Still don't get the hype around hydraulic disc brakes on touring bikes

Had a customer bring in a 2024 Surly with full hydraulic XT brakes last week, swore they were the future for loaded touring. I've been running cable discs on my 1998 Litespeed since 2016 through six cross-country trips and never had a failure, so I'll keep my simple setup thanks.

4 comments

4 Comments

king.wyatt26d ago

Wait, are people really saying hydraulics are the "future" for touring when cable discs have been working just fine for decades? I get that they stop a little better when fully loaded, but I've done the whole coast-to-coast thing with my old BB7s and never once wished for more braking power... you just have to plan ahead a bit on descents. The idea of bleeding brakes in a motel parking lot or out in the middle of nowhere sounds like a nightmare to me. Cable discs might not be fancy, but they keep me moving without a second thought.

simonh7421d ago

Used to be all in on hydraulics until a friend's lever went mushy in the middle of Utah. Totally changed my view after that trip. Carrying a bleeding kit isn't practical when you're miles from anywhere. Cable discs just work. Simple to fix with basic tools you already carry. Don't need fancy gear to stop a loaded bike.

the_avery26d ago

Bring a spare cable in a baggie and you're fixed in five minutes.

dylanmurray21d ago

Funny how the same logic applies to so much gear these days. Simple and field repairable always beats fancy when you're far from help.