[InfiniteLoop]

In many cold climates, like northern Europe, many cyclists complain about problems with disc brakes and user roller brakes instead. Yet, disc brakes are preferred by off-road cyclists. Is freezing the bigger problem with discs than gunk getting between the disc and pad?

 

[danl1]

A disc is nice for the good braking power and modulation, especially compared to rim brakes in muddy situations.

A roller brake is good for a town bike that's going to spend its life parked out on a bike rack in the rain, wet, and goodness knows what else. But they don't work as well for a performance bike - they're generally heavier and don't have the same class of stopping power and modulation that you'd want on a 'sporting' bike. But they're less likely to ice up, they won't get their rotors dinged out of alignment by the guy in the next slot on the rack, and so on.