Everything You NEED To Know About Disc Brakes

the one thing that's great for consumers but maybe not for pro cyclists.

The following companies (that you'll see in my content) support me either financially or with free stuff, so huge thanks to these guys for helping the channel thrive:
Attacus Cycling,
Wilier Triestina,
MET Helmets,
Shimano,
fidlock,
Hutchinson Tyres
Tailfin
GT85

[symbiantscycling]

Also don't forget that in wet weather, a disc brake can be used as an improvised horn to warn people you are stopping

[kieronlewis]

Worth noting you can generally fit wider more comfortable tyres onto a disc set up too.

[markj.a]

Time to get the popcorn and hit refresh on the comments.
I'm lucky enough to be living in the mountains at the moment. I have a rim brake bike. The issue isn't so much stopping power but more I'm tired of trashing rims on long decents in poor weather. Also, needing to switch carbon and aluminium rims + pads depending on the ride is annoying.

[MarcelBlijleven]

Living in The Netherlands and riding in the rain often made the choice for disc brakes easy after a few close calls with wet rim brakes.

[A_AAA]

great presentation of the pros v's cons Francis - think you are right, benefits of discs especially on UK rides is massive - and yes, cant beat one finger braking on mtb - 4 pots and 180mm rotors all the way!! youre right, disc's make more sense on consumer level bikes - when im on my old road bike with rim brakes it can get sketchy compared to the confidence of disc's. Higher maintenance yes, a brake bleed isn't for the faint hearted - but i support the local bike shop for that bit!! cheers

[johnclement]

Noisy, only as good as the tyres and the surface . The shift to disc breaks driven by marketing . Yes I have both . Given a choice rim brakes all day.

[billiecook]

As a Mountain biker, I also feel like hydro discs have better modulation than rim or cable brakes. easier to feel more and put exactly the correct amount of stopping power required into the wheel.

[davehoover]

Mountain biker and now gravel rider too. I often find myself on steep descents and sometimes have bike packing kit as well. Nothing beats the awesome stopping power and ease of applying pressure than a fully hydraulic brake system. Shimano XT is my go to brake!

[Hansen]

Been on disc for two seasons on road bike. Buying a high end used rim brake bike next year, and can't wait! Disc is for MTB/trails and gravel

[ezrollerk]

Never mind it being useful for organised storage, that slotted wall has already paid for itself by making lists look pretty

[sjs]

This is the best video I have seen on this subject.

[rgjdk]

I've just done La Marmotte in the Alpes and loved my disc brakes on all of the descents. I'm not a pro, so the extra weight is not an issue.

[framedman]

Fair play for making this one, Francis. Just think it will take a long time for the old-schoolers to adjust. I'm one of the old schoolers but I do panic sometimes, going 60kmh down a narrow gravelly road not knowing if I'm really gonna be able to slam the brakes on to stop if I need in a hurry and that makes me a lot slower and a lot more cautious, taking the enjoyment out of it. Having said that, I'm also nervous about using discs and either braking too hard and going over the top or going down a long mountain descent, which I do every summer, and burning the discs out, like I saw someone do going down Mt Ventoux. Froomey also complained about overheating on discs. I also do all maintenance at home and this has so far put me off buying a new frame with internal routing through the headset and disc brakes. I'll also have to replace the three wheelsets I own with disc brake versions. The tier 2 bikes often have really heavy wheels with discs, so you have to upgrade them immediately. I know I'll have to adjust eventually but it will take time, especially with all the extra servicing I'll have to do at home. I think people look at a talented descender like Bernal going 80kmh in the wet and say, well he doesn't have any issues, so I'll be fine going 60kmh on open roads with non direct mount callipers, the comparison just isn't the same. People are just idiots when it comes to really sticking to one or the other, either is fine, both have advantages, both have disadvantages but overall, discs are probably winning the battle.

[rbstretch]

On discs you say less maintenance, then say as long as you service regularly, but that is exactly the issue - in total disc are a whole lot more maintenance. I have 3 disc bikes and 3 rim bikes. Disc advantages win out on MTBs, gravel, but I'm firmly in the rim brake camp for road, perhaps with the exception of a winter bike.

[garyhocking]

Thanks for the great video. I live in the northwestern USA where the weather is much like the UK. Disc brakes are far superior in our type of climate.

[jamsxr]

MTB rider, had a disk brake SL7, thought it make total sense, until I road a rim break bike. I did not notice a big difference in the dry, so picked up a rim break rig for my next (road) bike.

[timboha]

That noise of braking on a rim brake bike in wet grimy weather. where the tone changes and you just know you are chewing through the rim, is enough for me to never go back.

[christosandreev]

Francis there are few things that I think you've got wrong here: On the pros of rim brakes you have to add that they're more aero as a result of having less spokes and not moving discs generating turbulence. When it comes to maintenance, it is much and cheaper easier for rim brakes. Disc brakes rub and are inconsistent. Had them for 1 year and it wasn't the best experience. As a result I went back to rim brakes. Disc brakes go out of alignment every two-three rides, also, brake pads wear a lot quicker on the disc brake system and are much more expensive to replace. Also, disc brake bikes are prone to fatal errors. One time my front pistons got stuck and as a result I got left in the middle of nowhere waiting 3hours for someone to pick me up. Also, they make terrible noises and need to be cleaned very often. Overall, the only benefits are for heavy riders, those cycling in rainy conditions and for those who have the tendency to order pizza mid-ride and can cut it into pieces with the disc brakes. Disc for the dirt, rim for the road.

[Rickinsf]

I'm with you on the "sponginess" of cable/disc brakes. My new bike has them and I'm not as confident in the stopping power as I was with the rim brakes on my old bike. Cable stretch is pretty surprising, too.

[fedearbelaez]

Also, saying that hydro discs require less maintenance that rim brakes is quite disingenuous. Changing cables isn't something you do that often, and when performed, it's a simple process that requires simple tools like pliers. In contrast, you need bleed kits and fluids, olives can be mis-installed, which leads to air leaks and brakes becoming squishy. Fixing a rubbing disc also requires quite some tinkering, and if you use Shimano hydraulic discs, the bleed port screw is made of butter, and is so easily stripped. Nevermind that a set of hydro dual brake levers with installed lines, calipers, pads, and rotors cost as much as a complete mechanical groupset of the same tier.