You are reading a single comment by @lae and its replies. Click here to read the full conversation.
  • I always wonder why disc brakes are so popular on town bikes. Obviously on a cargo bike you've got a lot of weight, but on a town bike you're not gonna be carrying more than your weight + maybe 10kg.

    Considering that disc brakes need servicing/replacement parts relatively often, and that they're quite fragile (discs bent doing the bike rack shuffle), you'd think that more town bikes would have hub brakes - as well as being impervious to weather, they're robust and almost maintenance free.

    Plus I think hub brakes are actually lighter.
    Shimano Deore XT brake setup (I couldn't find a total weight for everything listed anywhere so I had to add up parts which might not be the exact same combo of parts that you'd buy from a shop, but it should be a reasonably accurate estimate)
    lever = 240g
    caliper inc lines = 450g
    disc = 160g
    hub = 260g
    total = 1,110g

    Sturmey Archer XFD hub
    hub = 770g
    cable lever = 180g (ish)
    total = 950g

    I also remember reading about oversize hub brakes that had stopping power comparable to disc brakes. Heavier, for sure, but with some development (remember that disc brakes have already had a head-start in development) I imagine the weight could be shaved down a little, too.

About

Avatar for lae @lae started