The u-brake is b-a-c-k (and it's mad!)

[PurpleFrog]

Shimano have decided that they're the future of road racing:

http://velonews.competitor.com/2014/09/ ... ure_343690

They're liked for the great modulation plus the clearance for wider tyres (up to 30mm - that probably would be a Godsend on the cobbles during a Roubaix) that future road racers might be running.

..I think the author of the article is unfair to old style u's: they only ever had problems (afaik) from that weird mounting under the chainstays.

 

[drcarlos]

The author doesn't look old enough to have experienced u's the first time round. That aside why did they not do this 20 years ago?

Carl

 

[FMJ]

Discs are the future.

 

[EggyBum6969]

Re:

the metal kinda reminds me of xtr 960

 

[My_Teenage_Self]

Okaaaaay...

How is functionally that any different to this? (with the obvious exception of the way it mount to the frame);

 

[Neil]

Okaaaaay...

How is functionally that any different to this? (with the obvious exception of the way it mount to the frame);

Cyclical churn, I'd guess. Reinvention as a necessary for revenue stream?

Got to keep people on their toes, bosses on frames for a while, then bridge / crown mounted brakes, then back again.

 

[PurpleFrog]

Cyclical churn, I'd guess. Reinvention as a necessary for revenue stream?

Thank goodness we're spared this in mountain bikes!

...Anyone want to recommend a good 650b bike?

 

[Neil]

Cyclical churn, I'd guess. Reinvention as a necessary for revenue stream?

Thank goodness we're spared this in mountain bikes!

...Anyone want to recommend a good 650b bike?

S'all Greek to me, I'm still stuck in the 90s or earlier.

Is that the same as old road-bikes with 27" wheels?

Think it's only an issue if you play, or have to play that game. But it is a tad irritating when the fundamentals of how a brake are mounted are changed - whether that's something that'll trickle down, or not, who's to say - but if it's on the sexiest kit, it'll be what the wannabe-Froomes sneakily disguised as MAMILs will want on their "steeds".

Any of this, is all a lesson in know your demographs, and the degree to which you can exploit them... right up until the arse falls out of that particular market (as witnessed before in plenty of boom-and-bust hobbies / pastimes - mountain biking certainly being no exception).

 

[mattr]

Discs are the future.

For touring, audax, commuters, winter trainers, definitely.
Cross........ Hmmmm. Still not convinced.
Road racing, nah.

 

[kaiser]

Re:

I believe (but don't quote me) that the development came about as a request for a better chainstay mounted brake to aid aerodynamics. It also turned out to give a superior braking performance due to the fixing being a bit less flex prone, which in turn can help with a load of things I'd guess, distributing the load to the legs rather than a single point at the crown etc. Still I think it'll be shortlived, the way disc road bikes are hitting the shops tell me that caliper brakes will be a niche product very soon! I'd say that the disc revolution is as aggressive as the 650b one.