Do you need to use ...
 

[Closed] Do you need to use bigger rotors on a 29er?

Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

Following on from my post on another thread about how my Hope X2s lack power
I sort of got thinking whether or not a 29" wheel needed a bigger rotor for the same stopping power over a 26" - everything else being equal

Did a google and found [url= http://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=212353 ]this[/url]
Which really doesn't come to a clear conclusion

Anyone got any 'real world' experience on this before I go away and buy a bigger rotor and adaptor?


 
Posted : 30/09/2011 11:31 am
Posts: 6
Full Member
 

26 vs 29 doesn't make any difference IME. I run 180s on my Soul (26) and Scandal 29er cos I am a bit fat.

I'm no physicist but I'd be surprised if a slightly heavier, larger radius wheel makes any perceptible difference when slowing 100kg of bike and rider.


 
Posted : 30/09/2011 11:37 am
 GW
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

probably. (Rob Warner can explain why better than me ๐Ÿ˜‰ )


 
Posted : 30/09/2011 11:37 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

proportionally yes, 160's can look a bit silly with the clown wheels ๐Ÿ™„

functionally not ime


 
Posted : 30/09/2011 11:52 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Yes, the maths is very straightforward. For the same braking power for a given setup and force at the brake lever, you need proportionally bigger rotors.

29erkeith. You're wrong on the heating issue. Same amount of kinetic energy (OK, fractionally more because a 29er is slightly heavier) to get rid of = same amount of heating.


 
Posted : 30/09/2011 11:54 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

I'm no physicist but I'd be surprised if a slightly heavier, larger radius wheel makes any perceptible difference when slowing 100kg of bike and rider.

That's fine so long as you also agree that changing rotor size on any bike also makes no perceptible difference.


 
Posted : 30/09/2011 11:55 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

I should also add, I have the same brakes on two of my bikes - 29er with 203/180 and 26" with 183/160. Similar braking power. It was noticeable when I first built the 29er with the 183/160 combo that the power was slightly less than the 26" bike


 
Posted : 30/09/2011 11:59 am
Posts: 5
Free Member
 

I have 29" (or 700c) rotors on my road bike and they're nowhere near as powerful as the 160 rotors on my 29er ๐Ÿ˜ฏ


 
Posted : 30/09/2011 12:14 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

๐Ÿ˜‰ They're not rotors though. they're braking surfaces.


 
Posted : 30/09/2011 12:15 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

I have 29" (or 700c) rotors on my road bike and they're nowhere near as powerful as the 160 rotors on my 29er

My 700c wheeled road bike only has rims that are ~25" diameter, what the hell is it you have?

& you missed this bit ..........

everything else being equal


 
Posted : 30/09/2011 12:21 pm
Posts: 0
Full Member
 

I experience no perceptible difference in braking power on the 29er with the same size brakes. Not that I have a 26er now.

Don't worry about it.

Running 183 and 160 Tech X2's on mine with no issues.


 
Posted : 30/09/2011 12:44 pm
Posts: 2
Free Member
 

No,use 160mm discs on my 29er & always have done.Maybe if you got up to silly high speeds it might but otherwise nope,it's about the same...


 
Posted : 30/09/2011 12:49 pm
Posts: 41786
Free Member
 

For an extream example, BMX brakes are shocking, whereas 29'er v-brakes are pretty potent.


 
Posted : 30/09/2011 12:52 pm
Posts: 24436
Full Member
 

29er riders don't touch the brakes do they? I mean they're only meant for towpaths riding anyway


 
Posted : 30/09/2011 12:57 pm
Posts: 2
Free Member
 

That would also mean that rim brakes would be better than discs in general - bigger braking surface so it would cool better,directly on the rim of the wheel instead of in the middle,so no loss of braking energy through all the spokes ...................Actually I may be on to something................Oh hold,they're ****in' useless when it gets muddy aint they......... ๐Ÿ˜•


 
Posted : 30/09/2011 1:01 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
Topic starter
 

29er riders don't touch the brakes do they?

Well yes, it was only whilst trying them in a moment of madness that I thought they may be a bit lacking
I've quarantined the bike for 48hrs just in case a wheel may explode as a result


 
Posted : 30/09/2011 1:04 pm
 GW
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

For an extream example, BMX brakes are shocking, whereas 29'er v-brakes are pretty potent.

piss poor example more like! seeing as BMX V brakes are also pretty potent.


 
Posted : 30/09/2011 3:49 pm
Posts: 4
Full Member
 

I went out for an hour on mine last night on some pretty flat local trails, so no need to touch the brakes. Got home & once the bike was back in the house the wheels still exploded.
There is no explanation for this phenomenon, but it is one that I think we should all take more seriously.


 
Posted : 01/10/2011 11:01 am
Posts: 41395
Free Member
 

Clubber has it but the 10 ish percent isn't noticeable IME.


 
Posted : 01/10/2011 11:13 am
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Something along the lines of:_ To stop in the same distance at the same speed on a bike approximatelly the same weight will require the same amount of energy to be disipated" however "As a smaller area of rotor is being swept due to the smaller amount of rotation more friction will be required at the rotor"

so you probably just pull the brakes a bit harder, I can't see lack of power being an issue with any decent brake, and you should get better modulation too!


 
Posted : 01/10/2011 11:14 am