I am looking at purchasing a cross bike and was wondering if anyone could give me some insight as to whether or not i should go with disc brakes or mechanical brakes…
thanks.
Also, any thoughts on specific frames and parts that you guys really like/prefer would be greatly appreciated.
Are you using it to race or just do rides with? Is it wet and muddy where you live? If you are gonna race/ride in the wet and mud then get one with discs.
Discs are a little heavier but they work much better than any rim brake, especially when it’s wet and muddy. As a bonus you don’t wear out your rim’s brake track. My Mavic Ksyrium rear is almost done from about 2 years riding in the wet as I ride my cross bike when it’s crappy out instead of my road bike.
I love discs but I ride a lot of mtb. When someone comes out with a hydraulic disc road bike with small 4’’ rotors I’ll be buying one.
I have like five bikes and a few extra sets of wheels without discs so I won’t be changing. But… I am thinking in three years it will be hard to find a new cx bike without disc equipped wheels. Most of the majors are changing this year so if you plan to build up a stable of frames and wheels I think disc is the way. I personally don’t think they are “needed” but the trend is set. If you are going to commute and ride mountain trails it makes total sense to go disc.
x2 There will be some good clearance-price deals on CX good bikes with cantelever brakes in the coming months.
I am thinking in three years it will be hard to find a new cx bike without disc equipped wheels. Most of the majors are changing this year…
I am looking at purchasing a cross bike and was wondering if anyone could give me some insight as to whether or not i should go with disc brakes or mechanical brakes…
thanks.
disc brakes are also mechanical. currently there aren’t any hydraulic disc brakes on the market for cx bikes (I may be wrong…). This is due to shifters being road style.
I just bought a cx bike with disc. Figure it’s the way of the future. Hydraulic would be much nicer though. limitation is choice of wheels. Need wheels with a disc…
If you plan for this to be a dedicated CX bike then maybe go with the disk brakes. I use mine as a road bike also, so I went with cantilever brakes that I later switched out for a nice set of v-brakes which work better in the road configuration (better stopping and they don’t stick out of the side of the fork).
Thanks for the help everyone, I will be using this bike to race and I’m kind of feeling like gonna go with cantilever or v-brakes because of the limited wheel selection out there and the fact that I have some carbon tubies that I’m thinking about gluing up with some cross tubies for this season.
Another question though, I read somewhere that a lot of people apparently when buying a cross bike purchase a frame one size smaller than they would normally ride on the road… Is there any actual logic to this, do any of you guys fall under this category? thanks.