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Whether or not disc brakes are "better" than rim brakes, disc brakes definitely require less skill to use effectively in more conditions.

#cycling #bicycle #mastobikes #biketooter

#cycling #bicycle #mastobikes #BikeTooter
in reply to Neil E. Hodges

Neil E. Hodges
Neil E. Hodges
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I'm of the type who would rather learn the skill. Other examples pertaining to me: friction shifting on bicycles, two wheels instead of four, and manual transmissions in cars and motorcycles.
in reply to Neil E. Hodges

Jim
Jim
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I'm a big believer that manual transmission encourages a connection to the process of driving and encourages concentration. I may be totally wrong but I think 'modern' cars are just too easy to drive.
in reply to Jim

Neil E. Hodges
Neil E. Hodges
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They definitely are too easy to drive. That, combined with packing more and more distraction tech into them, is what's causing people to become more confident and aggressive, and thus dangerous to those around them, when driving.
in reply to Neil E. Hodges

Jim
Jim
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Back in the 80s there was a study done in Germany on ABS equipped taxis. They concluded it caused more accidents because of driver confidence.
in reply to Neil E. Hodges

Jim
Jim
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They're also capable of great speed with virtually no effort.
in reply to Neil E. Hodges

Jim
Jim
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Not with traction control and stability control, and the ability to accelerate very hard in practically any road condition.
in reply to Neil E. Hodges

Khurram Wadee
Khurram Wadee
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My new one has disc brakes and they are more responsive. Or maybe it's just that the bike is still relatively new.
in reply to Neil E. Hodges

Greg A. Woods
Greg A. Woods
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Rim brakes need more skill in riding simply because they are more dangerous and less trustworthy in far more (and often common) conditions! Rim brakes are for fair-weather and infrequent riders!

Rim brakes also need more maintenance and are thus more costly to operate, though I don't know if there's been any fair study of their "ROI" recently (i.e. since disc brake parts have become more commonplace and less costly).

Khurrram, by "rod brakes" do you mean the ones in the rear hub activated by pushing the pedals backwards? I had a rear-hub brake in my first bike. To me getting rim brakes meant having the "luxury" of front-wheel brakes, but learning to use front-wheel brakes required more skill, albeit quite quickly learned if one wanted to avoid more injury!

in reply to Neil E. Hodges

Khurram Wadee
Khurram Wadee
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No, instead of cables, there were metal rods and so when you pulled the lever, you pulled the clasps together.
in reply to Neil E. Hodges

Greg A. Woods
Greg A. Woods
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Ah, yes! I have seen those, in a museum! but never used them.
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