2013 Bikes

Buy cheap, buy twice ( or something like that ). I'd argue that the winter training bike is something that you really don't want to let you down.

By Winter.... I mean England.

I just placed an order with Wicked Cycles, lets see what they are like.

Let us know what you think. My cat nearly ordered me a pair by jumping on the keyboard then!

Still.... be cheaper than all the dental work he's had done in the past few years.

I think disc brakes will be another couple of years

Nah hydraulic brakes

for road bikes as a relatively standard option i think disc brakes will be another couple of years (hydraulic or mechanical)

I know. But I'm saying that hydraulically powered standard brake calipers will come along first, disc brakes ending up on road bikes seems quite unlikely

Bear in mind that hydraulic system in MTB/Tourer are generally different as they're separated from the shifter.

I'm hoping for powerful mechanical disc brakes without the aids of an adaptor to convert cable pull to happen first before the hydraulic brake/shifter, it's much easier without being limited to a specific brake shifter.

SRAM are currently researching hydraulics.
The reason I don't think disc brakes will end up on road bikes anytime soon is because they won't become race legal and manufacturers would neglect to work on something that can't be fitted to pro race bikes, which undoubtedly influence people's choice in bikes/componentry.
I could be completely wrong I don't work on the development team at Shimano

as more people start to use disc brake cyclocross bikes i think the benefits will become apparent for people who use their bikes all year round

as such consumer demand may produce the shift, rather than what is UCI legal, their stipulations have fuck all bearing on what most of us do on our bikes

You're obviously right about consumer demand and there are benefits from hydraulics too.
I'm saving up for a fucking hover bike though, biding my time...

as more people start to use disc brake cyclocross bikes i think the benefits will become apparent for people who use their bikes all year round

This.

I was really enjoying my disc equipped CX bike on long ride, I'm always wary about braking on descent even with decent brakes, but disc brakes make child play of descent.

Seeing the amount of worn rims from the daily commuter on their Specialized Allez, disc-brake road bike would be much better and easier to maintain, even if you worn the disc rotors, it's still easier and cheaper to replace than a rims (or wheels).

all the more reason why i am so fucking frustrated that my new frame has not arrived yet!

Whilst living in London, I found that daily commuting could be just as hard wearing for wheel rims as off roading. You also don't have to clean all that horrible black shit off your rims after every wet ride when using discs.

How long did it take for Robin to build your frame James?

that took a few months, but this is a stock frame, it was completed on 6th of July and I am just waiting for it to arrive

Whilst living in London, I found that daily commuting could be just as hard wearing for wheel rims as off roading. You also don't have to clean all that horrible black shit off your rims after every wet ride when using discs.

Road bike frames, or forks at least, would have to be redesigned to cope with the stress from disc brakes, no?

^Most definitely, but they wouldn't need mtb size discs, so no need to go mad with reinforcing them.

has already been done for cx forks

I'm quite aware

^Most definitely, but they wouldn't need mtb size discs, so no need to go mad with reinforcing them.

Surely the bigger the disc the LESS stress on the frame & fork? But big discs would mean more stress on the wheel.

Surely the bigger the disc the LESS stress on the frame & fork? But big discs would mean more stress on the wheel.

Yes and the front wheel may need to be dished like the rear. But as DJ pointed out, it's been done for cross bikes, so the 'formula' could be applied to road bikes and tweaked slightly

^^Hmmm.... Not too sure there. Mtb forks usually state what size discs they will warranty up to, so they must think that extra stress is being applied to the fork with a larger disc. I'll have to read up a bit on that one.

^^Hmmm.... Not too sure there. Mtb forks usually state what size discs they will warranty up to, so they must think that extra stress is being applied to the fork with a larger disc. I'll have to read up a bit on that one.

Rim braking is equivalent to having a 622mm rotor.

The further out the caliper is from the centre of the wheel, the more advantageous leverage it has, this is why larger rotors offer stronger braking.

Because the leverage is greater, the stress on the fork/frame is much less than if thr rotor was small and the caliper closer to the axle.

Was just going to say 'It's Physics' but thank you for the text book explanation