Just realized the irony of disc brakes on an aero bike.

zmalwo · #1 02-09-2019, 01:09 PM

I rarely have these genius moments but this is for sure one of them. The whole purpose of an aero bike is to use them on flat stages where constant speed is high enough that the aero advantage of aero tubes offsets the weight penalty, and the purpose of disc brakes are to avoid overheating of carbon brake tracks on mountain stages where lots of braking take take place. If an aero bike is not used on mountain stage, then caliper brakes would offer better aero gain than disc brake, as well as reducing overall weight close to 6.8kg as aero bikes rarely make to that light. But since everything in the bike industry is about marketing and forced gear retirement, the manufactures probably don't want you to know this. One can argue that discs offer better braking in wet weather, but with recent year pads and brake track improvement I highly doubt discs even offer that much better braking performance.

zzy · #2 02-09-2019, 01:13 PM

Your underlying assumptions are incorrect. Even aero bikes have no problem hitting the UCI minimum. Well engineered aero frames with flatmount disc brakes have better aerodynamics than caliper brakes, depending on who you believe.

KonaSS · #3 02-09-2019, 01:14 PM

And better braking is better braking, applies to flat roads, wet weather, and downhills.

Mike V · #4 02-09-2019, 01:37 PM

"Better"

weisan · #5 02-09-2019, 01:51 PM

Bentley · #6 02-10-2019, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weisan

Not understanding this

Burnette · #7 02-10-2019, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bentley

Not understanding this

He's giving you visual proof that all modern bikes look better in the small size. And being short of stature myself, I approve of this message.

zmalwo · #8 02-10-2019, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burnette

He's giving you visual proof that all modern bikes look better in the small size. And being short of stature myself, I approve of this message.

I think a medium size road bike with a 120mm+ stem and 75cm+ saddle height look the best personally.

Burnette · #9 02-10-2019, 08:47 AM

,

Quote:

Originally Posted by zmalwo

I think a medium size road bike with a 120mm+ stem and 75cm+ saddle height look the best personally.

Well, I'm way closer to the ground, so from my vantage point medium isn't optimal visualy.

zmalwo · #10 02-10-2019, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burnette

,

Well, I'm way closer to the ground, so from my vantage point medium isn't optimal visualy.

Same here, I ride a 52cm I wish I was taller!

Burnette · #11 02-10-2019, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zmalwo

Same here, I ride a 52cm I wish I was taller!

At my age I have become comfortable in my skin and in cycling it has actually been a bonus. In climbing and in aero in particular, my size has been a benefit.

I live in a hilly area and on big group charity rides, for kicks, on a 25 to 30 mph downhill run I would tuck as tight and low as possible and catch the draft of a group farther up the road, passing a long train very fast on my right.

galgal · #12 02-10-2019, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burnette

At my age I have become comfortable in my skin and in cycling it has actually been a bonus. In climbing and in aero in particular, my size has been a benefit.

I live in a hilly area and on big group charity rides, for kicks, on a 25 to 30 mph downhill run I would tuck as tight and low as possible and catch the draft of a group farther up the road, passing a long train very fast on my right.

Would it not be *relevant* to mention whether you were or were not using disks as you sped past the very long train on your right

Burnette · #13 02-10-2019, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by galgal

Would it not be *relevant* to mention whether you were or were not using disks as you sped past the very long train on your right

No, but I did leave out that my truck and my butt did look awesome.

rzthomas · #14 02-10-2019, 11:19 AM

Back on topic, disc brakes on TT bikes make sense because hydro hose can run through all sorts of complicated bends without impairing braking power or feel.

nickl · #15 02-10-2019, 02:50 PM

This quote has appeared many times on this and other forums and still rings true for many. Dario had a way to express himself quite succinctly, even with English as his second language.

'One of the main functions of disc brakes is to solve the problems of the carbon wheels manufacturers. Solve problems of the wheels is not my job.' --Dario Pegoretti