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Time to upgrade to carbon and disc brakes?

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  • February 21, 2017 at 12:25 am #26808
    Road44

    Hello there,

    I need advise on buying a new bike!

    I started cycling last year. I bought my first bike used with not much mileage on it. A specialized Allez Elite 2009. 105 groupset with a alloy frame and a carbon fork. Pretty decent for a first bike. 

    After my first summer season ( I’m from Canada so I only ride in summer ), I rode a bit more than 2000km. So it confirmed that I really liked cycling and now, I want to take my new favorite sport more seriously. 

    Unfortunately I think I catched the cycling disease… I already want to upgrade. I already wondered about starting with buying new wheels, but honestly I am not willing to spend 750$+ on a bike that I paid 800$ and that I know is a bit outdated.

    So I started to look for a completely new bike. Since it appears that disc brakes are here to stay, it seems logical to me to invest in the technology that will be in bikes for the future. 

    The best price/quality bike that I’ve found is the new 2017 Giant TCR advanced 2 disc. Advanced carbon, Hydraulic brakes and most recent 105 groupset. 2400$ CAD. See full specs here : https://www.giant-bicycles.com/fr-ca/bikes/model/tcr.advanced.2.disc/29187/100722/

    It would be relatively a big investment for me so I am hesitating a lot if I should go ahead and buy it. I am wondering if a new bike like this will have a huge difference on my biking experience.

    At first, it seams obvious… a 2009 aluminum bike VS a 2017 carbon disc bike. But at the end of the day, both Bike have the same category of groupset and surprisingly the giant has only a pound or so less… 

    Many questions… 

    Is it really worth to upgrade ? Where will be the major difference? Is it too soon to invest in a disc brakes bike ? Do you have a better suggestion for me?

    Thank you

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  • February 21, 2017 at 10:02 pm #887533
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    Road44

    Johnnyvee wrote:

    Johnnyvee wrote:
    I had a Norco threshold and loved it. That is until some toe rag nicked it but it was a great bike and they do a carbon version of that and other bikes in their range. As they are Canadian would you not get a better deal with a domestic manufacturer? Just a thought. Disc brakes by the way – I have them and would never get rim brakes again though not all disc brakes are equal. Personal choice of course and as likely to split opinion as a few other choice subjects.

     

    my main domestic manufacturer are Devinci and Argon18 but they sell the kind of bike I want way pricier than what I can find from a big manufacturer like Giant  

     

    February 21, 2017 at 9:26 pm #887531
    0
    Scheißenberg

    “Is it really worth to
    “Is it really worth to upgrade?”

    Yes. A new bike is always worth it.

    “Where will be the major difference?”

    Yes. A shiny new bike that you love will make you ride harder.

    “Is it too soon to invest in a disc brakes bike?”

    Not too soon, just unnecessary.
    Rims are simpler, prettier and pro!
    Have you seen the hoods on hydro levers?

    “Do you have a better suggestion for me?”

    Afraid not. Whatever bike you fall in love with will make you go infinitely faster.
    Desire is a strange beast.

    February 21, 2017 at 8:36 pm #887529
    0
    Woodsman

    £1800 plus p&p will get you a

    £1800 plus p&p will get you a Canyon Ultimate CF SL disk 8.0, that weighs in at 8.2kg. 

    February 21, 2017 at 2:26 pm #887527
    0
    IanEdward

    I’ve been having the same

    I’ve been having the same debate as I may have the best part of £2,000 to spend on a new road bike in September.

    Recent experiences with discs (both on my new mountainbike and my dad’s new ‘flat bar’ road bike) have convinced me I wouldn’t want discs on a road bike.

    Reasons:

    1) The old cliche. I don’t need the extra power. I never found my 105 callipers wanting for power, 1 finger on the drops was amazing. I completely accept that many might find callipers underpowered however. I would never turn down free ‘extra power’ but not at the expense of the following:

    2) Noise. I’ve used discs for years, mostly on mountainbikes but also on a touring bike (Salsa Vaya) and recently on my commuter (a Trek Superfly with slick tyres). Most of them have been very quiet in the dry, but all of them have made noise to some degree in the wet. So what? you say. Well I would genuinely prefer a slightly longer stopping distance over squeeling, yowling warbling discs. Sure once they warm up and dry off they’re great, but for street use, or rides that don’t feature huge long descents, they may never warm up or dry up enough, unless you drag them a little before hand. But guess what? Callipers work great in the wet too if you drag them a little beforehand to dry the rim off…

    I’m sure people will come along and say I’ve got the wrong pads or something, but I’m fed up trawling forums and reviews trying to figure out which pads may or may not make less noise in the wet, since I already know the answer – rubber calliper brake pads!

    3) Maintenance. This is a closer call, I’d maybe even agree that rim brakes require more maintenance, especially if you’re a hardcore winter rider, but the thing is in most instances I’ve found rim brake maintenance easier. Buckled wheels are easier to sort than warped discs. Calliper brakes are much easier to align and center perfectly on a rim than a disc brake calliper is to keep perfectly aligned and drag free on a disc. Cables are easier to replace than hydraulic discs are to bleed. 

    Note I’m not saying the maintenance on discs is especially difficult, just that I believe for a home mechanic with limited tools, and perhaps limited space, I’d suggest calliper/rim brakes are easier.

    4) Weight/spec. When I was speccing my dream £2000 road bike I realised how much more I could get for my money if I ditched disc brakes, and how much weight I could save! (approx 10kg with discs, 8.7kg without). It also gave me more choice of lighter/better wheels, for instance I’m one of those perverts that prefers cup and cone hubs, especially the ones with simple, spanner free adjustment like Shimano Ultegra and Fulcrum/Campag. You don’t get that with disc wheels…

    Anyway, my point is that if you don’t desperately want the power of disc brakes, you really need to ask why you would spec them. I prefer a bike which doesn’t make a hellish racket when braking in the wet and that doesn’t require a degree in black magic to keep the brakes perfectly aligned and drag free*.

    Oh and did I mention the dodgy leaking seals on some Shimano disc brakes? My dad seems to have suffered two sets now. No thanks.

     

    *exaggerating for effect

    February 21, 2017 at 1:12 pm #887525
    0
    fenix

    Rim brakes have been fine for

    Rim brakes have been fine for decades and are a doddle to sort out. Discs – can be a nightmare. 

     

    There’s no standard in them either so you may jump to the wrong spec ? Through axles are a pain for bike stands, turbos and bike racks. 

    Stick with rim brakes and then your wheels are compatible too.

     

    If you want electronic I’d go Etap over di2.  Why switch to batteries PLUS cables ? 

    February 21, 2017 at 12:05 pm #887523
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    Johnnyvee

    I had a Norco threshold and
    I had a Norco threshold and loved it. That is until some toe rag nicked it but it was a great bike and they do a carbon version of that and other bikes in their range. As they are Canadian would you not get a better deal with a domestic manufacturer? Just a thought.
    Disc brakes by the way – I have them and would never get rim brakes again though not all disc brakes are equal. Personal choice of course and as likely to split opinion as a few other choice subjects.

    February 21, 2017 at 11:29 am #887521
    0
    hsiaolc

    Rim Vs Disc is night and day.

    Rim Vs Disc is night and day.  Makes massive difference. 

    Good that you have vision (well I think).  The future of rim is dying and just a matter of time just like with MTB bikes. 

    I have two road with Disc now and will never go back to rim, and if I have to I will choose not to ride then.  Go Di2 if you can too.  Again massive difference. 

    When you get both of these and ride it, it will bring a smile to your face. 

    Don’t listen to anyone else especaily those that are short sighted but think they have vision.  The worst kind. 

    February 21, 2017 at 10:16 am #887519
    0
    trohos

    Check this, http://fitwerx

    Check this, http://fitwerx.com/carbon-fiber-frame-manufacturing-techniques-part-one-of-a-three-part-series-on-carbon-fiber/

    In this price range you can buy a cannondale caad 12 disc with ultegra or a better choice is to build one. My opinion is, that if a budjet is above from 1800 euro, is better to build it. Many pros still use dual pivot brakes. Surely the moving parts, like the wheels or bottom bracket-crankset

    Good luck.

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