[Closed] Road bikes with disks are ugly?

just to illustrate the difference, in 2013 I rode the Fred Whitton on a Giant TCR with rim brakes and descended Wrynose in the wet in 4.07 mins. This year I also descended it in the wet but this time I ran hydro discs. My time was 3.07.

This isn't willy waving. I'm just trying to interject some objectivity into this. Discs are faster, and thus safer.

Bit more tech detail on the Tarmac disc. I must say it looks on paper and pic, pretty good.
http://www.bikeradar.com/road/news/article/specialized-tarmac-disc-and-new-rim-brake-tarmac-released-40998/

just to illustrate the difference, in 2013 I rode the Fred Whitton on a Giant TCR with rim brakes and descended Wrynose in the wet in 4.07 mins. This year I also descended it in the wet but this time I ran hydro discs. My time was 3.07.

This isn't willy waving. I'm just trying to interject some objectivity into this. Discs are faster, and thus safer.

It shows absolutely nothing as you've ridden the course before and know what's coming up. There is no way that using disc brakes account for over 1 minute of difference on such a short descent.

The problem with the tarmac, (apart from the fact that's pretty plain looking) is that the rim braked one looks better.

This is the old one but the point stands. http://www.flickr.com/photos/mariohartmanncom/4510814848/in/photostream/

It shows absolutely nothing

well it shows I was quicker on the disc bike in the wet....

On a different day with non-identical conditions, different riders around you - oh and as wnb mentions different levels of experience. Not exactly a double blind trial is it?

There is no way that using disc brakes account for over 1 minute of difference on such a short descent.

Yes there is. If your brakes are shite you can't gain speed, cos you know you're not going to be able to lose it again so you have to mince.

BORING

Thread is about aesthetics, it does not require logic.

Yeah, but the title of the thread has already been well proven, so the disc brake disciples are having to try and prove there is some point to them.

Bless. I still think disc brakes look cleaner then fussy old calipers.

[img] https://www.flickr.com/photos/pjsaevans/13985949350/ ][img] https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7331/13985949350_ed3623456d.jp g" target="_blank">https://www.flickr.com/photos/pjsaevans/13985949350/ ][img] https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7331/13985949350_ed3623456d.jp g"/> [/img][/url] [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/pjsaevans/13985949350/ ]image[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/pjsaevans/ ]N Paul Evans[/url], on Flickr[/img]

I bought this with the 2014 Fred Whitton in mind. I have to say, having come from an mtb background it was remarkably comforting to have the disc brakes on the descents of Hardknott and Wrynose. I am by no means a good descender on the road bike but I certainly overtook more riders on these two descents than those that came past me.

the disc brake disciples are having to try and prove there is some point to them.

It's not that. It's just that I can't stand bollocks 😉

So many riser bar'd mega gates....not really helping the cause.

That Roubaix looks alright. It'd look a lot better if you put it in the big ring and slammed the stem...

And yes, I know it's an "endurance" bike, it's just that those high front ends look a bit wrong. IMHO. That's more offensive to my eyes (and my OCD) than discs!

Also, what brakes are they? Looks like Di2 so are they the new Ultegra hydraulics? What are they like?

And yes, I know it's an "endurance" bike, it's just that those high front ends look a bit wrong. IMHO. That's more offensive to my eyes (and my OCD) than discs!

sorry, but i have to agree, sod the brakes, that front end is ridiculous!

Please accept my apologies if the front end of the bike offends!

The brakes are BB7's but your correct, the groupset is Di2. Absolutely fantastic bit of kit - encourages you to work on and maintain your cadence over undulating roads due to the shifts being so positive and 'easy'.

Would have gone for a Tarmac, but having had 4 lumber discs removed and 5 vertebrae fused an element of comfort was deemed to be preferable to vanity!

Been riding road for about 12 months now - how long until I become intollerable of other peoples choices, reasoned or not!

Marmite question.

I dislike rim brakes and you will need to pry the discs on my CX from my cold, dead hands.

If I was buying a real roadie, I'd want discs and possibly one of those funny new front through axles...

Not sure if this has been posted on here yet, but Martyn Ashton clearly thinks there are big advantages to discs in the wet

I don't have time to watch the whole video at work, but stunt riding like that isn't what a road bike is normally used for, so while impressive, isn't all that relevant. Didn't he use rim brakes in the first video too?

UR RD BIK IZ SARACIN...?

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Actually quite like [url= http://www.bikerumor.com/2014/07/18/saracen-flies-into-the-future-w-lightweight-avro-disc-brake-road-bike/ ]this[/url]. A road bike for the STW masses?

the head tube is certainly tall enough.

My bike has gone disc only. Gone is the nice gloss colour scheme. They had to lighten the frame to keep the overall disc braked bike weight constant.

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At least the rear caliper is tucked in properly

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That Defy is lovely, waiting eagerly for the TCR!

Prefer mine w/o disks 😉

Mmm, taking the discs out the equation that Defy looks really good. Normally not a fan.

Clever photo too, can barely see the discs!

Not sure about that new Defy, looks like it's collapsed a bit at the back. Just doesn't look right. Bit like a lot of 29er MTB look these days. Maybe it's the more relaxed angles. Shortish stem too.