Our friends at BikeRadar.com asked an interesting question recently, whether disc brakes would be the future of cyclocross. As we recently reviewed the new Redline Team Conquest cyclocross bike this is something that we’ve been thinking about as well. While the braking is good with the cyclocross bike it doesn’t quite have the same feel as a true mountain bike, especially in more technical off-road conditions. This has remained a common complaint amongst many riders, with the question being asked how much better disc brakes would make the bike.
The UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) – the sanctioning body for professional cycling – recently lifted the ban on disc brakes in cyclocross racing, and BikeRadar.com noted that this could mean better braking performance, both in terms of power and modulation, and could make mud clearance far less of an issue, while also reducing the weight of the bicycles. Additionally racers would probably not need as many stops to clean the rims, which should also stay in-true longer. Both are good for the riders, and the latter is good for the amateurs as they won’t have to worry about damaging the components on their bikes.
The downside of course is anyone – including this reporter – who bought a 2011 bike as the announcement was only made this past summer, and as it caught most of the industry off-guard meant that the current models aren’t disc brake compatible. The remaining issue is whether cyclocross bikes will become too much like mountain bikes. The sports are different and are meant to be so, with cyclocross bikes fitting into a middle ground between road and off-road. One thing is certain; the sport is evolving, and will likely continue to do so.
[Via BikeRadar.com: Are Disc Brakes the Future of Cyclo-Cross Bikes]