79pmooney
Posts:3189
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| 01/28/2014 05:46 PM |
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http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/photos/tech-gallery-tour-down-under-bikes-and-gear/290603
Rear brakes under the chainstays for road bikes.
Pluses:
More aero
Looks cleaner
and ...
Minuses:
Much harder for caravan mechanics to do on-the-fly adjustments
Makes finding good mechanics MUCH harder. (Job posting: "Applicant must demonstrate the ability to adjust rear brake at speeds exceeding 40 kph.)
and ... ?? Think about it. By the time wheels have 13-14 cogs, there will be so much dish, keeping them true will an on-going issue. This will especially be an issue at times of high power.
Ben
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longslowdistance
Posts:2886
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| 01/28/2014 07:11 PM |
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| Gets pretty dirty down there. |
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stronz
Posts:447
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| 01/29/2014 09:29 AM |
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| seems gimmicky to me. I can understand the front. But that rear brake -- can it really disturb the flow that much sitting behind the seat tube? maybe the cable actuator is the culprit. Perhaps rear center- pull brakes would be as good a solution |
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Master50
Posts:340
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| 01/29/2014 10:25 AM |
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| How aero does a RR bike need to be? I do my own wrenching and I recall under BB U brakes were a pain to maintain. Then how do these odd brakes work as compared to side pulls? The only real plus for me is in the look. Yes hiding the brakes can be an ascetic plus but I am happy with my brakes in the traditional positions. Besides at some point I think my road bikes will have disk brakes |
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Keith Richards
Posts:781
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| 01/29/2014 12:13 PM |
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This is where I mention the disconnect between professional racers and the rest of us.
What they use and what we use/need are different. A pro who has a spare bike in the caravan can afford to have BB mounted brakes. The recreational rider/local racer? He needs to spend his money elsewhere. |
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It is his word versus ours. We like our word. We like where we stand and we like our credibility."--Lance Armstrong. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 01/29/2014 12:14 PM |
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@ Master50 - these brakes are much better than the old style U brakes. They are often either standard calipers, or brakes designed specifically for the bikes. U-brakes suck.  The cable routing is a bigger factor on performance than the brakes themselves.
As for how aero a road bike needs to be, seems to be that if you are gonna make an aero road bike, you may as well make an aero road bike. At the Pro Tour (or is it World Tour now.....I forget), they should maximize every opportunity. Now, for the weekend warrior, it is a different question. The marginal reduction in drag may well not be worth the trade off for maintenance hassle, etc. IMO, it isn't.....but others certainly feel differently.
I occasionally kick around the idea of replacing the front brake on my Cervelo S2 with the TriRig Omega. Most reports are that it works pretty well and is very aero. But my brakes right now are Mavic SSC (w/ the leaf spring) and they work so damn good......my TT bike has the brakes hidden already, so no need there.
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Orange Crush
Posts:4499
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| 01/29/2014 12:33 PM |
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Posted By Keith Jackson on 01/29/2014 12:13 PM
This is where I mention the disconnect between professional racers and the rest of us.
What they use and what we use/need are different. A pro who has a spare bike in the caravan can afford to have BB mounted brakes. The recreational rider/local racer? He needs to spend his money elsewhere.
But as Ben said, what can be a quick easy on-the-fly fix of a brake rub with a regular mount by your mechanic hanging out the car window, now becomes a small nightmare, perhaps forcing a bike change that could cost you the race.
Bad idea at any level IMO. I doubt any aero advantage of this setup as Stronz already pointed out. |
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79pmooney
Posts:3189
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| 01/29/2014 12:56 PM |
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The big advantage I see isn't aero. It's that brake rub issue. Think about it. This is bike racing/
Ben |
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zootracer
Posts:835
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| 01/30/2014 01:37 AM |
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| isn't Trek the only manufacturer that offers this set up? |
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Pin0Q0
Posts:229
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| 02/01/2014 10:03 AM |
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| Freaking horrible. Functionality has been totally thrown out of the window for the sake of marketing. Harder to adjust on the fly and maintain, plus more dirt will be will be engraved in the pads and you’ll be changing rims on a regular base quicker than you are changing brake pads. |
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Ride On
Posts:537
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| 02/01/2014 02:05 PM |
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| Rear brakes ? Good brakes are for sissies. |
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79pmooney
Posts:3189
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| 02/01/2014 06:31 PM |
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I'm surprised none of you have figured out the tactical advantage yet. It would only work once, but it could be huge, maybe even tour winner.
Ben |
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ElleSeven
Posts:48
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| 02/02/2014 02:18 PM |
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| I know what I want. One hydraulic rim brake under the chain stays, one cable-activated rim brake on the seat stay bridge; two front caliper rim brakes (on either side of the fork crown), one hydraulic, one mechanical. Then, four disc brakes, two hydraulic front and rear, and two mechanical front and rear. Let’s see, that’s eight separate levers, which sounds a little impractical. But the upside is, when I’m out on that bike, I’ll have something to talk about with — let me do the math — everybody! |
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