'Cross Builders, what are y'all doing about legalized discing?

[jsrieck]

Are customers asking for discs?

Are you going to give it a season and then decide?

Don't trust the UCI to go back on their rules (again)?

What is going to be your "standard" recommendation?

Just curious, thanks!

[WadePatton]

well, since you've caught over 24 hours of air on this one. i'll say this about that: any road/mtn frame builder is quite familiar with tabs. only the road/cross frame onlyisters might not have hung a bunch of disc binders.

never having cross raced in my life, but being from the atb side; i'm putting discs on my first crosser which should be my next frame. i simply love the absolute simplicity and effectiveness and lack of rim grinding afforded by cable-actuated discs.

[anthonymaietta]

I'll be interested to see if this spawns a hydraulic drop bar brake lever.

Hydraulic > Cable

[WadePatton]

Hydraulic > Cable

i'm sure it is, but until the cable doesn't do everything i ask of it, i don't have to bother-or consider where the levers are mounted.

[MJS]

crying - disc brakes are ugly (except on those super mega double suspension downhill mtbs). right up there with sloping top tube bikes.

[ridethecliche]

If I see more cross bikes with discs on them, I'm going to really want one even more. Would make a sick commuter/light touring rig/weekend cross racer!

[zank]

No.

What are we waiting to decide on? Following trends is not a good way to make a racing bicycle.

The UCI won't turn back now.

For a cyclocross racing bicycle, cantis are the speed modulators of choice.

[Disturbed]

Wait, I thought I wasn't supposed to use my brakes in 'cross? Why would it matter what I'm not using?

[Chance Legstrong]

Wait, I thought I wasn't supposed to use my brakes in 'cross? Why would it matter what I'm not using?

it doesn't. it's just noise.

[zank]

and weight.

[nahtnoj]

and stiffer forks to deal with the torsional loads discs create.

[frenk]

I understand Zanc, but it's only because current disc brakes are designed for a different task (MTB).

Would things be different with something like a cross-specific Formula R1 with 140mm (or even smaller) rotors and STI/Ergo levers? Almost same weight as cantis, modulation, mud clearance and the simplicity of hydraulic discs.

[Saab2000]

I wouldn't be surprised to see something develop. But it may be more marketing oriented rather than an engineering necessity. That said, I like that the UCI allows a bit of choice here. That is a good thing and may allow for the development of levers with hydraulic capabilities, something that has long been needed for niche things. I bet SRAM leads the way with this.

[CyclesNoir]

Shimano was noted as driving these changes. Doubt they care about tires. Must have something up their sleeves in the brake dept.

[MIN]

I understand Zanc, but it's only because current disc brakes are designed for a different task (MTB).

Would things be different with something like a cross-specific Formula R1 with 140mm (or even smaller) rotors and STI/Ergo levers? Almost same weight as cantis, modulation, mud clearance and the simplicity of hydraulic discs.

actually the bigger the rotor, the more modulation. this is why rim brakes modulate better than discs... smaller rotors have a more on-off feel.

i don't think hydraulic calipers have a place on cross application since the tire traction is certainly the bottleneck and not the power of the calipers. a properly adjusted bb7 road has more power than v-brakes but doesn't succumb to mud and rain nearly as much. of course it does add about 400-600 grams total vs a canti-setup, depending on rotor selection using bb7 road.

[zank]

My prediction is that the bulk of disk-equipped bikes you'll see at the races for the next bunch of seasons will be in the cat 4 race. They typically buy complete bikes and as more big brands switch to disk, the complete bike purchaser will be the one racing on disks. If you look around at the races, most times you see a rider on disks is because they bought those Poprad's that only came with disks. You don't see many racers who, given the option on their new build, chose disks. They were always allowed in any non-UCI category race in the US. Most racers have always had the choice, and yet chose to go canti. Why would more riders now be compelled to go disk just because the option is now open to the elites?

Many of the seasoned racers don't really care one way or the other. But since they are invested in wheels, they wouldn't switch.You would also eliminate being able to use wheels you might use on your road bike the rest of the season (don't say just take off the rotor. come on, you would really do that? you're usually talking a set of snazzy high end super wheels.) New racers don't have as many wheelsets in their garage that would need to be replaced. So again, maybe we'll see an uptick in disk-equipped bikes in the lower categories.

The option has been there for years. Nobody's asked for it so far. Maybe that's because there hasn't been too compelling a reason to due to there being so few disk brake choices right now. Could that change if Shimano blew everyone away with a hydro STI lever and tiny ultra light caliper? Maybe. But it still leaves the problem of having to replace all of the wheels you own. That's a deal breaker for me.

[steve garro]

so when a client ask for a disc cross bike are you gonna build it or send them away? - Garro.

[MIN]

totally agree with you zank. and neutral support wheels are a no-go.

[zank]

so when a client ask for a disc cross bike are you gonna build it or send them away? - Garro.

It's not that I haven't been asked about it. But when the conversation comes up and I lay out all of the facts as they are, let's just say that I've never been asked to do it.

[zank]

totally agree with you zank. and neutral support wheels are a no-go.

Excellent point.