Any Road Bikers out there?

WLDock

Nice pictures! How do you like the disc brake road bike?

I was a bike mechanic in the late 80's- early 90's before they became widespread on ATB's. I've been out of it for years and have been trying to wrap my head around them being used for a road bike. Back in the day Campagnolo Record brakes and pads were the most awesome powerful fade free brakes out there. Enough stopping power for a 225lbs rider on a heavy steel bike.

I wonder what has changed with caliper brakes these days compared to the top brakes from yesteryear? Plus how do the disc brakes benefit road riders on todays light bikes? I've been looking at some of the disc brake larger tire bikes myself. The roads are a little rough here in NW Indiana and I'm a little heavier then I was when I was a really active cyclist. I'm trying to get back on the bike.

mlistens03

Me and my friends ride mountain bikes, which I know is not the same thing, but I have the brakes that clamp down on the rim of the wheel (it was my dads bike 25 years ago) and it stops pretty well, but my friend let me try their new bike with disk brakes and I nearly ate it in the middle of the road. I’ve never stopped so fast on a bike before. And now my bike seems slow. But that’s better than being thrown into a tree, I guess... or maybe I could just get used to it. But what fun is that?

Upstatemax

WLDock wrote: »

Nice pictures! How do you like the disc brake road bike?

I was a bike mechanic in the late 80's- early 90's before they became widespread on ATB's. I've been out of it for years and have been trying to wrap my head around them being used for a road bike. Back in the day Campagnolo Record brakes and pads were the most awesome powerful fade free brakes out there. Enough stopping power for a 225lbs rider on a heavy steel bike.

I wonder what has changed with caliper brakes these days compared to the top brakes from yesteryear? Plus how do the disc brakes benefit road riders on todays light bikes? I've been looking at some of the disc brake larger tire bikes myself. The roads are a little rough here in NW Indiana and I'm a little heavier then I was when I was a really active cyclist. I'm trying to get back on the bike.

I LOVE my disc brakes on my bikes!

Better stopping, modulation and fade resistance.

On top of that, I guess even wheel designers love disc brakes. They can build a rim that's lighter, more aero dynamic and stronger since they are not forced to design around a brake track.

GCN did a pretty cool, non-scientific look at stopping distance for both rim and disc brakes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHFSSXOSnxs

I also like that I can easily match my riding needs to how I want to set up my brakes. If I expect to do a lot of descending and possibly over heat my disc, I can easily and fairly inexpensively swap on larger rotors and enjoy better prolonged, high speed braking.

On my Niner Air 9 RDO XC bike, I run 160mm rotors and I have never had an issue. On my road/gravel Niner BSB 9 RDO, I run 140mm rotors and even in Colorado, I never had an issue with brake fade. IF the weather was warmer in the Vail area, like 80*+, I probably would have swapped on 160mm rotors to help keep the brakes cool. But I was riding in 45-50* weather and my rotors are designed to dump heat.

verb

I run discs on all my bikes except the Kestral Talon. The pads and disc are serviceable items. Lot's of choices out there including super lightweight offerings. Mechanical discs are so-so, hydraulics will make you do an endo if you're not careful!

Plus, I always hated the rim brakes as to what they make the wheels look like (scratches, etc.) after some time.

WLDock

I've been digging some of the Specialized Roubaix bikes with the disc. I'll need to save more pennies, LOL!

stangman67

Don’t know how I missed this one. This is my felt fr5 with Mavic kysrium wheels

verb

Viking64 wrote: »

The first time I ever flew, I moved from Vermont to Sarasota, Florida in 1982. My airfare was $69 and it cost me an extra $5 for the huge box with my bike in it.

So where did you put the bike?

Viking64

verb wrote: »

So where did you put the bike?

In the overhead bin with my canoe and telephone pole, silly!

stangman67

Road the felt to work today! 30 miles round trip. Really awesome little bike for a relatively low cost

Mikey081057

Saw one of these knock off pinarello/chinarello at the shop.... they look pretty incredible...

Upstatemax

The spacers under the stem crack me up.

dead give away that someone is just riding the wrong frame.

msg

I love these bike threads. It's fun seeing how many of us are bike (and other similar hobby) obsessed.

I had the same idea about traveling with my bike after realizing that it's probably one of the best ways to get out and tour a place. Walking is just too slow. Car rental is just too cumbersome and constrained.

I ended up buying one of those cheesy "Team Bike Case"s years ago from Performance/Bike Nashbar to try out. I used it a couple of times, yes, coupled with Southwest's cheap flights and excellent policy on checked luggage. Thing worked great! I did the same as you, Max, with the disassembly and padding, only I just used pipe insulation and twine. I forget what I did to separate and protect the wheels. There might be a separator of some sort in there, can't remember. Really doesn't take much to get it ready to pack after you do it a couple of times. A few basic bike tools, etc. for breakdown and build up. Don't forget the pump! I let the air out of my tires. Not sure how much difference it makes, high altitude, and all. Packed a set of street tires and a Quik Stik tire lever...

I was looking to see if I had some photos of my bike at the time, broken down packed and prepped for the trip, but I don't seem to have any. I recall being in a hurry that last trip not sure I was going to make it to the airport on time.

This case is about $300 with rollers. I don't know how you guys managed a bike through an airport with plain boxes without wheels!

Stashed in the attic for now. I'll remove that cheesy logo before my next trip...

https://www.bikenashbar.com/cycling/team-bike-case-na-tmbc-base


Looks like there's a better version, too.
https://www.bikenashbar.com/cycling/pro-bike-case-na-prbc-base

Mikey081057

This time of year most of the tourists, spring training baseball groupies, snow birds and spring breakers have left SW FL. Some really nice bike paths on Sanibel and Captiva Islands....Hope to do that soon.

Mikey081057

http://www.floridarambler.com/florida-bike-hike-trails/biking-sanibel-bicycle-trails/

WLDock

Mikey081057 wrote: »

Saw one of these knock off pinarello/chinarello at the shop.... they look pretty incredible...

That's a great looking knock off.!

JayCee

2013 Fuji Gran Fondo 2.1, mostly Shimano components and full carbon fiber frame/fork, light and easy to ride. Was looking for a Gran Fondo configuration to enable longer distances and CF to absorb the road and help w/a bit of carpal tunnel in my right arm. Compared the Fuji w/a similar Specialized at the time, which I really wanted, but the Fuji was priced right. I ride for enjoyment and exercise with a typical distance of 30-70 km's (18-42 miles).

Pics from my ride, yesterday, in the famous Nahe, Germany, wine region. Flowers and trees are in full bloom! Trail head is approximately 10 miles from my home and its one of my favorite treks through vineyards and farm fields. Anyone stationed over here in years past may remember the now closed Army Post in Bad Kreuznach. Pics taken due west of there. German bike trails are awesome...well marked, often paved and safe from traffic. Wife's getting reassigned stateside in a few months and we'll miss this.

JayCee

stangman67 wrote: »

This is my felt fr5 with Mavic kysrium wheels

@stangman67 Wow, took me a bit to find your rear brake. First time I've seen "direct mount caliper". Googled and looked at Felt's site. Interesting. Nice bike.

stangman67

Not a big fan of the BB brake as it attracts muck like no other, but dealing with that is no big deal. Overall a fantastic bike

JayCee

A few years back I moved from caliper to disk brakes on an old K2 mountain bike. Did a lot of mud riding and it was so much better....I understand "muck".

I wondered about the BB brake when I saw your mounting point. My initial thought was how in the heck does it stay clean. I have internally routed cables on my Fuji and they exit under the crank and reenter the frame. I have to ensure they are clean more often than not. Also, would really like to have disks. I do a fair amount of riding in wet weather.

Mikey081057

Florida is very F L A T and brakes don't seem very important.... at least to me... we have no hills but we have wind that sometimes is 15-20 in your face. Nice when it's at your back

Upstatemax

Went to a local flow trail this past weekend with a buddy and had a blast.

It was nice to be able to toss the Air 9 around a bit more get back into more technical trail riding.

Now I want a 27.5+ full suspension bike.

Haha.

11tsteve

Upstatemax wrote: »

Went to a local flow trail this past weekend with a buddy and had a blast.

It was nice to be able to toss the Air 9 around a bit more get back into more technical trail riding.

Now I want a 27.5+ full suspension bike.

Haha.

I want a Pony Rustler pretty bad. Hard to swing the price tag right now, so I'll just keep on with my Stache.

stangman67

JayCee wrote: »

A few years back I moved from caliper to disk brakes on an old K2 mountain bike. Did a lot of mud riding and it was so much better....I understand "muck".

I wondered about the BB brake when I saw your mounting point. My initial thought was how in the heck does it stay clean. I have internally routed cables on my Fuji and they exit under the crank and reenter the frame. I have to ensure they are clean more often than not. Also, would really like to have disks. I do a fair amount of riding in wet weather.

I considered a Gran Fondo when I was shopping. Couldn't pass up a 17 pound carbon bike for 1400 though I've put 150 miles on it in the last week. More to come


This is my mountain bike that doesn't get nearly enough use. 650b, 150/130 travel

Upstatemax

11tsteve wrote: »

I want a Pony Rustler pretty bad. Hard to swing the price tag right now, so I'll just keep on with my Stache.

I’m looking at the Niner Jet 9’s way too much right now...

The only way I could justify it right now would be to sell the Air 9 and funnel my new amp $$ into the bike.

I HATE BUDGETS!

verb

Upstatemax wrote: »

11tsteve wrote: »

I want a Pony Rustler pretty bad. Hard to swing the price tag right now, so I'll just keep on with my Stache.

I’m looking at the Niner Jet 9’s way too much right now...

The only way I could justify it right now would be to sell the Air 9 and funnel my new amp $$ into the bike.

I HATE BUDGETS!

I love Salsa's! I have a Dos Niner and a Mukluk!

WLDock

stangman67 wrote: »

Not a big fan of the BB brake as it attracts muck like no other, but dealing with that is no big deal. Overall a fantastic bike

Man, when I worked at a bike shop back in the 80's-90's the top ATB bikes used to have caliper brakes there. I remember asking why? It didn't make sense to me for an off road bike. It's supposed to have a little better stopping power. I guess?

stangman67

The main reason they are used in road bikes is for better aero capabilities (ie on tri and time trial bikes). Felt used them on this model to eliminate the need for a brake bridge across the seat stays and therefore enabling the seatstays to be more compliant.

verb

Agree. I'm reminded of one of my favorite designs. Giant MCR.

Upstatemax

I’m a weak man...

I just pulled the trigger on a left over Niner Jet 9 RDO 27.5+

Too good of a price and way to much fun to not buy it!

11tsteve

Upstatemax wrote: »

I’m a weak man...

I just pulled the trigger on a left over Niner Jet 9 RDO 27.5+

Too good of a price and way to much fun to not buy it!

Congrats, I'm jealous, and just remember. You deserve that new bike.