I am buying a new 'cross bike for the upcoming racing season and this bike will also double as my winter training bike. I am not sure whether I should get disc brakes or canti brakes. I understand the obvious weight saving advantage for Cantis.
Canti or Disc Brake
Crank-a-Roo
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I am buying a new 'cross bike for the upcoming racing season and this bike will also double as my winter training bike. I am not sure whether I should get disc brakes or canti brakes. I understand the obvious weight saving advantage for Cantis.
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I have disc brakes and I love them. But my brakes are hydraulic and my 'cross bike has a flat bar. I also race cross country on it.
On thing to consider is wheels. I have a few road wheelsets around which would be an improvement on the cross bike, if it did not have discs and 135 spacing. So unless I invest in another wheelset I'm stuck with what I have. If I break a spoke my bike is out for a few days. I have no substitutes.
On the other hand, if you have a few 29er mountain bikes in your quiver (and a few extra wheelsets) then disc will not ever be a problem.
On thing to consider is wheels. I have a few road wheelsets around which would be an improvement on the cross bike, if it did not have discs and 135 spacing. So unless I invest in another wheelset I'm stuck with what I have. If I break a spoke my bike is out for a few days. I have no substitutes.
On the other hand, if you have a few 29er mountain bikes in your quiver (and a few extra wheelsets) then disc will not ever be a problem.
There's only been...oh maybe one or two threads on this subject recently. Sorry about that, seriously so many variables that will factor in your decision. My suggestion is to read some of the treads to help narrow down one or two factors that will push the decision on way or the other.
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Since it's going to double as your winter training bike, I'll assume you're ride in snow. Disc brakes are better in the snow than canti's because they stay out of the road slop better. I like using a single speed for winter too, less to replace when winter's over and the drivetrain is rotted. I'm in Michigan though, other climates may not have as much snow and salted roads.
For racing, I don't know that there's a clear winner. I've run both, braking in a cx race is less important than stopping at a stop sign, ice build-up on rims can cause a problem with the latter for rim brakes especially with standard black (non-wet specific) canti pads.
For racing, I don't know that there's a clear winner. I've run both, braking in a cx race is less important than stopping at a stop sign, ice build-up on rims can cause a problem with the latter for rim brakes especially with standard black (non-wet specific) canti pads.
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What kind of bike do you have?
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I'm new to CX with a mtb background. Disc brakes were a no brainer for me but if nothing else other than to future proof your bike I would still go discs.
I have never owned a road bike or cx with rim brakes and I am sure they work as well as discs and are lighter but as more manufacturers go disc brakes on their frames, the component makers will start producing lighter disc brakes.
I have never owned a road bike or cx with rim brakes and I am sure they work as well as discs and are lighter but as more manufacturers go disc brakes on their frames, the component makers will start producing lighter disc brakes.
With this quote is quite obvious that you haven't used canti's in cross. Some are just horrible at stopping (have two sets right now! Hello V-brake upgrade). Discs work better than most canti's (I might even say all, but know folks on here will freak out).
I agree with what you said otherwise though.
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Canti's are fine if setup right. Canti's on aluminum rims stop better than road calipers on carbon rims by a far margin. I never had problems with them stopping as long as I wasn't using crap brake pads in wet weather but they're inconsistent in sloppy conditions, especially winter. Disks seem to work the same most often. I would not recommend 140mm brake rotors, they stop worse than canti's in the dry and descents.
Not many negatives to discs compared to canti's though. Minor weight penalty that I think is easily offset by a stronger rear wheel because of the wider hub spacing. Also allows for more tire clearance aka mud clearance.
Not many negatives to discs compared to canti's though. Minor weight penalty that I think is easily offset by a stronger rear wheel because of the wider hub spacing. Also allows for more tire clearance aka mud clearance.
the disc brakes make great sense for your application, it seems like you will have to pay a little more for a built bike and the weight will be a tad more. You won't be able to use 700c wheels you have lying around, but can use 29er mtb wheels.
If I was buying a brand new bike to start out, clearly it would be a disc brake model.
If you end up racing, you may not want to wreck your nice race bike by riding it in the road salt all winter.
If I was buying a brand new bike to start out, clearly it would be a disc brake model.
If you end up racing, you may not want to wreck your nice race bike by riding it in the road salt all winter.
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I come from a mtn bike background and I just started looking for my first CX bike. After riding quite a few bikes I can say that the road-disc brakes that are available stink compared to what we mtn bikers have. I have no reason to doubt that it will get better but I actually felt like some of the canti brakes were better. I'd go disc if you want to ride in the winter. At least in the future you'll have better options to upgrade too.
WOW. Just got one of my linear pull brakes set up (TRP CX 8.4) and it has some serious stopping power. Can't wait to get the other one on there. Seeing a lot of people in the PNW going to linear pull. Maybe they're a happy medium between canti's and disc. Kind of a stop gap until discs become better and more mainstream.
Did you mean TRP 8.4? I just put one on my rear tire and keeping the canti on the front for the time being. The stopping is awesome and was an inexpensive upgrade. Also agree that disc is the future but right now, there are, I believe, many pro's on linear over disc when factoring cost, current availability and maintenance.
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yeah, the mech hayes seen on a lot of midrange cross bikes really suck. Couple that with no neutral wheel support at races plus needing all of your wheels to have the same hubset, and i'm sticking with rim brakes.
Yes sunny, just a typo. I'm impressed you have enough self control to have the other brake sitting there (as I'm assuming you can only buy them in pairs) and not install it. Seems like a bomber brake for CO, with it's mostly dry races and few that can have some steeper descents.
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Thanks for everyone's input.. I just ordered a Specialized Cruz Elite with Cantilever. It is because Specialized doesn't have my size, 46cm,with disc brakes anymore. The shop will also change out the cantilevers to linear pull brakes.
I could've bought a Norco threshold with Disc brakes, but the fit isn't ideal and the bike is heavier than the specialised. I rather have a lighter bike.
Without disc brakes, I am also able to use the wheelset that I bought last year.
I live in Vancouver BC and we don't get much snow at all. I just have to ride the bike in the rain and the nearby gravel roads (safer than riding on the street). I will just need to add fenders. Road Salt isn't a issue at all. If the roads are icy, I am better off stay home as Vancouverites don't know how to dry in that condition!
I could've bought a Norco threshold with Disc brakes, but the fit isn't ideal and the bike is heavier than the specialised. I rather have a lighter bike.
Without disc brakes, I am also able to use the wheelset that I bought last year.
I live in Vancouver BC and we don't get much snow at all. I just have to ride the bike in the rain and the nearby gravel roads (safer than riding on the street). I will just need to add fenders. Road Salt isn't a issue at all. If the roads are icy, I am better off stay home as Vancouverites don't know how to dry in that condition!
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Even though the OP decided on a bike (nice choice, btw,) and the subject has been covered before, I thought I'd share my thoughts on this subject.
When considering braking on a 'cross bike, don't forget just how small the contact patch is, and remember what your braking traction is on dirt or mud.
I'm sticking with rim brakes, as I see no major advantage to rim brakes for me in the conditions I race and ride in.
Los
When considering braking on a 'cross bike, don't forget just how small the contact patch is, and remember what your braking traction is on dirt or mud.
I'm sticking with rim brakes, as I see no major advantage to rim brakes for me in the conditions I race and ride in.
Los
I would say pretty obvious thing: cantis are great, if setup correctly, but they have some learning curve and require attention to setup and installation. You need:
1) Carefully choose a model of cantis (I'm using now mid-profile Genetic CX cantis and they are wonderful, although a bit heavy; tektro 720 never worked for me, shimano CX 70 maybe an option, but much more problematic with setup) and hardware - good front/rear brake hanger, straddle triangle matter as well.
2) Brake Pads - I've got good experience with Kool-Stop salmon compound and dual black-salmon compund.
3) Installation - requires as much attention as a previous points, with all this toe-in-ing etc. With small road-style pads I've never bothered myself a lot, with Genetic CX it just works fine
Koolstop Thinline have some sort of "auto-toe-in-ing".
So, if you master these points, you will find good setup for cantis, which will help to survive all the cross mud. At the end, from my point of view, it's easier to service cantis, then disc brakes.
1) Carefully choose a model of cantis (I'm using now mid-profile Genetic CX cantis and they are wonderful, although a bit heavy; tektro 720 never worked for me, shimano CX 70 maybe an option, but much more problematic with setup) and hardware - good front/rear brake hanger, straddle triangle matter as well.
2) Brake Pads - I've got good experience with Kool-Stop salmon compound and dual black-salmon compund.
3) Installation - requires as much attention as a previous points, with all this toe-in-ing etc. With small road-style pads I've never bothered myself a lot, with Genetic CX it just works fine
Koolstop Thinline have some sort of "auto-toe-in-ing".So, if you master these points, you will find good setup for cantis, which will help to survive all the cross mud. At the end, from my point of view, it's easier to service cantis, then disc brakes.
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