Road bikes with disc brakes have spread rapidly. The vast majority of bikes in the professional peloton are already equipped with them, reporting benefits for braking power and modulation, as well as greater efficiency and safety in wet conditions. But, is there still an alternative to discs? Is it worth buying a bike with caliper or rim brakes? In this article, we answer these and other questions, with a focus especially on amateur cyclists who are unsure about which braking system their next road bike should have.
Advantages of discs that rim brakes do not have
The main advances brought by discs for bicycle braking can be summed up in two: modulation of braking itself and effectiveness in the wet. The first refers to the fact that the bike does not stop abruptly, especially if the braking system is hydraulic (brake fluid) and not mechanical (tensioned cable). This is a very useful quality when controlling the bike on steep descents, for example. As for the second advance, the disc solves the problem of braking in the wet, especially if it is hydraulic. With a rim brake, the braking surface gets wet and effectiveness decreases, making the bike more uncontrollable, less powerful, and requiring greater skill to handle.
Advantages of rim brakes that discs do not have
But these two big advantages of disc brakes over rim brakes for a road bike are not enough to retire the latter. Currently, discs dominate in stock builds from brands. But both systems coexist perfectly, and it cannot yet be said that classic brakes are obsolete.
They are not obsolete for two simple reasons (the first is even more important than the second): weight and maintenance. The first factor is crucial for road performance, not so much in mountain biking. That's why in this discipline their adoption has been much slower and has had more detractors. The disc brake system is heavier. The increase is generally between 200 and 500 grams. This is a significant gain that is noticeable when riding and can make a difference in competition.
A model with rim brakes remains a very attractive option for a lightweight bike
In terms of maintenance, the caliper or rim brake still wins. It is, besides being more affordable if you buy the whole kit (or the components separately), less expensive to maintain in the short and medium term. It does not require bleeding the system like hydraulic brakes do every year. A simple periodic check of the tension or the condition of the pads is enough in many cases. In addition, for a beginner cyclist or someone not used to mechanics, they are easier to maintain or adjust at home.
Integration and aerodynamics: the underrated virtue of discs
Aerodynamics is one of the factors that most amateur cyclists hardly consider in disc brakes, but it ends up being very important in terms of performance. Several aerodynamic studies by brands in the wind tunnel, such as those by Cervélo, have shown that the setup with disc brakes ultimately provides aerodynamic gains to the bike that compensate for the actual increase in system weight. This is achieved mainly by dispensing with the front brake bridge, which hinders the frontal airflow (the one that produces the most resistance).
At the same time, discs allow manufacturers to route the cables more effectively. It is proven and corroborated that cleaning the bike frame of cables provides aerodynamic benefits that result in increased watts and improved average speed.
Is it still worth buying a bicycle with rim brakes?
So, having seen the main advantages and properties of disc and rim brakes, it is time to answer the question posed in this article. If we have to give a quick answer, we have to say yes, it is still worth buying a bicycle with rim brakes. But this answer needs some development. It is worth it and depends, like many other aspects of cycling, on your rider profile, level, type of route, the bike you use, and your budget. If you are a beginner cyclist who goes out occasionally on simple routes, your purchase should probably be a bicycle with rim brakes: more economical, easier to maintain, and with sufficient braking power to ride safely.
If you are a beginner cyclist, a bicycle with rim brakes should be your priority option
On the other hand, if you have experience in road cycling, you like to climb mountain passes (and descend them), and you prioritize performance above anything else, a bike with discs can be very interesting for you. At this point, however, there are some exceptions, marked by the extra weight that discs add. If your strength is climbing and you take descents calmly, your bike should be lightweight and discs add ballast. Likewise, if you want to move into competition and have good technical skills, opt for a good bicycle with rim brakes, where the rest of the components are not compromised in quality by the discs. Besides keeping the weight down, you'll even save a few euros on the final price and also on subsequent maintenance.
Tuvalum Team
