Bicycle Disc Brakes Vs Rim Brakes

You can help your rim brake performance in the wet.

Bicycle disc brakes vs rim brakes. Disc brakes vs rim brakes on road bikes why the angst. However if you have your disc brakes set up correctly switching wheels becomes easier rim brakes are typically more affordable. Performance wise they are similar enough that it s probably not worth the money to buy a new bike just to get disc brakes. Disc brakes will offer you better braking in the rain that rim brakes.

Disc brakes disc brakes have been around for a long time in cars but weren t seriously used on bikes until the mid to late 90 s. A bike with rim brakes is typically lighter than the same bike with disc brakes. If you re already in the market for a new bike discs are worth the additional cost in most cases. Installing and setting up rim brakes is much easier than disc brakes.

Over time rim brakes can wear right through the side of your rim literally causing the side of the rim to blow off i ve seen this happen and its not pretty. That doesn t mean that if you run rim brakes you re going to crash into the first corner you come across in the rain well you might but it isn t because of your brakes. You may have noticed the prevalence of bike companies equipping more and more of their bikes with discs. Bikes with rim brakes tend to be more aerodynamic.

Some think they are unquestionably the way of the future while others think they are simply just another opportunity for bike companies to get more money out of you. Cyclists determine what brakes are best for them according to their riding styles road conditions experience level and type of bike.