My e-bros bicycle:

 

HTFU

 

Sur la plaque, cripple-boy.

 

My new bike- Trek Crossrip LTD:




Its got these weird cable/hydro brakes, but they seem to work pretty well.

 

What's the advantage over straight cable- Just auto-adjusting?


Also, will someone please explain to me how Rule 5 (anonymous does not forgive, anonymous does not forget) is relevant here? I've been searching and searching, and I can't figure this one out.

 

That and reduced friction for greater mechanical advantage. Direct cable systems use a helical gear which sucks up some cable force. If the direct cable works for you, I wouldn't mess with it. dcamp2's bike could be used for touring. Hard core touring bikes might be 80lbs fully loaded. Imagine controlling speed with that weight on a 10 mile long switch back mountain descent with say a 6% average grade. Big honking hydraulic discs with metal pads are needed.

I use organic pads in the hydraulic disc system on my 23lb mountain bike for local trails because they modulate better are are quieter. For some of the big descents near Mt Wilson or Big Bear, I'll fit metallic pads because the organics will fade.

So many different levels of braking power, modulation, noise depending on usage. Just like cars.

 

yeah, auto-adjusting is the only reason I can think of...

They do have the good hydraulic 'feel'. Most mechanical disc brakes I've used don't modulate very well and feel weird at the lever.

 

Hmm. Not sure how much easier to modulate disc brakes could be than the cheap mechanical ones that came stock on my Giant Revel.

I can see the auto-adjust being nice if you're literally riding hundreds of miles non stop, though.

 

With higher clamping force, the cables begin to stretch, calipers flex, cable housings compress. Your comment is sorta like the driver that never goes over 60mph or .3g wondering why the OEM's stop using drum brakes up front. Trust me, cable operated brakes do have a finite limit for good modulation with higher deceleration forces and clamping loads. Do most bikes have way more brakes than they're riders will ever utilize? Of course. Just like a 2014 V6 Camry has way more single stop braking torque available than it's tires or driver will ever use.

 

I thought rule 5 in this context was, "Harden the **** up".

 

Velominati › The Rules

This will also explain why Trey and I are so repulsed with your bike racks and about a dozen other things you've posted in this thread

 

Not at all- I understand pure hydraulics. I was talking about that hybrid cable / hydro system that dcamp2 posted, which is going to have nearly all the same flexations and compressions of a pure cable system.



Seems like a bunch of hipster BS.

I mean, rule 7 is "Tan lines should be cultivated and kept razor sharp." and rule 50 is "Facial hair is to be carefully regulated." I find it hard to take that sort of cycling advice seriously.

On the other hand, rule 9 is "If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period." So since I commute through snow and slush in sub-freezing weather, I guess I'm the biggest badass here.

 

Seems like you're too busy insulting recreational cyclists at every opportunity to understand that it's a joke.

 

Huh.

I really didn't mean for it to come off like that. I kinda felt like the rec guys were so busy insulting commuters at every opportunity that the whole thread was sliding into carbonlust territory.




Besides... you can criticize my Schwinn, but when you attack my mustache (rule 50), them's fightin' words.

 

I agree this hybrid system is pretty stupid (heavy, still have a cable, etc), but it seems to work OK, and I wanted this specific model for reasons other than the brakes.


And yes- real hydro brakes (especially the new Shimano stuff) is the business.

 

+1. It's about a hierarchy of absurdity that makes things like a pink spandex skin suit really cool.

 

Holy crap, am I out of shape!

I didn't really appreciate how being on vacation and away from cycling for two and a half weeks would really turn me into a wheezing sack of lard, but I feel like I just got kicked in the gut by a mule.

(It probably doesn't help matters that it's 4° outside right now, with a "feels like" score of -14°.)

 

This is not looking good for my comeback with 6 months off the bike.

 

Oh yeah, you'll think something is broken. The longer and higher your training, the quicker you gain it back. For those that had just begun riding, it takes longer to get back to the same level. Weird thing about cycling, your body undergoes a profound transformation and adaption yet you look only a little different. One common reference point is your resting heart rate and recovery rate.

When relaxed, your average sedentary 30yo male has a resting HR of something like 70bpm. An occasional cyclist maybe 50bpm. A frequent recreation cyclist that does high intensity training rides 30-40bpm. My lowest resting HR back in the day was usually 32bpm. I could walk around for 10 minutes, sit down and be at 32bpm within one minute. Now my resting is a sad 55bpm and it takes a while to get back after moving around. I need to ride more obviously.

When you are less fit, it takes a while to recover. Walk up a flight of stairs at normal speed and your HR might take 10 minutes to drop to resting. Jog for 5 minutes and it takes an hour.

 

Well, that's it.

When it's 5°F (-15°C) and I'm pedaling into a 25 MPH headwind, a certain threshold has been crossed wherein I can no longer make glib remarks like "it's a bit chilly tonight," and I have to simply admit that it is seriously ******* cold outside.