that quick release hubs have also given way to thru-hubs, so changing a wheel with disc brakes takes longer. I find rim brakes much easier and quicker to adjust. My preference is rim brakes for the road, discs for off road.

[@bernardo9202]

My btt bike, has like 14 years, is my only bike, and is a disc QR, so you can have it that way, also i don't think 90% of the people who ride bikes races, so that isn't really a relevant factor imo

[@matthewlewis2072]

Yeah, the length of time it takes to remove a wheel is a real issue for regular riders...

[@veloveritas9963]

I can swap my wheels off my thru axle bike as quick or quicker than my QR bikes, and I know they’re aligned properly. That is also completely irrelevant to 99% of consumers.

[@fVNzO]

Thru acles are superior in every way shape and form. Especially with taking wheels on and off. It's about the same really, but thru axles just demolish QR when putting wheels back on the frame. No guesswork required.

[@gam1471]

@@fVNzO Assuming that the bike's frame has been built properly to accommodate quick release axles, the axle will just drop into position straight away, and the wheel will be properly aligned. Close the lever, and that's it. No guesswork involved!

[@onlycatclay3093]

Well I'm a mechanic and I don't think you are right about your longevity statement at all. Disc pads wear faster in my experience and contamination can be the end of them. Caliper pistons can seize and require rebuilding as well. Quality rim brakes if kept clean and lubed will last almost for ever. Good to see you not banging the industry drum however and providing valid information instead.

[@888julianman]

GCN - taking the scientific approach of reaching their conclusion first, and then backing it up with very selective fact to suit the narrative .

[@henrikronsbo]

Arguing that disk brakes should win from a maintenance POW is just plain rubbish. I never see rim brakes for maintenance in my local bike shop but plenty of disc brakes. Conclusion: Most owners are unable to service disk brakes, while most users are able to service rim brakes.

[@a1white]

Yep had to get my dodgy Trp Hy//Rd semi hydraulic brakes replaced due to seized pistons. Also had contamination problems (probably my own fault when not being careful enough when cleaning the bike, but it was too easy to damage them). My rim brakes on my older bike, on the other hand, have been perfect. I can easily change the pads and they are fully dependable.

[@cptnfitness8490]

I bought two rim brake frames in recent weeks because I had worried rim brake bikes will be disappeared. One of them is normal climbing bike, another is direct mount aero frame. I believe only competitive cyclists, racing on descends, need disc brake.

[@BixbyConsequence]

"You're not going to be wearing away your expensive Carbon wheels" -- ah modern cycling where you have to buy unnecessarily expensive components to preserve your other unnecessarily expensive components.

[@guyroebuck8510]

🤣

[@julmeissonnier]

Right now just a pair of Ultegra disk rotors cost the same as buying a pair of aluminium training wheels for the winter season...

[@luciustarquiniuspriscus1408]

Wait. Rim brakes are cheaper, lighter, lower maintenance, more aero and break about the same in dry conditions. How did they not win?

[@desertrainfrog1691]

Bias+sponsors

[@ALPHA_-]

Disc has marginally better performance, especially in the rain. Both are good, just have different purposes.

[@FRASSSS]

To much headache to change a flat or if having multiple wheel sets all rotors have to be the same… minimal interchangeable options .

[@larrymcgoldrick3471]

Have seen way too many crashes or near crashes due to wheel lock up. Disc brakes on a road bike are more powerful than needed for something so light and small tire contact patch. I would also argue the superior performance in the wet is a double edge sword for the same reason. Do you need more brake power when slippery out? People trying to modulate all that power in a panic situation usually doesn't go well.

[@sepg5084]

Never had an issue about wheel lock up, and i consider myself a casual cyclist who loves hillclimbs and descents, no where near a pro. Even if it was true that discs are more powerful, they tend to operate smoother and easier to modulate. Wheel lockup would be due to the person's inexperience, which won't be cured by rim brakes.

[@gokaygs]

I disagree on the maintenance aspect, having owned both discs and rims I find rim brakes to be a whole lot easier to maintain.

[@SixSioux]

Totally. To infer that discs are easier to service really goes even against common sense and logic. Makes me think the video is maybe a tad biased towards discs, in full honestly.

[@gokaygs]

@@SixSioux Yep, anyone who maintained their bikes knows this. The service interval is comparable but changing a brake cable or pads is so much simpler and cheaper than bleeding hydraulic lines or changing disc rotors.

[@omniyambot9876]

@@SixSioux not maybe, it really is.

[@BennoSattler]

At this point, all I can muster is a shrug. Left out many crucial points in the "comparison". Like disc rotors (around 100g each), stiffer hubs @disc (to get similar stability as non-disc hubs) and spoke count (more and always crossed with disc wheels front and back). And as the brake performance in the lab in the wet will exceed the performance of rim brakes (only significant if compared to rim brakes on carbon rims though, hold my alu - rims with hand selected brake pads, and we'll see...), tire on wet tarmac is the real defining frontier of stopping performance out there where it counts. Also, the squealing of discs in the wet is an insult. All in all rating: Hard bias will never find the middle ground.

[@sssxxxttt]

Not forgetting the heftier front fork to handle the force. He especially mentioned he was only comparing frame weight, excluding the fork.

[@matthewlewis2072]

@@sssxxxttt the fork weight difference is minimal.

[@leegarrett5469]

Stiffer hubs? The hub is clamped solidly at either end of the hub I'm not sure stiffness is going to be noticeable

[@JimbobB1978]

Well said. Also the fact there is zero compliance on the front fork which is why we are seeing so many wheels lock up. The tyre isn`t in contact with the road as much on a disc fork so can easily lock up and as the braking force is greater it`s harder for the wheel to unlock when it does then come back into contact with the ground. It only takes a split second for this to happen.

[@BennoSattler]

@@leegarrett5469 The hubs are reinforced compared to rim brake hubs, because the load of the braking force of the rotor on only one side travels through the hub body, and up all spokes towards the rim, where then the actual braking force is put onto the road surface via the tire.

[@treygray2817]

Why is GCN insulting our common sense? If you want to advertise disc brakes, just be forthright about it.

[@NordicUrs]

Always rim brakes! The hassle and expense for specific tools for the hydraulic stuff is the reason. I also find discs look ugly. Finally, I am not going up and down long steep mountain passes and also do seldom ride in pouring rain. I would appreciate if bike shops and bike manufacturers would still keep offering rim brake frames, especially in the US. Canyon for example, doesn’t offer rim brake frames in the US but in Germany. Rose stopped offering rim brake frames on their Reveal line. Same with Pinarello Paris. I couldn’t find a shop offering Wilier frames for rim brakes in the US. For me it was a hassle to get an endurance frame for rim brakes here in the US so I almost stopped looking for a new bike. It’s like the car industry over here forcing you to buy bigger engines. Thankfully, there was Basso and a shop in California still offering some endurance rim brake frames. In short, this disc frenzy is just really annoying.

[@playmoreguitar5393]

Cool Story.

[@sepg5084]

I bought a hydraulic brake bleed kit for less than 10 dollars, watched a KZbin vid on how to use it, ezpz. No need for expensive equipment to work on disc brakes. If 10 dollars for a "specific tool" and a youtube vid to learn how to use it is too much of a hassle and expense for you, then maybe you need an easier hobby lol Rim brake road bikes are a lot more prevalent in my side of the world, and are cheaper.

[@durianriders]

Disc brakes are best for road bikes. They give your wheels more traction because you can lock up disc brakes so much easier. Especially in the wet. Locking up the wheels is safer cos you can Tokyo drift thru the corners at speed. Discs are also cheaper, quieter and lighter. The new bikes are so cheap.

[@jefferycampbell2243]

After riding Ultegra and XT level rim brake group sets since the mid 80's, the only advantage I "thought" disc brakes would provide might be with wet rims. Then I rode a disc brake bike and the ability to modulate the brakes - wet or dry - blew me away. I'm 100% converted to disc now with no intention of ever going back to rim style.

[@joules531]

I do wonder about the whole “modulation” thing. If the modulation is so good then how come pro riders keep on running into the back of each other far more than they did before they started riding disc brakes. In fact, given that discs are so often “out of true” even when new, I think modulation is probably trickier than with rim brakes.

[@bluelithium9808]

Can't modulate rim? Been doing it for 50 years.

[@simonm1447]

@@bluelithium9808 of course rim brakes also offers modulation, but disc brakes offer a different feeling here. It's worth to try both systems (bikes can also be loaned for this purpose) to get a personal experience here.

[@fleischliebe430]

same with me. I just bought my first disc brake bike and it is such a different braking experience!

[@ronwhite8503]

Since moving to Cumbria, or the Rain District as it's also known, a few very steep, wet downhills has made me appreciate hydraulic discs more. But I am a soft southerner.

[@bicyclist2]

Call me old school all you want, but I believe that disc brakes belong on mountain bikes not road bikes. I've ridden both. I don't like the blurring of mountain and road bikes. A bike should be one or the other. A rim brake bike is simpler, and easier to work on. If you do your own maintenance and repair work, it's a no brainer forbrim brakes.

[@markbooth6745]

Rim brakes for summer, they look better. Ineos still use them, so they can change the wheel quicker?. Disc brakes in winter, but more expense. 👍

[@eccehomer8182]

That's what I do. 👍

[@markbooth6745]

@@ark8tct You can always build your own bike up. That's what I do, not bought a complete bike for years. Think your right on rim brakes being phased out, it's all about marketing for the manufacturer's.

[@s1kbob681]

Lighter,faster,cheaper and arguably look better....rim brakes all day long for a summer bike.anyone with disc brakes for a dry use only bike is just falling for marketing hype. Winter use a different story.

[@tomnewham1269]

I'm definitely not falling for marketing hype. Have you ever ridden a bike with disc brakes?

[@s1kbob681]

My winter bike has disc brakes,I really can't see reason to pay extra for so many drawbacks for dry summer use in the U.K. With good quality pads such as swissstop black Prince i find the stopping power is more than adequate for the types of riding I do around the lake district.

[@kevvjj2629]

Falling for marketing type? What if you think they just look better?

[@s1kbob681]

If you don't mind paying more for a heavier,less aero and more difficult to set up groupset on your summer bike and just want to go by what you think looks better just get discs. Personally, I want my summer bike to feel as good as possible,especially on climbs and even if I preferred the look of discs(which I don't) I'd go for a rim brake set up.

[@rodrigoalvarez2333]

The video is very good in terms of information, but the bias towards disc brakes is evident. First of all, how is it possible that in maintenance the disc system is better positioned? The rim brake not only requires less maintenance (bleeding and such), but it is MUCH simpler in operation! Secondly, why was there no mention of the clear advantage of the rim brake when it comes to cleaning? The fact that you don't have to worry about any oil particles contaminating the system deserved to be highlighted. And, thirdly, the unforgivable omission for me: the potential risks involved with the disc brake in the event of a fall in a peloton. How can one be so quick to underestimate the price difference between the two braking mechanisms (very noticeable, by the way) and directly NOT talk about the high risks of the disc in falls (much more common and dangerous than the consequences of braking in the wet with rim brakes). Finally, an implicit question that, although the partial orientation of the video did not allow to make explicit, at least to ask: If the rim brake proved to be better in terms of watts (because of minor differences riders change their clothes or shave, right?) Why don't the pros, those who do need to use any differences to their advantage, choose them? I insist, there's no problem with the analysis done. But don't present it as "objective".

[@tinobommelino3376]

For maintenance: disk pads are much easier to change than rim pads. And secondly setting up the hydraulic system with new oil is done in less than 2 minutes. But try to set up new cables for your rim brakes in the same time. I actually like rim brakes as well, but I think the rim brake lovers tend to paint their world brighter than it is.

[@mrstanhope1516]

They are just saying what their sponsors tell them to say. Don't recall Canyon or Orbea making rim brake bikes anymore.

[@janwillemkuilenburg7561]

The pros are not in the position to choose their brake system. It is decided by the sponsoring parties and the bicycle industry behind them.

[@mrstanhope1516]

@@janwillemkuilenburg7561 That's true, problem is GCN have sponsors as well so just do as they are told. The whole channel is just one big advert, shame as used to be really good in the early days.

[@rodrigoalvarez2333]

@@janwillemkuilenburg7561 Exactly, that same pressure is what makes GCN contradict itself: when advertising new products that save 20 watts of power, they advertise them as indispensable. What happens when you realize that disc brakes are obviously more expensive, complex and less aerodynamic? They underestimate the difference. I think at least pro cyclists don't advertise themselves as experts in components and development. One expects, or hoped for, some honesty here.

[@X2Broster]

I prefer rim brakes on TT and road bikes because faster, easier maintenance, better dosage and no screaming sound when braking.

[@sergyum]

My opinion is that the weak element in the braking process on a road bike is the rubber in contact with the asphalt and it does not matter that it brakes on the rim or on the disc, regardless of whether it is running on rain or dry asphalt. Everything is marketing or extra comfort maybe.

[@guyroebuck8510]

That has also been my point. Tyre to surface is the weakest link...

[@juanhidalgo7043]

Thanks for sharing the information. For me, it comes down to the following: a) maintenance, it can be very messy to do maintenance to the disk brake system. b) are you racing? If you are maybe consider disk if you are doing lots of climbing. c) transportation, if you take your bike regularly, you might consider a rim brake. In my case, I have been using rim brakes for 16+ years and rim brake makes the most sense as I don’t race anymore, I don’t do big mountains, easy to do maintenance, etc. what I really dislike from cycling after 16+ years of riding is the way manufacturers are trying to force to buy one over the other. As I have commented on other posts. I will only buy rim brakes as long as there are bikes with rim brakes available. I have mountain bikes and honestly the disk brakes make sense for MTB. At the same time they required lots of maintenance (warping, rubbing, constant cleaning the brake pads). I would say if the disk brakes perform like the cars disk brakes I would totally go for disk brakes. Right now technically is not there. Maybe in 5-10 years.

[@roytai5075]

"disc brake requires less maintenance" I don't get your point at all, I have to adjust the honest feeling you gave me. Disc brake always make me slide around when emergency stop, stopping power for disc brake is way too much for a bike, unless you are weight few hundred bounds.

[@nwbudro9210]

The rim brakes on my older road bikes are virtually maintenance free; definitely set and forget even across wheel removals and in-and-out of the car. The hydraulic disc brakes on my newer mountain bikes require much more fiddling and care plus making it more difficult to remove and re-install the wheel. I like the concept of disk brakes and when I get a new gravel bike, it'll have disc brakes, but disc brakes are hardly a slam dunk.

[@moegigo]

transporting disc brake wheels can be another pain in the.. if you have rubbing when you take it out.

[@jordimaxwell]

Its just simple, rim for roadies and disc for dirt/offroad rides

[@rdub-yah3880]

a 13 Watt saving is pretty significant,

[@lucblain7957]

I have a vintage steel bike as a commuter with center-pull rim brake. I don't think anyone are missing those type of brakes.

[@DanuelNuel]

I have it to in my 40yo diamand bike- fortunately with hub break (it's garbage to..)

[@litchips]

Disc brakes are higher maintenance in my experience with both. Hardly ever have to change rim pads and they are cheap. Alloy rims also wear for a very long time if you clean the pads of debris once in a while. Disc pads wear out much quicker and cost 3-5x as much. Rotors wear out quickly too, if you replace at manufacturer min thickness spec, and can cost a lot. If you are riding in the dry, the only real significant advantage of discs is reduced blowout risk on long descents on skinny tires, mainly for heavier riders. The disadvantages are higher maintenance, weight, cost, chance of disc rub. I think rim brake on wider tire with lower pressure is a good combo for most dry weather riding.

[@256shadesofgrey]

Do the disc breaks actually even give any performance advantage at all if you're using them with 140mm rotors? I can see how a hydraulic disc break would do wonders with a 203mm rotor on an MTB, but on road bikes it seems like a bit of a waste.

[@TheDrenkoShow]

If you have an expensive super road bike, yeah the weight difference is really small, but with mid-tear bikes there is quite a difference. I ride dics brakes, but my next bike will be rims. Idk I just love how the rim brakes look on a road bike.

[@sepg5084]

I am the opposite. I used to have rim brakes, now ride disc brakes. I just love the brake feel. Not a racer anyway so i don't mind the weight/aero. I don't even care about the look, my bike is just plain black. If rim brakes that have the same brake feel as decent disc brakes are widely available and affordable, maybe i'd switch over again.

[@oOoACFREEMANoOo]

Keep in mind •Great if you live in UK and its raining alot •I don't ride in rain. Enough dry days here. •I have fried my disk and brakes on long steep decents where I am constantly braking. •Disk and pads cost way more to keep up cause they wear out way faster. 4 pads and 2 disks in just 9000km (Alpine) •If the set up isn't absolutely perfect "bubbles". Then you could literary die. •pain in the ass if you wanna quickly put your bike in the car or take appart. Disk are good for racers but I can't wait to go back to rim! #neverchangeawinningteam

[@GCNalex]

Glad to see people sharing their thoughts.... Most of which are helpful and constructive, keep them coming🚲

[@matthewlewis2072]

Seriously? The number of people commenting who have clearly zero experience of one of the brake types... And some of the arguments..."Discs brake too well" 🤣

[@bluelithium9808]

Been riding rim for 50 years. Still alive.

[@mudbone59]

I'm so tired of this argument. It's simple, all other vehicles use disc brakes. Why, because they are better...period! As for racing, all other race vehicles use the best disc brakes. Why, because better stopping helps you go faster...period! Brakes are made for one thing, to stop you. Why not use the best available for your safety? If you care so much about weight, lose some off your ass. That's the heaviest thing on your bike.

[@CanyonWanderer]

Living in NL, aka The Lowlands, most of my rides are completely flat unless I travel 100km - 200km to find some elevation (yes we do have some if we search 😁). I realise that it also means I hardly use a break firmly. If I approach an intersection, I just stop peddling and squeeze the breaks a tiny bit for the final slowdown. All in all rim wear is almost non-existent for me, very different from where there are major elevation differences involved... I still feel that once rim wear is out of the equation, rim brakes are just perfect, I've had so little maintenance and never had the terrible squeaks I've heard from disk brake riders, so rim brakes it is for me so far 😃

[@jerryjin3427]

Rim brake feels better when braking. It’s like you are communicating with the brakes, rather than you are communicating with the hydraulics. It’s just the most natural form of what a road bike should be. I understand disc brakes are implemented in the top-tier road bikes to deliver the best stopping performance, but for mid-range bikes, I feel it’s a shame for companies offering few rim brake choices. Rim brakes have all I need, and it’s lighter. And as a tuner, I’d love to tweak things and do the upgrades. Rim brakes are just far easier to work with.

[@guyroebuck8510]

Yes from me! I like my bike to feel like s bike not a servo assisted car brake.

[@larsmunch4536]

The weight of the wheels was shortly mentioned. A front wheel for rim brakes can have radial spokes. A front wheel for disk brakes needs a more complicated spoke pattern and will be heavier.

[@jamesmcconville7900]

That’s a really good point Lars 👍

[@matthewlewis2072]

Shame that weight is irrelevant.

[@dodeg3422]

Not much difference between rim and disc brakes without a rider,utter nonsense all bikes have riders.

[@jaredtroyarmstrong]

I was doing a Gran Fondo (Levi's Gran Fondo) a couple years ago and there is a long, sustained, steep descent about 50 miles into the ride. I was riding rim brakes and noticed my rims were getting very warm and started to "squeal" about 1/3 the way down the hill. My buddy was right behind me also using rim brakes and about 2/3 of the way down the hill when his rim got hot enough to cause a blow-out of his front tire. He was able to manage the blowout on the 20+% descent without crashing, but the guy behind him also had a blow-out of his front wheel and wrecked pretty hard losing his front teeth in the process. Weather was great. The mechanic at the next stop said there must have been 40+ rim brake tires that blew out on that hill, no disc brake bikes had any issues. I told myself I would never buy a rim brake bike again. Far superior dry or wet!

[@matejburian3191]

Rim brakes = cheaper, lighter, easy to maintain, quick change in a race, more aero, did I forgot something? Oh less profit for manufacturer 🥲

[@alanwright4628]

Full of misinformation and pretending to provide a balanced argument for both braking systems. Come on, Alex. You are better than that.

[@Lillee1969]

Currently the issue is the cost of a new disc brake bike, particularly the top end models. You can currently buy a very good top spec, top tier rim brake bike second hand for a fraction of the price of a brand new disc brake bike, and in the end you end up with the same performance in the dry? Since I don’t ride in the rain (that’s what my pain cave is for) its simply doesn’t make sense to throw money at discs when my rim brake bikes are perfectly good. If you were new to the market and want to buy a new bike and have $10K to blow then yes worth considering (not that you have a choice anyway with new bikes!)

[@Sutlore007]

I would still prefer a rim brake bike because it is still easier to service and I love checking my bike after every ride, which I may clean it or adjust it if it needs to do so. I have invested 3 pairs of rim brake wheelsets and very likely to swop the wheels every few rides. Could not imagine if i have to change to disk brake bike and have to buy an additional new good wheelset, that would be good for my wallet lol

[@howarddavies136]

Would you still feel the same way if you had a disc brake bike with three sets of disc brake wheels?

[@Sutlore007]

@@howarddavies136 of course not, because changing disc brake wheels is more difficult. Think about when you need to travel with your bike on a car or a train, could be troublesome. If I had a disc brake bike, I would not have more than 1 set of wheels.

[@sepg5084]

@@Sutlore007 the convenience then would be that you only need 1 wheelset for a disc brake bike then. What a weird metric. If i was a child then i would have difficulty swapping a disc brake wheelset. But an adult wouldn't find it difficult lol

[@RezaAgustaJalanEnakEja]

Hemmm I Choose Rim Brake! -Lighter -Simple -Cheapest -Very Easy Maintenance

[@vitorvilasanchez]

"am I the only weirdo that uses v-brakes?" Old 26 inch mtb frame turned into a single speed 700x40c gravel using v brakes and holding pretty good.

[@christopherharmon9336]

I restored my 1998 Gary Fisher, because it was the only bike I own which had rack mounts! It's a "flat-bar gravel bike." I am running 2" road tires, which makes it a decent commuter. 1x drive system with a single 34T narrow-wide chainring and an 11-40 cassette. (Wolf Tooth Components chainring and Roadlink)

[@chrispyy606060606]

I’m currently on disc brakes but likely going back to Rim brake for road riding and racing. Easier to service, way faster wheel changes. MTB and gravel disc is way better.

[@janmitvora4510]

Rim brakes the best , end of argument.

[@someinconsequentialusernam7799]

When I can still launch myself over the handlebars with rim brakes - a bee flew in my helmet and I used the wrong hands to brake / remove my helmet - I’d say rim brakes have plenty of stopping power. I’m not a fan of changing for the sake of changing, so make mine rim brakes.

[@augustinekentli8772]

Well based on my experience, I had both a 2016 rim brake bike and a 2017 disc brake which I sold them away this year to trade in for more vintage bikes. I must say that the disc brake experience was interesting because in 10000kms, I had to buy new calipers for the disc brake and the brake fluid keeps coming out and not braking properly. The labor cost for my disc brake was high. Whereas the rim brake bike, I never had to overhaul the brakes other than a change pads with a weekly washdown. My bike is obviously good to go.

[@Yes-sc1pb]

The weight difference is more like 200-300grams with heavier wheels and thru axles it'll be closer to 400-500g difference in weight

[@ofeykalakar1]

That’s half a kilogram or 1.1 pounds-wtf

[@owenanstey436]

I use my rim brake road bike in the dry, and the hydro disc cx bike in the wet.

[@JonFairhurst]

The biggest advantage of rim brakes is budget. You can get a top spec carbon bike cheap - if you buy one 8-12 years old. And that bike will have rim brakes. But if you can spend the cash, discs are simply safer, offering better modulation, lighter feel, great performance in the wet, clearance for larger wheels and tires, and no wear on carbon wheels. The deciding factor for me is long, steep, hot descents on ratty roads, where I have no choice but to really lean on the brakes. It’s fine with calipers on aluminum wheels, but I worry about delaminating carbon clinchers with that intense heat. Since I want carbon wheels and demand safety on difficult descents, discs are an easy choice. But if you race flat crits in the dry on a budget, a used rim brake bike is the perfect solution.

[@milybanily]

The bigger disc brake I know is....a rim brake. No 140 mm, no 160 mmm....700 MM !!!!

[@drivemenuts3011]

Until it gets immersed in a muddy puddle and then it is scratchy and useless.

[@keithjenkins7919]

@@drivemenuts3011 Well it you don't anticipate and observe you are not a very good cyclist. Rims have never caused me such problems in over 50 years of cycling and never a crash due to not being able to stop in time. Disks spoil the look of a bike as do the awful non threaded headsets, and and as for push creaking BB !! Who needs electronic gear changing, next will be power steering. All these so called advances are either cost savings for the manufactures or marketing gimmicks to make you older bike seem obsolete and get you to spend more money. 99.99% of cyclist seem the think they need a T de F winning bike whereas 99.99% wiill never even be a professional cyclist !

[@milybanily]

@@keithjenkins7919 Keith I can't say never crash, I crashed. But the limit of breaking is not the break itself but the rubber. Both have enough power to stop the wheel turning until tinny rubber wheel fail. So more breaking power not means better breaks.