Rim brake groupset availability in years to come?
08-17-20, 04:52 PM
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Hollister, CA (not the surf town)
Posts: 1,762
Bikes: 2019 Specialized Roubaix Comp Di2, 2009 Roubaix, early 90's Giant Iguana
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There is keeping your bike functional and then there is upgrading. I expect people will be able to keep rim brake bikes running for many years to come. But if you want to install whatever the latest and greatest is 10 years from now, the chances that it will be compatible with your frame in all aspects is probably not very good. Time and technology marches on. Obsolescence is a natural consequence.
Last edited by Ogsarg; 08-18-20 at 11:24 AM.
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08-18-20, 03:03 AM
#27
Rhapsodic Laviathan
I think it's more related to the bike manufacturers. It's more expensive to make 2 versions of the same frame and some are already only offering disc versions. Now of sub $1000 bikes where both rim and disc are cable operated... you might still have a choice.
Kind of like trying to get a car with a manual transmission.
Kind of like trying to get a car with a manual transmission.
08-18-20, 08:37 AM
#28
Senior Member
I'd be surprised if Shimano ever stopped making rim brakes (and cable levers) entirely. You can buy a brand new 105 cantilever brake set. When is the last time you saw these spec'ed on a new bike? https://bike.shimano.com/en-EU/produ...0/BR-CX50.html
As others have noted, my bigger concern would be wheelsets/rims and increasing tire widths. I'm sure rim brake wheels will be around for a while, but the latest carbon wiz bang aero wheelsets will probably be disc only.
I will also be surprised if Shimano makes rim brake versions of Ultegra and DA in the near future, regardless of what pros are doing at the moment. Look at top tier offerings from Specialized, Cannondale, Trek, etc and it's very difficult to find a complete bike with anything above a 105 spec level in rim brake form. 6.8kg disc aero bikes seem like the future for pro racing, even if some manufacturers aren't getting there as fast as others.
As others have noted, my bigger concern would be wheelsets/rims and increasing tire widths. I'm sure rim brake wheels will be around for a while, but the latest carbon wiz bang aero wheelsets will probably be disc only.
I will also be surprised if Shimano makes rim brake versions of Ultegra and DA in the near future, regardless of what pros are doing at the moment. Look at top tier offerings from Specialized, Cannondale, Trek, etc and it's very difficult to find a complete bike with anything above a 105 spec level in rim brake form. 6.8kg disc aero bikes seem like the future for pro racing, even if some manufacturers aren't getting there as fast as others.
