at trek, we’re always looking to give riders exactly what they need and what they want. so we look at what they’re riding, where they’re riding, when they’re riding, how they’re riding, in order to develop a really cohesive package that will work for them as a great bicycle. disc brakes have more power and better modulation. they work better in all conditions - wet, dry, dirt, pavement; they’re just better brakes. modulation is your ability to really finely control the power you’re putting into the brake. to put it another way, a lack of modulation is a brake that is either at max power or no power. it’s either on or off. having modulation means you can fine-tune exactly how much power you need in a given situation.
disc brakes really free us up in terms of frame design. when we don’t have a rim brake caliper sitting right on the tire, we don’t have the frame needing to be really close to the wheel. so, we have a lot more tire clearance, which means you can run bigger tires for more comfort or traction. or, you can run a tire with a little more tread pattern if you want to have a little more grip off-road. there are many riders who can benefit from disc brakes; they’re not for just one kind of rider. we see domane as the ultimate place for disc brakes in our lineup. we know those riders are looking for confidence and control with better braking, and more versatility to ride anywhere and do anything.
for cyclocross, we know that more and more riders are choosing disc brakes. they’re just a natural fit for cyclocross with mud, sand, rain, snow, and ice, but they’re not the end-all be-all. there definitely are some disadvantages to disc brakes – weight being one of them and aerodynamics being another. for weight, you’re looking at maybe a 600-800g addition to a bike. really, you’re looking at the same group set, the same level wheels, the same level frame. you’re adding quite a bit of weight to your bike. for some people, that trade off is absolutely worth it. but, if you are a climber and you love your ã‰monda, the rim brakes on your ã‰monda are probably your best choice. we’re able to integrate a rim brake caliper into the shapes of the frame far better than disc brakes.
so for aerodynamics, rim brakes come out ahead every time. we try to take a holistic view of what the rider wants, how they’re using their bike, and then apply our technologies as we see fit.
