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> This seems to be a user error, because the exact opposite is usually true. Rims are much closer to the ground, and therefore are much easier contaminated with

> This seems to be a user error, because the exact opposite is usually true. Rims are much closer to the ground, and therefore are much easier contaminated with mud etc. It’s odd that you would assume user error despite knowing almost nothing about the gear I’m using or conditions that I’m riding in. Do a bit of searching online and you’ll see some people claim disc brakes last longer [1], and some people claim rim brakes last longer [2]. My personal experience is that rim brakes last considerably longer - and I think that’s mainly just due to the fact that they are so much thicker than disc brakes. I get about 2000km on my disc brakes vs 4000km on my rim brakes. How much mileage do you get on disc vs rim brakes? [1] https://wheretheroadforks.com/disc-brakes-vs-rim-brakes-pros-and-cons/ https://wheretheroadforks.com/disc-brakes-vs-rim-brakes-pros... [2] https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/1142311-how-long-do-your-disc-brake-pads-last.html https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/1142311-how-long-do-you...

jjav 4y ago
> How much mileage do you get on disc vs rim brakes? Mileage isn't comparable for brake wear, what matters is time spent braking. I'm on the first set of rim brake pads on my 2006 road bike, probably over 10K miles! But that's because it's a road bike where I do long rides mostly in steady state, sometimes hours without braking. So the miles and years go by without much brake wear. On my mountain bikes I get 2-3 years out of the disk brake pads, not sure of mileage but it'll be low. My average MTB ride is 5-8 miles vs. my average road bike ride of 50-70 miles. Out of this I wouldn't say the rim brakes last longer, it's just that on the mountain bike I'm constantly on the brakes, often hard, so it's not even remotely comparable. That said, hydraulic disk brakes are pretty much an absolute requirement on a mountain bike if you're riding in any kind of terrain, so it's a moot point. I wouldn't want a rim brake mountain bike even if you paid me to drive it! Whereas on a road bike I don't care either way, the brakes aren't that important.
- freetime2 4y ago
  Yup, for what it’s worth I ride a road bike in a mountainous area - so my brakes see a lot of use. The 2000km vs 4000km estimates above are for similar riding conditions on both bikes. I agree that disc brakes are more important for mountain bikes than road bikes. Disc brakes certainly feel nicer to use, but about the only time that rim brakes feel insufficient to me on a road bike is descending in the rain. And even then it’s manageable if I just maintain a slower speed on the descent.
  - midoridensha 4y ago
    Rim brakes are downright deadly on a road bike if you have carbon rims and are descending.

jjav 4y ago

> How much mileage do you get on disc vs rim brakes? Mileage isn't comparable for brake wear, what matters is time spent braking. I'm on the first set of rim brake pads on my 2006 road bike, probably over 10K miles! But that's because it's a road bike where I do long rides mostly in steady state, sometimes hours without braking. So the miles and years go by without much brake wear. On my mountain bikes I get 2-3 years out of the disk brake pads, not sure of mileage but it'll be low. My average MTB ride is 5-8 miles vs. my average road bike ride of 50-70 miles. Out of this I wouldn't say the rim brakes last longer, it's just that on the mountain bike I'm constantly on the brakes, often hard, so it's not even remotely comparable. That said, hydraulic disk brakes are pretty much an absolute requirement on a mountain bike if you're riding in any kind of terrain, so it's a moot point. I wouldn't want a rim brake mountain bike even if you paid me to drive it! Whereas on a road bike I don't care either way, the brakes aren't that important.

freetime2 4y ago
Yup, for what it’s worth I ride a road bike in a mountainous area - so my brakes see a lot of use. The 2000km vs 4000km estimates above are for similar riding conditions on both bikes. I agree that disc brakes are more important for mountain bikes than road bikes. Disc brakes certainly feel nicer to use, but about the only time that rim brakes feel insufficient to me on a road bike is descending in the rain. And even then it’s manageable if I just maintain a slower speed on the descent.
- midoridensha 4y ago
  Rim brakes are downright deadly on a road bike if you have carbon rims and are descending.