Hey, I did my time with rim brakes! Actually I'm still riding my Tarmac (DA rim brakes are lovely) and the Focus CX thing (cantis are death) but if you build a new bike with rim brakes these days, especially for off-road use, you're a mug.
Well sure, all bikes can do all things, right? Just you might have more fun or less fun depending on which bike you've picked. I fucking love riding that shitty CX bike through sloppy fields and canal paths in West London after it pissed it down but would I want to ride Badlands on it? Fuck no.
Hey, I did my time with rim brakes! Actually I'm still riding my Tarmac (DA rim brakes are lovely) and the Focus CX thing (cantis are death) but if you build a new bike with rim brakes these days, especially for off-road use, you're a mug.