Yes. I want my next bike to last 5-7 years and it’s obvious that it’s all going discs. No disc = no sale for me.

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I was a MTB hydro disc brake user with a set of Hayes in 2000 and I was a huge believer back then and they were awesome, but even in 2018 I still don't see the need for hydro disc brakes in triathlon for my specific use-case. I know we are going there and eventually everyone will have to go there, kind of like how HED was hung out to dry with wheels and not going carbon clincher, but I don't need to be a earlier adopter in this space. I don't ride my TT bike all that often to begin with. If we get to a point where disc bikes are truly faster and don't weigh a ton then I would consider it, but I suspect we have lots of innovation and it is always rapid at the beginning of the cycle. I'm not holding it against any company at this point, in fact, I support their decision.

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Why would I want a disc brake?

None. I have no need for a disc brake TT bike.

Because all the cool kids have it?

Seriously though, questions like this were asked back in the day: "Why would I want 9/10/11 speed when 8 is perfectly good?" or "Why would I need a Tri Spoke when a laced 36 box rim does the same job?" or "Why would I want a full sleeve wetsuit when wetsuit pants work perfectly fine?"

Agreed, I don't see a lot of use for them either, that said, the shift is towards disc. Since Canyon USA today stated to me they are staying RIM brakes, with more wheel manufacturers moving that way as the main line up in their inventory (maybe all of it for some), I don't see myself buying a rimmed bike such as Canyon or anyone else with rim brakes. It'll be like trying to get rid of a 19 or 20 mm race wheel. They are becoming more rare and tires harder to find compared to 10 years ago.

I wonder how this will turn out. I do like the Canyon look/offerings in general, but would they lose market if they do not comply with the trend...? I would suggest to them and other companies to be working on a disc solution for their bikes not now--but like months ago...if not, they may be behind the 8-ball already.

 

None. I have no need for a disc brake TT bike.[/quote]================================================
same here.
peggy

I was being serious. I really don’t know anything about disc brakes for tri bikes

As for gears I understand that

I would reverse the question.

So my 2010 rim brake, mechanical drive train, 10 speed Advanced Trinity SL-1 ... fast as fuxk, TT bike isn't race worthy because it doesn't have disc brakes? Who knew! I will likely be racing it another 8 years from now.

Why would you want a USB key bigger than 256MB?

It doesn't matter, because rather than keeping those around as a cheap option, they protected their margins by ceasing manufacture and moving the size up to multiple GB.

It's not that we need disc brakes, it will simply be the only mainstream option in the future.

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I’m still not understanding

I’ve never owned a USB key.

Maybe I am just a person who gets what I need to reach my goals

I want to go faster on my bike so I don’t see why I would need a disc brake but maybe I am missing something

I have a Cervelo which will probably get me by for another 8 to 10 years so won’t need to think about disc brakes for a while

Can someone tell me the benefit they have please

None, I still ride a 10 speed because it came with better wheels. As far as I can tell, and I could be wrong. There’s still far more tt bikes and mid range wheels that do no use disc brakes. I’ll change when I have to or if I can get a super good deal. Other than that my rim breaks work fine.

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I still lapped everyone on the couch!

I am actively avoiding a disc brake bike. With a garage full of rim brake bikes and wheels to match, changing to disc brakes would be an expensive nightmare. Probably just what the manufacturers want! Even then, not sure I would want one anyway. Like so many other cycling hardware products, its a solution looking for a problem as far as I am concerned.

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He who understands the WHY, will understand the HOW.

I'd be very surprised if Canyon doesn't have a disc Speedmax in the pipeline, regardless of what you were told.
I'm not going to get into the pros and cons for triathlon use, but the mere fact that they're starting to become commonplace on road bikes (Canyon sell their Ultimate, Aeroad and Endurace road bikes with both rim and disc brakes) makes it pretty inevitable they'll become the norm on triathlon bikes too. It's mostly the same wheel market after all, plus most people will want to own both a road and tri bike and will favour compatibility of wheels.

Those saying why would I change my bike to get disc brakes are missing the main point. It's not whether you should move now, if you're happy as you are. It's whether you should buy something different WHEN you're buying a new bike. If you won't be doing so for a few years, then you don't need to worry about it for now. No one is saying rim brake bikes will suddenly become unacceptable and have to be retired. No one I've heard anyway.

Why would you care what the brand is doing? Why wouldnt you limit your care to the specific bike you are buying at that time instead of the whole brand. If im buying a canyon today, I dont care if they do or don't plan to put disc brakes on next years model.

I more care about wheel companies. If Zipp/Enve/etc. are still putting out the latest and greatest wheels in a rim brake version, I'm fine to buy rim brake. Thats the real comparison to when bikes switched from 9/10speed to 11. The real thing that gets affected is the wheels you have or will buy.

Maybe its because I live in such a flat area, but Im happy that a bike company offers rim brake bikes. Not because I'm anti disc. I just have race wheels already, don't really need disc brakes, and can save money by not having to buy a "new" tech I dont need.

The move to disc brakes is going to happen, but I think it may take much longer than many think.

It's a chicken and egg situation...Buying a new frame is one thing, having to get a new set of wheels (or 2..) is a different matter altogether..

Wheel manufacturers will have to take a risk in producing top quality wheels at all price points in disc variants that may not be sold because there aren't enough bikes in the market yet..and it takes a brave (and wealthy) bike manufacturer to launch a bike that is only marginally different from the one they already have to accommodate wheels that aren't readily available. It would need to be something radically different to make most people switch...but that is expensive to create.

Cervelo had the right idea in producing a complete package, and I suspect Specialized may follow suit this year. Unfortunately, i'm not sure the market for people looking to replace a complete set up is large enough to justify that investment.

I'm more likely to avoid the bikes that have disc brakes.

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Ed O'Malley
www.VeloVetta.com
Founder of VeloVetta Cycling Shoes
Instagram • Facebook

Quite the opposite, for me.

Disc brake only = no sale

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no sponsors | no races | nothing to see here

Not this crap again. . . .

I don't understand the question.

You aren't asking if I would consider a bike "model" if that specific model doesn't have disc brakes. Instead, you are asking if I would avoid the brand entirely if they don't have or "move towards" (whatever that means) disc brakes on their triathlon lineup. In other words, would I not purchase a rim-brake bike from a manufacturer if they don't have disc-brake bikes in the lineup.

I fail to see why I would care about whether a manufacturer offers disc brakes if I'm about to purchase a rim-braked bicycle.

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For TT usage and most road usage, no real difference. Heavier, less aerodynamic, harder to adjust, more expensive.

Where they start making a big difference is in off roading (MTB/Cyclocross) and wet conditions. I've read some articles where dry stopping power is similar between the two.

It's the cycling industry though. MTB went 26-29-27.5. Bottom brackets go from BSA to 100 different press-fit standards. Discs are the new "in thing" of the road industry.

I'm 6' - race at 210lbs (230+ in off season). I have a road and tri bike both rim brakes. Tried a few different rim brakes (uncle works at bike shop, allowed me to experiment with stock and alternates) Rim brakes just don't work for me, especially if they get a little wet. Barely slow me down, definitly do not stop in emergency situations. Disc on my MTB slows and stops me in all conditions. The difference is night and day. If you are a lighter rider it may not make a difference, but for a bigger rider like me the difference is massive. Will upgrade to disc with next Tri bike.

He is basically asking if your next tri bike will have disc brakes.

but that's not what he asked. he asked if I would avoid the brand if they don't offer disc brakes. That's a very different question.

for example, Cervelo offers a disc-brake equipped triathlon bike, but it is out of my price range, so I would still consider a P2 / P3 / P5 even though those are rim-brake bikes.

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I agree.

I mean if you are going to buy a rim brake tri-bike.. why avoid a TT bike maker because they dont have a disc-brake TT bike in their future line up? imaright

The only reason I can think off the top of my head is one might believe the mfg is going to go bankrupt in short time by not making a disc TT bike.

I think there are two distinct camps of bike-shopping triathletes: 1) those for whom this will be their only bike, or the bike that they do the vast majority of their riding on, and 2) those who do most/all of their outdoor riding (at least in the offseason) on a road bike.

I'm in the latter camp. I have a road bike with DA Di2 and disc brakes that is a dream to ride, and perfect for all the hilly riding around here. I love riding that bike outdoors. My tri bike is a Cervelo P4. That bike is an absolute missile and I can't imagine there are very many current bikes that are faster than that bike, even though it's DA 10sp and rim brakes. That said, the P4 flat-out sucks for the big climbs around here, and sucks even worse on the descents. I would never dream of having the P4 as an only bike with all the hills around here.

So I guess you can put me in the camp of the not super-interested in a tri bike with disc brakes (though I wouldn't *not* buy one because of it) but I sure as hell wouldn't ride a road bike without them again. If I was looking to consolidate down to a single bike for training and racing then yes, I would want disc brakes on my tri bike.

Great non-answer!

It depends. If the choice is between disc brakes and an awful TT scissor brake that squeals and barely works - I'd *definitely* only buy the disc bike. However, if it's between disc brakes and a direct-mount Shimano caliper rim brake, I'd take the latter. They work great and are easier to travel with (don't have to remove rotors, use bleed blocks in the calipers, etc). So, for example, I'd be 100% good with a Quintana Roo PRthree or PRfive, with Shimano rim brakes.

I still haven't figured out why I want more than 9 gears on the back, and don't own a wetsuit. I do have trispokes with latex tubes though!

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Lol I’m the opposite. I’m DQing a brand if they don’t have good run brake offerings. Zero interest in disc brakes.

Just to provide some extra context, I had a similar experience as a much smaller (height and weight) rider on bikes with both Shimano and SRAM rim brakes... They just don't stop as quickly as my bike with disc brakes. Obviously, nobody is telling the whole story if they don't mention that disc brakes are heavier and less aero (as the above poster noted) but if I need to stop suddenly, I'd definitely prefer to be doing it with disc brakes.

The problem with your logic is that you’re acting like disc brakes are superior to rim brakes in the tri setting. Which one is superior would purely be your (and my) opinion.

Or another poll for brands you will avoid if there is no rim brake option ?

I think for a lot of people the extra cost could be better used elsewhere

Have you watched any ITU races lately? I'm guessing less than 1/3 of the competitors run disc brakes on their road bikes.

So what? They will all convert to disc in the next 2-3 years.

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MTB brakes can be great. No question. But bring the average speed up and shrink those rotors down to 140/160mm and suddenly they don't have anywhere near the same stopping power. I'm really trying to love my gravel bike with Shimano Hydraulic disc brakes, but I am repeatedly underwhelemed by their stopping power and can't even say it's better than my Ultegra rim brakes and carbon clnchers.

I have no doubt that disc brakes have a relevant future in gravel/cross/mountain riding, but let's be honest that in triathon (and road riding), we are getting pushed into something that provides little benefit to the majority of users and new maintenance headaches to deal with.

This is why I bought a Canyon.
No need for a disk brake. Even more of a pain than the hidden brake.

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Team Zoot So Cal

I’d like to see someone make a disc brake tri bike with clearance for large tires for training while having a minimal aero penalty with race wheels/tires vs a pier rim brake bike.

as much as I personally despise that.... I see it happening too.

Nope no logic at all. But you did prove my point.

I don't even understand this question. Why would I care? Why would anyone care?

Or everyone could just quit whining, buy a new disc brake bike when it’s time for one, and ride your bike.

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Make Inside Out Sports your next online tri shop! http://www.insideoutsports.com/

that's not what ppl are whining about... sooner or later the top aero TT bike will be disc only, maybe one day the top groupset will be disc only... you get the idea.

Not sure what you mean. All of your examples were of using inferior equipment when superior equipment is available. Disc brakes aren’t superior to rim brakes in everyone’s opinion.

Seeing as my race wheels are not disc, and I'm chea... errrrr, frugal... not going disc is a bonus and a reason to support a company for me.

Don't know about the rest of you, but I can lock up both wheels and skid with rim brakes...

I haven't used my rear brake in two seasons. Barely need a front one...

There have been several good points here, such as reversing the question, would you DQ a bike if they only offered rim brakes? If you were to look at buying a new bike, the way it looks nobody knows what the wheel/frame companies will do for sure, we have our theories but it will one of three choices. Offer rim, disc, or both. Possibly components like SRAM or Shimano may only offer one or the other, but I don't see that--too many old bikes out there & there is value in offering components for all those bikes. Disc frames & wheels seem to be pricey right now, but let's have a pretend scenario...

You are going to buy a bike, you don't know the future of the market (for sure). You THINK/hypothesize that the rim frames & wheels will eventually all disappear while you're still going to be owning/riding/racing your new bike. Would you DQ a company that says they won't be making disc brakes, based off your fears you'll be cornered with a bike that you may have eventually have trouble in a resale, or getting replacement components/wheels for rims?

I seriously don't see this ever happening, though the frames, wheels, components may market that to be the *future* and scare you into an "OMG, I best upgrade or all my stuff will just be old & hard to find--even if it does work." Honestly, I suppose a better question would be how will the marketing affect your choice? Cave to the hype?

Rim bikes may actually become MORE valuable in a re-sale situation, if things are harder to come buy. Rare & old may be worth something to a lot of people. Look at the Hooker Elite bikes, or Cheetah bikes--collectors for sure. But for daily use...like 6/7/8/9/10 speed wheels, I'd likely steer clear of a brand that doesn't upgrade (if you call it that) to the most recent technology, if I think it will be hard to get parts/components. Who would go buy a new wheel that is a 6 speed hub & that's all they offered, if the industry were moving to 7/8 speed as in the past?

Lots of "if's" here--curiosity on the general tri public's psyche of a purchase & how the influence of marketing and rumor affects it, regarding where this industry may or or not may be heading. Trying to see who would sway away from a company that says they're not "going there" --such as SRAM said when there was no reason to go electronic, then came out with eTap. How many bought Shimano instead thinking SRAM was just missing the future of where industry heads? I will say, SRAM has done a good job of turning it around quickly.