Dogsballs' wheels or anyone know how to make unmachined deep v's useful for front brake riding?

disc breaks on a tarck bike is worng, please try again. thanks.

True, disc breaks are bad news...

and ugly..

hippy Those guys descending the alps at 100kph don't seem to complain.. yeah, until they fly off the edge, but still.. or..

http://www.cotic.co.uk/product/roadrat.html

that bike , is a mountain bike for people who can't handle the fact they want a road bike.

what a joke, the q-factor, head angle..

come on, takin de piss.

maybe mtbers who want something a little quicker for commuting ...

a road bike is really good on the road.

i prefer road bikes, but disc brakes are superior (so safer), and most people have only ridden MTBs so they like the stability/ease of flat handlebars (hence the popularity of flat-bar road bikes)

also(!) track bikes sometimes haven't got brake holes. disc brakes = perfect solution! I think a superskinny 700C wheel would look cool with a disc rotor on there...

lpg maybe mtbers who want something a little quicker for commuting ...

i am a mtb'er, used to use my ss on the road but wanted something a little quicker for commuting so i brought a pista :-)

hybrids remind me of those faux off roaders that sit a bit higher than cars and have a bit more plastic on them, ridiculous things. if you want to drive off-road? get a 4x4 with knobbly tyres, drive around town? get a smart car.
if the london wrongster is the coldplay of fixed those roadrat things are james blunt personified.

disk brakes are more efficient but my experience of riding with slicks and disks is that the power is useless when dealing with the limited tyre grip in the wet it's just too easy to lock-up or modulate your braking, my formula oro's were perfect for mtb'ing in the alps but i'll stick to dura-ace for the road.

lpg, don't take it personal like, it's just that in this instance i disagree with everything you say :-)

MrSmith i am a mtb'er

looking at this really quickly i thought it was an abbreviation for masturbater.

just thought i'd share.

thought leather brake pads would help?

I couriered on a Chas Roberts hybrid for seven years, flat bars are better than drops in traffic, heavier wheels are good for holes and curbs, the wheels I put on that bike were as straight as they went on when they finally came off fifteen years later, colombus tubing & tough as old boots that bike

Mr Smith,

As someone who hasn't ridden an MTB for a long time, i accept your argument against discs on 700C's. But, i do think hybrids have their place.
It isn't as clear cut as 'Offroad = 4x4, Road = SMART car'. Road bikes with drops are fast, but they are less comfortable. They aren't perfectly designed for the quick turning you need in traffic. They are perfect for racing smooth french roads because they make you more aero and you hardly ever touch the brakes.

A hybrid has slacker angles, so is more comfortable, and the flat-bar setup is easier; brakes easier to apply.

As for the speed, i reckon they'd be the same in London...

Also, you gotta think of the price (as always), hybrids are considerably cheaper than road bikes. A lot of my friends have never even ridden with 700C wheels, let alone racing bikes...

kilgore_trout [quote]MrSmith i am a mtb'er

looking at this really quickly i thought it was an abbreviation for masturbater.

just thought i'd share.[/quote]

that's what i meant, isn't everyone on here? :-)

lpg i prefer road bikes, but disc brakes are superior (so safer), and most people have only ridden MTBs so they like the stability/ease of flat handlebars (hence the popularity of flat-bar road bikes)

also(!) track bikes sometimes haven't got brake holes. disc brakes = perfect solution! I think a superskinny 700C wheel would look cool with a disc rotor on there...

Where would you mount the caliper ?

32h is fine for disc brakes, read Jobst Brandt's "The Bicycle Wheel" for why. So many myths for wheels!

Anyway, speaking as someone who owns a roadrat... ;)

It's a lovely bike, I'm running it fixed (goldtec) with a front hydraulic Avid Juicy 5. 700cx23 tyres, flat bars, 42:16. The front disc is amazing for controlled, efficient braking.

I'm going to be getting rid of it though because I want a matching front Goldtec, plus to put drops/bullhorns on so I've got some mini campag v brakes.

But don't knock it until you've ridden it. I find it responds to everything fantastically, whether I'm filtering through thick traffic, bunny hopping kerbs, or taking short cuts through muddy footpaths.

And in response to lpg - 700c wheels do look awesome with discs :)

if someone were to make a light disc hub, and a tiny disc with lightweight caliper and lever designed for road bikes, I think they would sell like hotcakes. the thing is, tradition still holds a big sway over cycling, especially road.

weight is still a huge issue for so many roadies too.

decent caliper brakes, properly set up, work perfectly well, even in the wet.