Chris Timm
Hans Christoph Timm

• Home
• Myself
• Work
• Cycling
• My bikes
• Rides
• Team 2001
• Team 2002
• Tandem Tips
• Tandem tests
• Pro pics
• Tandem builders
• Tandem components
• Other tandem & cycling links
• Skiing
• Links

To which Singlespeeder answered:
> Good brakes aren't just advantageous for competition - see the remarks made
> recently on riding in Italy for instance.

True, but remember that the mentioned report lauded their choice of rim brakes plus drum!

What are the advantages of good disk brakes?

• Hydraulic brakes provide better modulation.
• Their overheating failure-mode is less dangerous: One of the two brakes will fail, leaving the remaining brake to stop the bike (it is highly unlikely that both will fail at the same time), while a blowout will often result in an immediate crash.
• You can get by with only two levers without toasting a tube (and still be able to balance front and rear brake individually, which is not possible when running two brake off one lever).
• As pads and rotor come from the same manufacturer, you always get optimum performance (whereas finding the best brake pad for your rim can be tricky).
• Disks look cool and attract tech geeks!

• The Arai can take MUCH more heat than any currently available bicycle disk brake! Thus it remains the only choice for extra heavy teams (triples, lots of luggage, trailers) in the mountains. Many descents I have encountered in races or training push current disks to or beyond their limit with a standard tandem team (tried Formula, Hope, Magura).
• It is easier to service on the road. Any bike shop can help you out with brake cables and pads, while teams with a disk should not travel without a service kit for the disk.
• Only the Arai can work as a drag brake on descents, freeing the captain from the need to brake constantly to stay behind that tractor (or below the stoker-imposed speed limit) - current disks are not strong enough to survive constant braking on steep descents.
• While disks are easily bent in a crash or during travel, such problems are a non-issue for Arai-owners.
• It still allows for "proper use of the front brake": The front wheel provides more traction, thus it will be of greater help in panic stops.
• In this situation, front disks offer no advantages over a front rim brake. In principle, both can provide maximum braking power up to locking up the front wheel (however, poorly designed or set-up disks AND rim brakes are often less strong).
• It is MUCH cheaper in both initial cost and maintenance.
• All parts are readily available, while choosing disks often means opting for a very long wait for that last tiny part needed for completion. The problem reoccurs when spare parts are needed.
• It can work with STI/Ergo levers (The Santana master cyclinder is prohibitively expensive, and Hope's 'Remote Reservoir' is probably no bit cheaper).
• While T@H-regulars have heard many tales of disks overheating, I remember no story of how the standard setup failed beyond what could be fixed on the road.
• While nobody knows anything about the life expectancy of the tiny seals needed on hydraulic brakes, cable operated brakes are proven technology that whill provide decades of trouble-free operation with only a minimum of service.
• An Arai operated via a shift lever can be used as a parking brake (you need a rubber band or a toe strap to do that with other brakes).
• Hydraulic rim brake are available, allowing just as perfect modulation.
• Well set-up rim brakes often provide better braking: V-brakes or Magura HS-33 provide more power than a 185mm Formula (haven't tried Santana's 203mm version).
• Drum brakes are uncool, thus you don't have to spend your time talking to tech geeks!

Regarding spoke breakage: Yes, disks allow better access to spokes, and they are easier to get off the hub should this still be neccessary. But it is usually possible to get the Arai off the hub on the road, and any shop with a vise can get it off easily. Also: Blaim the wheel builder! There is little reason why you should have a broken spoke on any tour!

Regarding front disks and steering input: This is not an issue with a thru-axle hub. Tandem Technology recently ran tests of front and rear disks in the Austrian Alps (using an 80 lb weight in a child trailer to add some spice), and they confirmed downhill-riders' comments that thru-axle hubs eliminate steering input.