Growtac Mech Disc

[NHAero]

I know you've all been waiting, Oscar-like anticipation...installation of ST-R9100 mech shifters, Growtac calipers, and Jagwire pro brake cables and housing have saved 68g vs. the ST-R9120 hydro mechanical shifters and BR-9070 Dura Ace calipers with Jagwire Pro hydro hoses on my Bingham.

Probably not gonna be all that much faster now. Rats.

[donevwil]

Originally Posted by NHAero

I know you've all been waiting, Oscar-like anticipation...installation of ST-R9100 mech shifters, Growtac calipers, and Jagwire pro brake cables and housing have saved 68g vs. the ST-R9120 hydro mechanical shifters and BR-9070 Dura Ace calipers with Jagwire Pro hydro hoses on my Bingham.

Probably not gonna be all that much faster now. Rats.

Yep, looking forward to more feedback. I gave in and bought some Jagwire Pro cable kits and Campy cables (what a waste). I'm sure you'll have your new config up and running before I do, however.

[weisan]

Got some time to burn so went back and redone the entire cabling and housing using what was supplied
In the box. Turned out much better braking and lever action feel performance. I would say... it's on par with hydraulic.... without the squealing.

Hope the other mech brake manufacturers would "copy" the tech and make it more affordable some day.

Oh oh... and I threw away the black rubber thingy, it's useless and unnecessary.
20230317_141007 by Wei Hui, on Flickr

20230317_141031 by Wei Hui, on Flickr
20230317_140939_resized by Wei Hui, on Flickr

[lavi]

I need to do some more tinkering with mine to optomize setup. I'll get there. I also just installed the calipers without using any of the cabling that came with the kit. I didn't want to unwrap my bars and futz with new cables and housing. I know that I need to.

Still, I'm glad I have these brakes and look forward to using them more and more. If I can ever pull myself off my Pegs.

[NHAero]

First ride this afternoon on the Bingham after swapping in the Growtacs. They work well on both bikes. The Jagwire Pro housing is also compressionless, just not as hunky as the housing that came with the Growtacs.

[NHAero]

Blue brake bling!

[weisan]

Originally Posted by lavi

I didn't want to unwrap my bars and futz with new cables and housing. I know that I need to.

Same here. At first I didn't want to do it, just to see if I can save the trouble but later decided if I am gonna spend this much $$ for a pair of brakes, I really want to give it a fair shake by setting it up as best as I could so there's no excuse if it underperform to my expectations.

[weisan]

Originally Posted by NHAero

Blue brake bling!

Looking good aero pal. I like chrome, silver, black, white and red colors when it comes to complementing titanium frameset.

[NHAero]

Originally Posted by weisan

Looking good aero pal. I like chrome, silver, black, white and red colors when it comes to complementing titanium frameset.

Wait...are you saying you DON'T like blue and pink?

Them's fightin' words! Meet you at the OK Corral (or maybe the Pretty Good Chorale?)

[weisan]

20230318_085421 by Wei Hui, on Flickr

20230318_085743 by Wei Hui, on Flickr

[NHAero]

Today I decided to swap out the wheels on the Bingham from the 650Bx42 to the 700Cx25 for a change of pace. Way easier with the Growtacs than with the previous hydros - didn't need to loosen the calipers and trial and error my way back until the pads didn't rub. A 3mm hex key and a minute or two and wala, on my way.

[thegoldfi]

These brakes are so interesting to me. As much as I love my Klampers, I do like the idea of something lighter.

[Hilltopwalters]

Ordering my growtacs this weekend. Can't wait to board the hype train of better stopping power.

[weisan]

Had a couple of rides in so far with the brakes set up optimally.

Here's the thing. I expect brakes to work just as is without jumping through hoops or paying a premium. The only reason brakes exist is to stop a moving thing. That's its sole purpose for existence. Even my lowly cheap unknown brand name medium reach rim brake fulfills its sole purpose in life, it stops on a dime. For me to have to fork out a fortune in order to get a mechanical disc brake to work just as well as a $30 rim brake is unacceptable, not mentioning having to contend with the particular issues of disc brakes.

So yeah, these expensive brakes work real well. At a premium.

[NHAero]

Originally Posted by weisan

Had a couple of rides in so far with the brakes set up optimally.

Here's the thing. I expect brakes to work just as is without jumping through hoops or paying a premium. The only reason brakes exist is to stop a moving thing. That's its sole purpose for existence. Even my lowly cheap unknown brand name medium reach rim brake fulfills its sole purpose in life, it stops on a dime. For me to have to fork out a fortune in order to get a mechanical disc brake to work just as well as a $30 rim brake is unacceptable, not mentioning having to contend with the particular issues of disc brakes.

So yeah, these expensive brakes work real well. At a premium.

My experience is different than yours. I've found that many rim brake calipers don't stop on a dime. Heck, my expensive Paul Racer on the front of my Bob Jackson, which is a step up from the long reach Tektro R559, doesn't stop on a dime, even with Koolstop pads. I find that the Growtacs stop at least as well in dry conditions as my Dura Ace 9000 calipers on my Firefly, which are also expensive brakes. I'd be surprised if they don't stop better when it's wet.