Is it worth sticking with tried and tested rim brakes, or should you think about making the jump to discs? We explore some of the most common rim brake pitfalls
Whether you should choose rim brakes or disc brakes is a big issue for more and more people these days with the bike market becoming mixed at ever-lower price points.
Wheel manufacturers make rims from aluminium because it’s lightweight and the coefficient of friction doesn’t drop to the same extent as steel when it gets wet, but the aluminium alloys used are relatively soft and wear much faster. Disc brakes are affected by wet conditions too, but not as badly. Fixed to your hubs, disc brake rotors are further from the road surface than your rims and they don’t get covered in as much spray or mud.The use of carbon fibre allows manufacturers to make lightweight and/or aero rims but you don’t get the best braking surface.
Admittedly, braking on carbon rims has got a lot better since the early days. It used to be dreadful with little consistency, but manufacturers have gradually improved things., Jamie Williams said, “Carbon braking surfaces have come a long way over the last decade, and here the braking is consistent without any surprise 'snatching', although as with all carbon wheelsets it does take a rotation or two to clear off water when conditions are wet.
Beyond that, though, some brands suggest that particular pads will work best with their wheels, and different types of pads suit different conditions.
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