GamJams Tech: Premes, Picks, Promos p/b November Bicycles — 1-19-12

As a cyclist, the search for newer and better gear is constant — there's always something else out there. Premes, Picks, Promos will highlight both the next big thing and the sleeper deal.

We try not to get too ranty around here, but today's topic may stray that way. Opinions, ahoy!

It's become an inevitability of late that, while on a ride in which cyclocross bikes are being ridden, the discussion turns to disc brakes. There are pros and cons tossed about the bunch for a few minutes. Lighter rims! Better mud-braking performance! Better overall braking performance! A bunch of other wonderful things!

Meanwhile, like a guy who grumbled (and might still be grumbling) about the move to 10-speed chains and cassettes, I just don't get it. I don't see the need for disc brakes on 'cross bikes. It seems unnecessary. Let me explain why.

One of the things I enjoyed most about 'cross this fall was the welcome diversion to offseason meandering. I mean, I like to roam around on a bike as much as anybody, but that can sometimes lead to boredom for me. So having something to do was nice — it was a little side adventure.

Based on many of the bikes I saw while racing — budget-friendly, second-tier bikes, rather than the customary full-bling road bikes — it's a nice fall diversion for many others, too. Many people just moved their road wheels (or full drivetrain) over to their 'cross bikes and got on with it.

You wouldn't be able to swap wheels with your road bike if you had disc brakes on your 'cross bike. You'd have a specific wheel with only one specific purpose. And if you want a set of wheels in the pit, you'll need to buy another pair of extremely specific wheels. While that's OK for a select few, it seems more likely that most racers who are approaching 'cross as a fall diversion are swapping wheels back and forth between their road bike and 'cross bike.

Also, it seems to me that those clamoring for disc brakes fall into one of two categories: mountain bikers and people who've never had good cantilever brakes. And many times they're one in the same. There's a reason disc brakes got hot a few years ago — old cantilever brakes sucked. (Go ahead and get all indignant, mountain bikers. That's fine.)

But the new generation of cantilever brakes is a huge step above those of the past. Avid's Shorty Ultimate, the TRP CX9 and Shimano's new CX70 — among others — all provide ample stopping power and easy setup and adjustment.

And yet, somehow, they're not good enough? We still need more stopping power?

Call me crazy, but part of what I enjoyed about 'cross this fall was wrestling the course as much as the competition. And part of that includes dealing with what the course does to your bike. That means adjusting technique and strategy as things deteriorate. Disc brakes take part of that out of the equation.

Yes, you still need to account for the course, but if you know your brakes are going to be the same, it takes away a bit of the required finesse. But is applying a ton of braking power into a muddy corner a good thing, anyway? And are you really going that fast where you need a ton of power? No, probably not.

We'll see more bikes with disc brakes in the next couple of years — I have no doubts. But for racing purposes, you won't be able to convince me that it's an improvement compared to where we are today.

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In addition to being GamJams Tech Editor, Bryan Redemske has managed the Trek Bicycle Store of Omaha, is a professional writer and a Cat 3 racer. He drinks a lot of coffee.

 

 

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Sheesh, some of that stuff is expensive. Good thing you get your frames and wheels at Pro Deal pricing. Wait — you don't? You might want to look at November Bicycles. They've got a new racer-specific model designed to strip unnecessary pricing out of the cost of your new bike. It's like a Pro Deal for everyone.

November Bicycles. Race Smart.

Comments

[Red Baron]

Bryan, I feel your pain regarding the investment aspect of the disc brakes for CX topic. I for one just finally invested in a set of carbon tubular wheels, tires and carbon specific brake pads after racing many seasons on clinchers (Some would say I was insane for that decision, but that's a whole other topic). And like many, I do not want to have to invest in a whole new set-up (disc ready frame/fork/wheels).

On the technical advantages of disc brakes for CX vs. the modern rim brakes there are several in addition to the ones you mention:
-Provide ability to dump speed more quickly
-More likely to be able to ride a wheel that has gone out of true/bent during a race (has happened to me more than once)
-And yes, *better braking in muddy conditions (*w/caveat)

Coming from a MTB racing background, I went from canti's to V-brakes, to cable-actuated disc brakes and ultimately to hydraulic closed-system disc brakes on my MTB's. Each was a step up in performance from the previous technologies and I would certainly never go back to canti's or V-Brakes on the MTB.

That said, it is my opinion that the cost/performance aspect of the current cable-actuated disc brake technology for CX doesn't have enough advantages over the current top-end rim stoppers like the ones you mention: Shorty Ultimate and TRP CX9.

Example: I just raced the UCI Masters Cyclocross World Championships in Louisville, KY and the course was a slop fest. Here was a situation where I thought there would be a definite advantage to running disc brakes. I had a chance to ask a racer in my field that was running Avid disc brakes on one of his bikes how they performed and he said they were no better than the canti's due to the mud getting clogged up in the arm that actuates the caliper (That's the caveat).

Until the major component companies come up with a closed hydraulic system/group for CX, I will continue to run canti's. That day is not far off. Cyclocross is blowing up in the US which is driving the disc brake technology. Eventually, that technology will (dare I say it) make its way onto road bikes, too.