Disc Brakes-maximum stop for minimum effort?

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  • I think I’m developing Golfers Elbow(easy putt for Golf Club thread) and need to reduce my gripping effort.
    Easy I thought go for Hope RX4+ with 180mm discs on my (SRAM) road bike and maybe go 200mm on my polo bike.
    The Hope website seems to say don’t go too big on your disc or it will never reach working temperature.
    What’s the best way to minimise my effort (and spend money on bling).


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  • Depending on frame, most road oriented bikes won’t be able to clear a 180mm rotor.
    A well setup, frequently bled system with good, well bedded braking components will more than be able to stop you with ease.

    180 won’t make braking ‘better’ per se. Your limitation will always be the grip limit on tyres.

    More so with a polo bike, you won’t be going fast enough where you need that much surface area to dissipate heat or stop you so quick. A 160 will do just the same.

    Exception being freeride or enduro stuff where you’re battering the brakes under heavily contaminated conditions.

    I’d personally look at brake lever ergonomics (longer lever, maybe stroke adjustability) and position of lever relative to your requirement.

  • Get a really good position at the drops and brake from there, much better leverage

  • The golfers elbow thing is flimsy. Just buy nice brakes if you want them, otherwise see a physio, strengthen and get it sorted..think of everything else you grip that you'd need to change! (Have also had golfers elbow..)

  • Cheers everyone, I suppose I’m mainly looking for the most efficient brakes as you put x in at the levers and get x-y effect. I need to minimise y.
    I’m going to google some physio exercises.

  • So you've already got hydraulic disc brakes and they take too much effort?

    Was never a fan of SRAM road discs, but I'm pretty sure they're not supposed to suck that much...

  • I think as said the ergonomics of the levers and so forth would be the first port of call, if the braking system itself is in A1 condition. There is a considerable distance between A1 and "close enough", but getting elbow pain would be surprising - if of course it's only the braking that is the major input there. I did both my elbows zero favours by having a poor weight training technique, which took months of de-loading to rectify. Coincidentally it made my forearm pump really bad on long off road descents.

    I'd be a little cautious of 180mm rotors and road forks- IIRC that's beyond the rated maximum, although unlikely to cause a failure in of itself the warranty may be void.

  • So you've already got hydraulic disc brakes and they take too much effort?

    Was never a fan of SRAM road discs, but I'm pretty sure they're not supposed to suck that much...

    Calm down junior, when you get to my age you can get a repetitive strain injury putting your pants on

  • Cheers this gives some clues

  • Not long after reading this thread a youtube vid was suggested and I thought it was interesting. Something about a mobility issue with the elbow joint, probably useless sorry.
    https://youtube.com/shorts/bVWpJ5t06B0

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Disc Brakes-maximum stop for minimum effort?

Posted by Avatar for Dibble @Dibble

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