Why Disc Brakes For Road Bikes Are A Better Option

I was never fully satisfied riding my road bike with rim brakes. The punch or power in braking always seemed to be missing and I had to be cautious of my speed while applying brakes. That meant that I could never really cycle freely. There was always one thing or another related to braking in my mind.

That was until I switched to disc brakes. They are a true game changer. Even when I had to upgrade my bike, I really had eyes on the Trek Domane AL 2. One problem: It had rim brakes. I switched them with disc brakes and the end result was worth the effort. I even prefer hydraulic disc brakes for mountain bikes but that’s a debate for another day!

Disc Brakes- How Do They Work?

The solution to this is a fairly innovative new technology for bikes at least. The disc brake has been around for cars for a very long time. How it works is that there is a metal disc connected to the wheel hub.

This disc is usually slim and lightweight and has holes drilled in it at intervals. These act as heat sink for any friction-related heat generated during the braking process.

The disc rotates with the wheel. Calipers are attached to the fork of the bike, and they have brake pads on them. When the brakes are applied, the calipers squeeze the pads against the disc instead of the rim.

This causes the kinetic energy of the bike to be converted to heat energy. According to the principle of conservation of energy, the amount of kinetic energy lost is equal to the heat energy generated.

This means that if all the kinetic energy the bike possesses is converted to heat, the bike will come to a complete standstill. It is just basic physics.

Now, it may seem to you that the disc brake’s operation is exactly the same as the rim brakes. Basically, this is true. They operate on the same principle. Friction has always been the best way to stop a moving object.

Advantages Of Using Disc Brakes

However, there are certainly undeniable advantages of a disc brake over the normal, standard-rim brakes. Some of these include:

More Effective

The calipers are far more effective than the standard rim brakes. This is because they are larger than the rim pad, which is usually a 3 x 0.5-inch rubber pad on either side of the rim.

The calipers however have a larger surface area than this, allowing them to convert more kinetic energy into heat in a given time without heating up as much. This means that they are far faster in slowing down and bringing a bike to a quick halt. This is a must-feature to have on your bike especially if you are a fast rider.

All-Terrain Effectiveness

One of the biggest perks of using a disc brake is its effectiveness in any type of terrain. Usually, rim brakes would not work in conditions such as mud and water as effectively as they do on dry roads.

In a world that is increasingly affected by random thunderstorms and wet weather, you need a guarantee that your ride will be a safe one in any weather conditions. A disc brake can help with this because it is not as exposed to water and mud during wet weather.

This means that it can stop the bike with nearly the same efficiency as it would in normal weather conditions. This is great for all you cyclists living in areas with mud or rainy weather as well.

Rims Do Not Affect Performance

In a rim brake, a big problem is that the effectiveness of the brake pad depends on the state of the rim. In extreme weather conditions, or due to cycling on roads with a lot of potholes and bumps, rims tend to become warped and disfigured. The brake pads on the rim brakes will then stop generating constant friction against the warped rims.

However, this is not a big concern when it comes to the disc brake. Owing to its independent placement with the wheel, the disc has a far lower chance of being affected by such things as warping.

Endurance

Compared to rim brakes, disc brake pads have a larger surface area. This means that when they are in contact with the disc, they generate heat, but not nearly as much as the rim pad does. The reason for this is that the rate of energy generated is proportional to the area over which it is generated.

Durable

There is a higher rate of energy transfer and because of this, the disc brake pads tend to wear out at a far slower rate than their rim counterparts. The brake levers and brake caliper are also more durable. This allows for a reduction in replacement costs as well as increasing their safety.

Lower Chance Of Flat Tires

One of the biggest disadvantages of rim brakes, especially in hot, sunny climates is the excessive amount of heat generated. Just try touching your rims immediately after a long braking action. It will be hot enough to fry eggs on.

This overheating of the rims can cause tires to blow out because the heat can cause the rubber in the tires to weaken. The disc brake is not connected to the rim in any way. It is an extension of the wheel hub.

Because of this, the disc may generate heat, but it doesn’t affect the rim in any way whatsoever. This greatly reduces the chances of overheating and tire blowouts in hot climates or during extreme cycling conditions.

Reduced Wear And Tear

The disc brake doesn’t wear out the rims over a long period of time. This is a common problem in most bikes with rim brakes. It is usually most obvious in rims made out of carbon fiber composite materials that have been made for lightness.

The high amounts of heat generated will definitely weaken the material and cause the area that has been exposed to the brake pads to become thinner than the rest, like a groove.

Increased Versatility

One of the biggest advantages of the disc brake is the fact that the brake pad doesn’t depend on the size of the rim. You could replace the wheel with a different-sized one depending on the conditions you want to cycle in without having to change the size of the disc brake calipers.

The History Of Disc Brakes

In 1997, Hayes Mag was the first proper disc brake to be introduced for bicycles. It set the template for the standard disc brake that is now popular all over the world.

The disc brake wasn’t that well accepted for a while though. This was because bikes weren’t made with disc brake mounts, since the rim brake was the accepted standard.

People were being rather ignorant about the fact that disc brakes were going to be very useful, both for safety reasons and for stopping power. However, a lot of smaller racing brands began using the new disc brakes. In 1999, Trek and Gary Fisher endorsed the disc brakes, fitting them to their 8900 and X-Caliber bikes.

This sent a strong message to the people who were doubting the effectiveness of the innovative new disc brakes. Soon, larger companies began to inquire about these brakes.

Soon enough, bike racing and parts greats like Shimano and Magura began producing early versions of the new disc brake technology and completely changed the world of cycling forever.

In recent years, disc brakes have made an emergence in the field of road bike racing. These competitions happen with bikes going at about 80kmph, and there are a lot of safety concerns at such high speeds. Rim brakes just aren’t doing it anymore.

While disc brakes in road bike races haven’t been sanctioned by all the governing bodies in the sport, sources say that is nearly “inevitable” that they will be soon.

Types of Disc Brakes

There are two types of disc brakes in the current market, each with its own features. These are:

Hydraulically Actuated Disc Brakes

With this type, the brake lever being pulled causes a piston to push fluid/hydraulic fluid (typically ethylene glycol, commonly called brake fluid ) down, causing the calipers to engage with the disc actual.

Hydraulic brakes are becoming more common on endurance bikes, where brakes are used a lot with the finest adjustments made to the amount of pressure applied to the brakes. Hydraulic actuation systems are always better at fine control of the pressure applied.

Mechanically Actuated Disc Brakes

These are the more common type of disc brakes right now, using the traditional mechanism of brake cables to engage the calipers.

Mechanical disc brakes are more popular mainly because they make use of traditional brake cables. People find this more comforting because it is an age-old technology that everyone is familiar with. This makes maintenance and replacement of parts easier.

Personally, I prefer using mechanical disc brakes usually though. The reason for this is that they are easier to maintain, and the mechanical systems are cheaper than the newer hydraulic ones. They are cheap only because they employ older technology. In addition to this, I have also noticed that the hydraulic systems add extra weight to the bike.

This is a definite no for me on any bike. I prefer bikes that are lighter, and speedier for road use. What’s the point of having a road bike other than this anyway?

This is the main reason why mechanical cable actuation system is far more desired in the current generation, in keeping with tradition and with speed.

Disadvantages Of Rim Brakes

For a long time, bicycles have used a very traditional type of brakes. These are known as the rim brakes, and nearly every road bike (see all our reviews) and mountain bike (see all our reviews) has had them (and still does).

They work by means of a rubber brake pad that is just over the rim of the front and back wheels. When the brake lever is squeezed, the pad pushes against the side of the rim, generating enough friction to slow the bike down and bring it to a halt.

But there are certain disadvantages of using rim brakes, or at least I have noticed them.

Higher Chance Of Failing

Rim brakes have the chance of failing under high levels of stress though. While rim brakes have been tried and tested over and over again in a number of different applications, it can’t be denied that they have the chance to fail.

More Wear And Tear

At high speeds, applying the rim brake is likely to cause a lot of friction with the wheel. This will lead to a high level of heat being generated, causing the rubber in the brake pad to wear out faster.

Trust me, you do not want to find out that your brake pad is worn out while freewheeling down a steep gradient.

Restricted Terrain Riding

Another bad thing about the standard rim brake is that it cannot last long under different environmental conditions. For example, while riding through muddy terrain, the rim can collect a lot of slick, wet mud. If you squeeze the rim brakes while the rims are muddy, it could result in slipping and could cause accidents very fast.

Rim Brakes Vs Disc Brakes- Why I Prefer The Latter

I have enough experience of riding with both kinds of brakes. Both of them certainly have their own drawbacks but disc brakes undoubtedly outweigh rim brakes when it comes to advantages. Let’s go through a few reasons why I prefer disc brakes to help make you understand my point better.

Unmatched Power

Disc brakes have an unmatched power when it comes to braking. They provide consistent stopping power and they are reliable in all kinds of weather. You cannot claim the same about rim brakes.

I have tested them on steep descents, uphill, and with various kinds of obstacles. The result? They provided the same quick response and precise braking every time. This is the reason why I earlier said that I have peace of mind while riding with disc brakes. They are safe.

Better Performance On All Kinds Of Braking Surfaces

Disc brakes work better on any braking surface. The biggest drawback of having a rim brake is that their performance is weather restricted. On the other hand, your disc brakes will work fine on any surface in any kind of weather.

Since the performance of the rim brakes is not affected by the condition of the rim, they are more reliable to work better.

Better Compatibility

Disc brakes have better compatibility with different kinds of bikes. They are compatible with even wider tires and different kinds of rim materials. This can give you some room to select the kind of wheelset you desire. You can customize your bike to your riding preference without any kind of compatibility problem.

Future Of Road Biking

The cycling industry today is accepting disc brakes at a very high ratio. The stats make it clear that disc brakes are in fact the future of road biking. Disc brakes not only offer more advantages but they are also safer. This fact is being accepted by different professional racers as well as responsible governing institutes.

Recap

After an extensive comparison of both kinds of brakes, I stand firm on my point that disc brakes for road bikes are a much better option than rim brakes. They are weather-reliable, versatile, have a better heat disparity, and are even future-proof.

So, if you are looking for better performance along with the best safety, my suggestion would be to definitely choose disc brakes for your road bike.