TRP launch new disc brakes at Taipei International Cycle Show:

TRP are launching two new disc brakes aimed at the road market in the shape of the Spyre and the HyRd.

We actually told you about these brakes briefly a few weeks ago when we saw them from the Core Bike Show, but now we have a lot more details having visited TRP in Taiwan earlier this week

The Spyre is a mechanical (it uses a cable rather than hydraulics) two-piston disc brake for road levers. Both of the pads move towards the disc rather than just one pad pushing the disc over to contact the other pad.

Other features include ramped ball bearings that are designed to offer smooth pad engagement and accurate modulation, and integrated barrel adjusters. These look and work like the barrel adjusters you find on a normal rim brake: you just wind the adjuster out to tension the cable and bring the pads closer together.

TRP reckon that the Spyre is 20% more powerful than Avid’s super-popular BB7 disc brake, and 40g lighter.

The Spyre brakes will actually come in two versions. The normal version will cost £69.99 per brake while a carbon-fibre model, the Spyre SLC, will be £89.99. The carbon fibre results in a minor weight advantage – 146g per wheel as opposed to 154g – but it’s largely a cosmetic thing. The weight of the 160mm rotor is 85g, according to TRP.

The other new road disc brake from TRP is the HyRd – you pronounce it ‘high road’, if you want to be one of the kool kidz. The Hy/Rd (‘high road’, don’t forget) is a mechanical interface hydraulic disc brake for road levers.

Do what? The idea is that you get the power and modulation of a hydraulic disc brake but in a cable actuated lever system. Any better? In the plainest of English, you get super-powerful braking with yer standard road levers – Shimano STI dual controls or whatever else you might be running.

Previously with TRP, you had to use their Parabox hydraulic junction to convert the cable pull from a brake lever to hydraulic power. The Parabox will stay in the TRP range but you don’t need it here because each self-contained calliper incorporates a master cylinder. TRP realise that the simplicity of this system will appeal to a lot of people and they expect sales of the Parabox to be eroded as a result. You can chalk it down as progress.

The HyRd (you know it by now, right?) hydraulic system self-adjusts for pad wear and the composite pistons are designed to isolate heat better than steel equivalents. TRP reckon there are no heat problems at all with this design.

The system weight is 195g per wheel, the rotor weighing 89g. That’s a 160mm rotor. The HyRd will be available with 140mm rotors too but we got the distinct impression that TRP like the 160mm option better.

One of the HyRd’s real strengths is the price. It’ll be £109.99 per brake. TRP are looking to dispatch the first batch of HyRds, along with the Spyres, at the end of April, meaning that they could be available in the UK as early as June.

One more new disc brake from TRP is the Dash Sport. It’s a twin piston hydraulic disc brake for mountain biking although there’s a chance people might want to use it on a flat barred road bike too.

It comes with a radial mount master cylinder and the forged aluminium alloy lever blade has adjustable reach. Each $160 brake (we don’t have a UK price yet) weighs 297g so, again, it’s very competitive. TRP see it as a Shimano XT level product and it’ll be shipped from April.

A final product we must mention is the RG957 long reach calliper brake. The RG stands for ‘road gravel’ – it’s aimed at the gravel road market although it’s just as suitable for Tarmac-going bikes with larger tyres.

The aluminium arms are forged and CNCed, the hardware is stainless steel and you get a cam-style quick release. The cartridge pad holders are CNCed too and they’re angle-adjustable so you can toe the pads in. The reach is 47-57mm and each brake weighs a claimed 167g. The price is $180 per pair.

For more info on TRP go to www.trpbrakes.com or visit UK importer Upgrade.