Rim brake or disc brake?

Long since established as THE reference braking system in mountain biking, disc brakes are now slowly beginning to make their way into the road cycling world.

Until now, the design and characteristics of a road bike did not allow for compatibility with disc systems. It was therefore necessary to make do with rim brakes, which can cause significant heat build-up on rims during heavy braking, and display unreliable performance in wet conditions, particularly for carbon models.

Aided by the democratisation of new manufacturing processes and the emergence of new standards (thru-axles, flat mount brake callipers, less bulky hydraulic levers…), manufacturers have revised their approach and now offer bikes equipped with disc brake systems, even if we are still in the early stages, including at the highest level where very few professional riders have already made the switch.

Offering both great power and optimal braking modulation, disc brakes allow you to maintain excellent braking performance in all conditions or road types, limit wear and heat build-up on the rim/pad interface, and eliminate problems with cables that oxidise or seize. Moreover, with a rim freed from the constraints of a braking surface, disc brakes allow for lighter and more dynamic wheels. However, this weight saving for the whole bike must be tempered, as it is largely offset by the additional weight of the discs, hoses, callipers and levers. Overall, disc brake systems therefore result in a weight penalty compared to a conventional rim brake system and a generally higher cost.

If you are looking for a system that guarantees total reliability whatever the circumstances, disc brakes represent the ideal solution. They will also satisfy mountain enthusiasts who need great braking power without the risk of overheating, as well as riders who alternate between aluminium and carbon wheels, since there is no longer any need to change the pads systematically when switching from one to the other.

If you are looking for the most economical system (for entry level) or the greatest possible lightness (for high end), rim brakes continue to represent the ideal solution.