Whither Rim Brakes? – Bike Snob NYC

Additional to yesterday’s submit, I closed out final weekend with a cold Sunday experience on what’s presently my most modern-est street bike:

Although it occurred to me that it’s actually not fashionable in any respect, not even shut. No, this bike is completely “classic” now. As an getting old Fred it looks as if solely yesterday to me that stuff like built-in shifting, 1 1/8″ threadless steerers, crabon forks, and double-digit cassettes (10 complete speeds!!!) represented the reducing fringe of racing bike expertise. However aside from the odd newer part (the cranks, for instance) the above bike is now nicely over 20 years outdated, and it’s a hoary vintage in comparison with the plastic house bikes the professionals experience at this time:

This compelled me to take stock of the present state of rim brakes and street bikes–not within the extremely subjective “disc brakes are evil” sense, however extra within the dispassionate “I’m outdated and confused, can you continue to even nonetheless purchase a street bike with rim brakes?” sense.

My “fashionable” bike is provided with a Campagnolo File 10-speed drivetrain now. I’ve had newer drivetrains since then (sure, together with Di2, which is what got here on the picket bike), however to me the 10-speed File nonetheless feels just like the unique pro-level stuff it was when it first got here out–partially as a result of I believe mechanical drivetrains haven’t actually modified all that a lot since them aside from including a pair extra cogs, and partially as a result of, you recognize, I’m outdated.

There’s actually no purpose I, an getting old semi-professional bike blogger, would want to interchange the functionally good File 10-speed drivetrain on that Litespeed. Additionally, it looks as if the older I get the much less I’m in fashionable components, which is why most of my bikes have friction shifting now. However let’s say I used to be a standard individual, and I did want a brand new drivetrain with built-in shifting and plenty of cogs to swimsuit my racy titanium street bike. What’s presently accessible–not accessible as in “in inventory” or “on eBay,” however accessible as in “the corporate is definitely nonetheless making it”–in a rim brake drivetrain in 2024?

Nicely, due to the Web, the worldwide economic system, yadda yadda and so on. and so forth, there are all kinds of street bike drivetrains on the market as of late:

However for those who’re searching for a brand new rim brake drivetrain on your cherished basic, you’re in all probability outdated and confused, and subsequently you’re additionally scared of latest issues. Sure, these scary new issues are in all probability made by the identical individuals who make the stuff you discover acquainted and reassuring, however that’s not the purpose. The purpose is you’re not plowing any new furrows at this level in your life, so let’s follow the Huge Three, which for those who’re outdated and confused means Shimano, Campagnolo, and people younger upstarts over at SRAM.

Of these, so far as I can inform, the one firm nonetheless presently providing a rim brake street bike drivetrain on the larger finish is Campagnolo, and their web site reveals mechanical rim brake choices from Tremendous File proper on right down to Refrain:

After all Campagnolo have all the time supplied numerous drivetrains under Refrain, however I don’t see any of these on their web site, so I don’t know if meaning they don’t make them anymore or what. Clearly Campagnolo have lengthy been overtaken by Shimano and SRAM when it comes to gross sales, so possibly they’ve needed to pare down their choices in recent times, however I actually do not know. In any case, for those who have been an getting old Fred and wished to interchange the outdated File drivetrain in your classic Litespeed with the trendy equal then one thing like that Refrain group could be an apparent selection.

Given this, I used to be curious to study extra in regards to the newest Refrain stuff, and so I learn a evaluate and was shocked to study there’s nonetheless a notion floating round that Campagnolo is “stunning” as a result of it’s Italian:

I’m certain the newer Campy stuff works nice, nevertheless it has not been objectively enticing because the 10-speed period, although I’m certain loads of Campyphiles would argue it obtained ugly as quickly as Tullio’s physique was chilly. Both manner, there’s definitely nothing stunning about it now. I imply take a look at that shifter, it seems to be like Cthulu:

I’m not saying I wouldn’t put the newest Refrain components on that Litespeed, as a result of I completely would, however I definitely wouldn’t do it for aesthetic functions.

I believe each roadie of a sure age hopes Campagnolo will relinquish their place within the professional peloton without end, hold providing high-end mechanical rim brake drivetrains indefinitely, and commit themselves totally to growing merchandise for mature riders who need to hold their basic street bikes working with dignity:

[Classic Cycle]

Nevertheless, that’s in all probability not a good way to remain in enterprise–although not less than it’s simple to supply a lifetime guarantee when most of your clients have already reached retirement age.

As for Shimano, it seems to be like they’re disc brake solely all through 105:

Although they nonetheless supply rim brake Tiagra:

It’s just a little unhappy that what’s for all sensible functions Shimano’s high finish street bike rim brake doesn’t even include cartridge brake pads. This being Shimano I’m certain it really works nice, and actually I’m certain the complete Tiagra drivetrain works nice. Little question the one purpose to not put it in your outdated Litespeed or comparable is vainness. On the similar time, it’s fairly apparent that Shimano has reached the purpose the place they’re completed refining something rim brake-related and are as a substitute simply slowly taking away options to chop prices, and in contrast to Campagnolo you possibly can’t actually delude themselves that they’re going to be there for you if you wish to hold your fancy rim brake street bike working nicely into your golden years. Chances are you’ll be simply advantageous placing Tiagra on that outdated street bike, however you in all probability received’t be advantageous with no matter their finest rim brake street group is in 5 or ten years.

And SRAM? Don’t even give it some thought. Neglect rim brakes–if you would like mechanical you possibly can’t even get a entrance derailleur from them:

Hey, I believe the Eagle drivetrain on my Jones is nice. However for those who’re speaking about protecting a basic street bike going, SRAM shouldn’t be your good friend.

After all, there’s no purpose for these firms to maintain making rim brake street bike drivetrains when no firms are placing it on their bikes. (Aside from Campagnolo, who can do what they need, as a result of no firms put Campagnolo on their street bikes anyway.) Most remaining rim brake street bikes from the massive firms are price range fashions and are on closeout:

Or out of inventory:

Although I used to be shocked to see Cannondale nonetheless seems to supply an entire vary of rim brake street bikes:

Largely although, new rim brake street bikes at this time are restricted to heritage fashions:

Or frames from firms like Rivendell and Crust:

Of these, solely the Grasp is a candidate for a full fashionable street bike drivetrain, whereas the Rivendell and the Crust will possible be construct extra esoterically, as with these bikes getting all kinds of disparate stuff to work collectively is sort of the purpose, so it doesn’t actually matter what the Huge Three are doing with their street drivetrains. In truth the Crust doesn’t even take matching brakes:

As for conventional street bikes, I knew the rim brake was useless, however I didn’t fairly admire simply how useless it was till now. That’s to not say they’ll be arduous to come back by or something like that–a brake caliper lasts roughly without end, and I doubt provide on the used market will come near being exhausted in our lifetime–however it’s to say they’re formally “retro,” and as squarely prior to now as downtube shifters and toe clips. 

Did I name it?

Or did I name it?