How I survived a week in Mallorca on rim brakes? 

For decades rim brakes were good enough, why should they be bad now? No matter if rim brakes, disc brakes or any other technical equipment ... we are always responsible for the way how we use them. Unfortunately that`s more and more what people are not willing to accept ... in any situation.

I treated my self with an S-Works Tarmac SL6, back then I had the choice to go Disc or stay Rim. I chose rim. Glad I did after seeing all the stuff my buddies have to deal with. Bent rotors, bleeding kits, squeaking, pinging noises… i love the simplicity of rim brakes and hope it never goes away

I've used rim and disc brake bikes on all types of terrain and weather conditions. The most important thing is understanding both your limits and the machine you're riding. All of my bikes handle differently and require a different input from me. For rim brakes I prefer a softer brake compound for better braking ability such as offered by KoolStop.

Very balanced video mate, comes down to personal preference whether you run rim or disc. Thanks for not selling out like other channels saying you need disc, truth is rim brake is enough. It worked fine for decades. Have a good weekend Danny from Strava

I think you’re quite right about the fact regarding the reliance on technology rather than technique which comes from experience. I’ve found SwissStop pads to be the the most effective, maybe worth a try when the Prime pads are worn.

Just like sex, safety sells bikes. I have never heard a salesperson give a balanced argument against disc brakes, as that works against their business model. That is why rim brakes, like manual cars, will never go away. They will just be appreciated by a smaller percentage of the sport. Thanks for the summary and also for your content. I appreciate the honest and thoughtful approach to your topics.

keep buying what they are selling,10 speed 105 rim brake for life,baby!!!

Nicely done. Modern rim brakes are good in my book. Much better than the ones I learnt on in my youth with steel rims in the wet. Like you driving high performance cars without ABS or any skid control let you learn how to work on the limits of physics, rather than technology. I also learnt to shoot on film and process my images. And today, using my digital cameras, I shoot RAW and manual. Those old skills still very relevant. My current bikes do have disc brakes, but that was due to what was available when I got back into cycling again. Loved the LEGO props. 👌

As Clint Eastwood in the 1973 movie “Magnum Force” appropriately says “A man's got to know his limitations” 🙂 Love your videos Federico.

I’m off to Viarreggio in June, this is really useful. Loved the Lego Diorama 😊

Refreshing commentary! I like your idea of braking before turning more sharply coming through the corner, and then exiting in a straighter line. Technique, tricks that make riding fun, seems to be overlooked by enthusiasts in favor of more abstract issues such as training schedules, power meters, and mileage goals. What's fun in that? It's true rim brakes aren't as powerful as disc brakes, just grip harder, never brake in the turn, and it's all good! BTW, plain old aluminum rims modulate speed nicely and don't warp like discs or heat up as much. I've heard stories of discs getting so hot, they melt all the lube in the axle. Your insight is right on. Don't ride the brakes, whether rims or discs. The brakes won't fade nor the pads wear down as fast. Mountain descents show ya where it's at.

Your braking capacity is defined by the friction between the wheel and road. Both rim and disc brakes can lock up the wheel effectively. Therefore, disc brakes, which are heavier, harder to service and more expensive, are an unnecessary complexity.

Another great video Federico! Lots of good advice there. At the end of the day, cyclists all over Europe have been descending technical mountain roads for a very long time. Until 3/4 years ago, everyone had rim brakes! Personally I climbed and descended over 100,000m last year in the south of France on a rim brake bike. Some of the descents I regularly do are very fast and technical coming from 2,000m down to sea level. At no point have I ever felt I didn’t have the braking I needed. I don’t ride carbon wheels though. Aluminium Hunt Race Aero Wides which are about 1400g the pair from memory, a great match to my Emonda SL6, less than 8kg. Rim brakes well set up, good wheels and pads are all you ever need! Keep the excellent videos coming and glad you enjoyed Mallorca!

Very nice video - helpful advices!

OK, you are a man that thinks the same as I do but you put it in a very eloquent and reasoned way. What I cannot seem to get across to the disc brake crowd, is that a rim brake is a disc brake. There were never any problems as long as the rim was steel or aluminum. Of course, as soon as manufacturers started to produce full carbon wheels, they found out very quickly that bonding an aluminum brake track was either difficult or expensive. Obviously, it is not impossible because snow skis have had metal edges bonded to the plastic for years without issue. Disc brakes free up the wheel manufacturer from having to think about the problems of providing a brake track. Now, on modern disc brake equipped bikes, you have a very thin and delicate disc that can be damaged and warped. I do not think it is quite so easy to widen the pad spacing as on a rim brake so you can still get home if you happen to crash and bend your wheel. I am no longer in the condition to race so there is zero motivation to buy a modern bike. If I really felt the need, I would buy a modern drive train with a wider gear ratio to install on my old bikes.

Love your tips

Great photos shown throughout the video, love it

Gracias Federico !! ⭐️🚲⭐️🚲⭐️

Your experience feedback is very interesting Federico, thanks for sharing it. For years, i was conviced that Rim brakes were enough and disc brakes wasn't needed as it add weight, cost and additionnal maintenance on the bikes. I changed my mind recently because there is an argument that close the debate (even i still like rim brakes and disc brakes could be a source of issues like brake freezing) : the safety argument! Indeed, i think disc brakes are much more efficient in case of emergency use. Beside that, yes rim brakes use are all about anticipation, braking power management as you mentionned well. The braking surface quality on carbon wheels could be a "heating" factor considering the use with a lot of elevation. High slope contributes some additionnal heating too. Simon.

Rode my old rim brake Cervelo in Mallorca last summer. Isolated I would say i had no problem with my rim brakes. But on one ride i met a local Mallorcan cyclist and a very good British amateur racer. All was good untill we started the decent to Pollenca. They were on discs and I was on rim. Even though I had aluminum rims (dura ace c24) the pads felt like chewing gum. I think disc brakes allow you to get of the brakes faster and that way get more time to cool between corners. I had to brake earlyer and deeper into the corners compared to the guys on discs. This was only a problem in a short part of the decent but still very noticeable and anerving.

😄 👍 really nice and interesting another video

Good video mate, with solid demonstrations! Love the Lego..😀 When it comes to carrying speed into a corner, the saying “slow in, equals fast out” works whether you’re on a bicycle, motorbike, or car. And the late turn-in is just the cherry on top of the cake💪. Cheers

I'm a good descender as I've always liked speed. Knowing when to brake and ones line is important to keep in control. Very easy to overcook unfamiliar corners which can unexpectedly hook around further than the entry suggests. I nearly crashed a few months back while racing because of this. I assumed the downhill corner wasn't as sharp as it was (exit hidden by foliage) so very lucky to be able to run wide and rub off speed before hitting the ditch(which I missed with inches to spare).

A great video and definitely agree. I’ve still stayed on rim brakes still. I just not had the chance to get out and try some long descending yet. One day. 😁

Huge respect riding those descents with carbon rim brake wheels. I am too unskilled or maybe just worried too much about delamination. Hope one day i will get there. Great video again. Glad to see you had a great time on the island.

I have both types of bikes: a Canyon Ultimate with carbon rim brakes and a newer Aeroad. Disc brakes offer superior stopping power, providing a wider safety margin for a fast yet safe ride on open roads. I've also used alloy rim brakes in Gran Canaria's challenging inclines, which were adequate (slightly less effective than disc brakes but better than carbon rim brakes). Adjusting your riding style to your brakes is crucial. With carbon rim brakes, gaining too much speed and braking harder for longer audibly seems to stress the rims, but they have been fine so far upon inspection. Carbon rim brakes do have the longest braking path. Overheating hasn't been an issue with any brakes, as short, sharp braking before curves and then rolling through bends with minimal adjustments at most are optimal. However, disc brakes can be a lifesaver on unknown roads, as I learned from a crash with wet, sandy alloy rim brakes after a tropical storm. Rim brakes lose significant stopping power on wet, steep declines, necessitating cautious riding. Knowing your brakes and adjusting your riding accordingly is key. Ultimately I prefer disc brakes for a ride that suits my speedy style yet is still within a cautious safety margin.

The newer high temperature resins they use in a lot of carbon rims now compared to 5 to10yrs ago means less chance of delamination. But always good to check. I delaminated(just the brake track luckily) a carbon rim on a long straight descent with a sharp corner at bottom. 85 to 30kph in 10 to 15seconds. My heavier friend on a more expensive carbon rim wheelset I was following was fine. The replacement rim was a high temp resin and no more issues. However I usually take my training bike with the alloy wheelset when riding lots of hills as braking is excellent.

You hit the nail

Well done, your video. Solid info on corners and how to negotiate them. I, too, have a ractrack background with motos and a very fast Porsche. Keeping the brake temperature down by alternating front and rear is one I've used with my carbon rims. Late turn in is smart, especially when on strange descents and short sight lines. I ride very long steep routes in the Western US. Disc brake heating IS a problem on all types of vehicles. Heat warped discs cause erratic demands on tire traction. As one nears the end of a long steep descent the disc brakes are going to be different than on a flat road. I'm not certain but I think rim brakes are actually easier to modulate. I know they are certainly simpler. When I raced my car, brake compound selection was important and different, depending on the track. I had to change my brake fluid every few races or risk complete fade due to the moisture creating steam in the brake lines. Same on my track motorcycles. I think I'll stay with my rim brakes that have served me very well. Until I need another bike and I can't find one with rims.

Ciao Federico Another excellent video.👍🏻 I agree with you, I think the rim/disc argument is fairly mute now. You pay the money, you take the choice, no matter what the “industry” says. Rims are lovely and light going up hill and easy to fix, but not so great in the wet. Discs are great in the wet but can be heavy and are virtually impossible to fix on the road side. People should just buy the bike they want and shut up and enjoy the ride! Alla prossima. Ciao amico mio

Nice video! loved all your points, nice using photography as example. I remember in 1975, at a bikeshop, a guy came in to tell the owner the brakes on his son's roadbike was set too good, he went over the bars braking too hard! I still use a 1954 Leica M3, used for over 100 weddings, own 7 bikes, one a disc gravel, with 3 sets of carbon wheels, one just learn how to use the technology.

That mini road hahaha this is brilliant!

Glad to hear your trip was a success. For next time just get some decent alloy wheels like a DT Swiss DiCut Oxi, lightweight and the brakes work amazing and your descending confidence will skyrocket. You don't need carbon wheels like you don't need disc brakes.

Some great images from your trip. Looks like you had a great time. I ride rim brake and run the same prime wheels as you. I did the Fred Whitton recently so I changed back to my aluminium wheels to remove the worry of overheating carbon brake tracks. I am sure the carbon wheels would have survived but, like you, I have been worried by comments in online forums and the like. I see that you're still using the pads that come packaged with the wheels. I changed mine out to swissstop black prince and couldn't quite believe the improvement in feel and stopping power.

I never rode a bike with disc brakes so far, but I can say that my 10 speed ultegra rim brakes coupled with aluminium wheels are always enough to stop safely. And I weigh 82 kg and ride a 9kg bike. In all honesty, the few times I found myself in uncomfortable situations it was because of my misjudgement or excessive confidence. We'll see how it goes when I'll finally purchase a more modern bike with disc brakes, but before pulling the trigger I want a higher FTP 😂. Anyway, excellent piece of advice about the braking technique!! Bravissimo e continua così 😃

9 months later :) (yeah i subscribed recently and enjoying your videos!) I grew up in Portugal, near "serra da estrela" mountains.. used to go up there on my 90's 3x6 or 3x7 MTB.. 6.000 feet up.. No fancy gear, just rimbrakes, what we called "horseshoe" type, and for those who could afford, cantilever brakes. No fancy disc or hydraulics (at least that we could afford!) Coming down wasn't just one time tat i had to put my shoe against the rear tyre to slow down enough :) Was "funny" getting back home with a hole on my shoe. Point is... know your gear, its strengths and its limitations.. and operate within its operational envelope. Rim brakes suck for people that want to operate them outside their performance envelope... For me, Roadwise, give me a Emonda SL4 rim brake with even dirt cheap madspeed7 alloys and i will be happier than with a modern disc bike :) MTB-Wise.... nahh, disc it is! :) Thanks for your video!

Great video, my disc brake bike is back in the shop 3rd time now, so for the last week I've been riding my aluminium rim brake bike and I totally forgot how much you have to be alert but the bike feels lighter and disc's definitely give people a false sense of security.

oh wow I did not expect the Lego demonstration it was perfect! The late turn in and early exit is exactly what I do on blind corners especially, unless I know the corner and can perfectly see the exit. I agree, I drive and ride a lot of old school cars and motorbikes, and I love the old school feel of the shifters and carburetors. however I’m not going back after electronic fuel injection just like I’m all sold on hydraulic disc brakes. i’m a very heavy 200+lbs rider and the difference is huge, especially on the aforementioned long mountain descents that I do a lot of. all of the rest of my vehicles are disc brakes 🎉 why not the road bike? if I flew a lot with my bicycle that might be a factor however.

Great video. I have the same fears. It's how I would approach it too. I'm happy to see that decent technique and common sense is enough. Of course pros used rim brakes forever, but in the back of my mind I heard a voice saying, "yes, but their skills are through the roof and they ride on closed circuits. You sre not like they are, you shoukd not do this" And of course, as you say, one can also overheat disc brakes. My other big problem is I live 120 km from anything that could be considered a hill.

Of course you survived, we all survived for decades on rim brakes with carbon rims. The difference is that we knew how to use them properly, braking distance, approach and release, and had knowledge of compounds for the pads (Koolstop all day! Every day!) - I don't hate my discs, but I do hate the loss of feel, the weight gain and how bloody ugly they are!

Hello Federico, I would recommend watching peak torques latest video. His disk failed on him, very interesting to see for myself because I’m very pro rim brakes

Federico, are you trying to convince us this bike is ... USED?!?!? This looks as clean as when its unboxed! I cant remember when my 105 calipers look as clean and shiny as yours! You must be very meticulous in your cleaning routine, i would love to see a video of how you take care of your bike :) As a rim brake user living in a hilly area, i never had an issue with the rims brakes performance, but as a precaution i do take it easier in the hot days, always have the overheating factor at the back of my head.

i use rim brakes with stainless steel rims, doesn't wear (rims) and somewhere between alloy and chrome in the wet.

Long live rim brakes. I rode the Mt Ventoux on rim brakes

Interesting, I have ridden in Majorca quite a bit and it is fantastic. I have also come to pretty much come to the same conclusion. Hard braking before the corner, off the brakes, turn in late, being ready to feather brake if the corner radius tightens up. But as you say a benefiit of turning in late is that in the vast majority or cases yous can see the exit. Thanks.

Common sense old school which applies to day slower in faster out thank you DD.

It’s mostly marketing! I have rim brakes on my road bike (Campa Super Record) and TT bike (Campa Record Direct Mount) and with both of them I can completely block the wheels with one finger, even on dry roads. The limiting factor with modern brakes (no matter what type of) is always the tyre/road contact (and the courage of the rider, btw; many riders never experienced the capability of their brakes because of the fear to go over the frontwheel…) and no brake can alter this

For the majority I sense a move back to Rim brakes on the basis of diy maintenance and utility.

I trust snd more confidence with rim brake Takk!

Ecxellent! TY. what type of travel case is that?

Love both but I favor disk for safety, if I know it’s a climb only then rim all the way

This year was our first bike trip to Mallorca and I can say two things: 1. Rim brakes are plenty enough. Good pads, good breaking surface and quality parts in general and you're good to go. 70-80 km/h speeds and we're still here to tell the stories ;) 2. Mallorca withdrawal syndrome is real and even after over 4 months I still think about those roads. And people, they are absolutely great to cyclist!

Easier to deal with in the bike bag, dont need to worry about bending, contamination, putting in the pad blocks if the wheel is removed etc. Having sportbike experience I'm sure you can brake along side any disc bike knowing how to set up for turns coming in fast and modulating heat 🤙

thats cool the lego thats old i had that when i was young great visuals hahaha brings back memory,s and you have a smal bicycle great vid savety first and both are good but rims earley brake no problem they did it 25 yours ago and if you got disc if it is not good instakled i heard a moter cycle if the niple breaks and the fluid runs out it wil eats youre discpads and this is bad on the motorcycle

Disc brakes is a practical example of the Peter principle where the marketing department were allowed to design bikes.

Great video Federico. Can I ask what brake pads you use? I think you have carbon rims.

I never had any issues with overheating with disc brakes. Also, you can get a bigger disc to dissipate more heating if needed.

According to the comments section of certain publications us rim brake riders just instantly wreck as soon as we get to anything downhill some absolute marketing nonsense being peddled.

Fast bikes, fast cars, sun kissed locations! how your not the next James Bond will be a travesty of injustice.

Nice video! I am quite sensitive to the topic, having a rim brake bike with carbon wheels and being about 85 kg.I found that the braking in the Surrey Hills descent is way more challenging for me because of the steep descents (>10%), narrow lanes, etc. I smell quite often burning pads. On the other hand, when I ride in Sardina (I imagine similar descends as in Majorca) I feel super confident with rim brakes, because of the larger roads and less steep gradients (< 10%). It is important to say that I have there a rim brake bike with alloy wheels though. Summing up, it is true that disc brakes give you better breaking on steep descends, for all the rest rim brakes are fine.

Great video. I had also some concerns about taking my carbon wheel bike to the alps, but now I feel more confident. How heavy are you, if I may ask?

For decades rim brakes were all people had - pros and amatuers alike. And we all made do. Are disk brakes better? Yes. It's a similar discussion to ABS on motorcycles. Is it better to have disks/ABS to lean on in a 'oh no' situation? Yes. It will save you. And sometimes those situations are unavoidable, no matter how much you try to pre-plan it. But does that mean that you can't do certain things because you don't have disks? No. My road bike has rims and the only time I have ever felt them to be totally inadequate was during a ride in Devon down some very, seriously steep hills. Frankly it was utterly terrifying. But that ride also had very long, fast and sweeping decents, and I didn't have any worries about my brakes. I was able to maintain my speed, and maintain control just fine. Ultimately disks, in my experience, are better. But they will only make a difference in the tiny minority of the time. Just like ABS.

I survived 40 odd years on rim brakes and I'm still using them now...............and so far surviving.

Lol,...with the drought there, the rim brakes should do the trick. But coming from discs and than needing to fall back on these...might feel wacky for sure lol. I can imagine the feel...that isn't there...the trust on the disks...hmmm.. Yes that can be a wake up call of adrenaline and fear lol... What happens when it starts raining...I mean that is when the issues start to be really hitting in...lol.

Thank you for this video. I’m spending time in South Tirol near Bolzano. I have recently bought a sporting gravel bike with disc brakes from 3T. I a riding the same roads as with my Rim brake Pinarello. I’m finding no real difference in the brakes and the braking ability. Swiss stop Carbon rim pads with Vision 55 carbon wheels are giving me a similar braking performance as SRAM Force Discs. I do agree, that experience does play a role too . About 35 years on rim brakes and a few months on discs, I think there is a lot of hype about discs. 😉

You should try Fred whitton on those rims. People on carbon rim brakes were walking down those descents. Majorca is nothing compared to the lakes descents.

Hi, great advise. I have 2 rim brake bikes and have no intention of switching from my Bianchi as my "good" bike and they look so much better in rim brake format. Did you use TPU inner tubes on this trip? If so had you any issues? I've had varying results with TPU, some manufactures products don't seem to work well with rim brakes even though they claim they're compatible. I'm using the TPU with the carbon Campagnolo WTO if that makes any difference.

Hello, hope you are doing well. Can you pls tell me where did you purchased the front light? and the bike computer holder? Thank you

no matter how controverse this topic might be, I just wonder how all the cyclist survived the rides on Mallorca or elsewhere when there was no disc brakes existing on road bikes. I am still alive having ridden rim brake bikes the past 25 years. 🤣 I bet if you ask 10 experts on this matter, you will get 11 opinions on what is seen the better system. In the end the most powerful differentiator sits on the saddle. Nice video Federico 👍

I actually think the power of disc brakes with 25 or 28mm tyres is somewhat disconcerting!

Rim brakes aren’t a problem, I have rim brakes on my fixed gear. However, on that bike I have aluminium rims. I’ve considered getting carbon wheels but seeing experts that repair carbon say that it’s not a good idea to have carbon rims due to sudden delamination of rim surface and failure, it’s put me off. The first time you find out it fails is when you hit the tarmac. I think I’ll give carbon rims a miss. I have carbon rims on my disc brake bikes though. 😊🤔

Salut j ai toujours eu du freins sur jante jamais aucun problème sa marche très bien .... le disque c est commercial et renouvellement de technologie pour faire de la vente

Rim brakes have been fine for how long? Ride what you like and own.

That disc brake lever problem would only happen with old brake fluid or a system leak.

Hahaha, at the wrong side of the road. You’re right, pro riders en amateurs made millions of descents in the past with rim brakes. And they’re not all dead. I think when you’re braking you schould do this on and of (pumping)to cool everything down. Your apexmethode is a smart one. Have nice rides 🤸‍♀️

I have a reliant robin shoe brakes (no disc) and only three Wheels 😂😂😂

'Sa Legobra'... dude you kill me. 🤣 Otherwise, I agree with you on many points. Scrubbing speed early and apexing late is safer and gives greater margin for error, it might be slower but I'd rather not crash and/or be alive than go a couple seconds faster on a decent. One of the things that causes me to avoid group rides and group rides in the mountains is people descending like there is 0% chance of on-coming traffic. I'm not responsible for scraping you out of the grill of a car due to your lack of appropriate caution. And people now have this view that descending on rim brakes is a death sentence... like people haven't been doing that in general for decades and on carbon clinchers for 10-15 years. yes there were some delamination issues in the early carbon clincher years, but I haven't heard of any major problems since the first couple years. Just don't ride the brakes with a death grip for 20min straight.

They stick disc brakes on even the cheapest entry level bike these days because it sells, in much the same way as shocks and the 24 gears you don't need to commute through town. Looking at it from that aspect rim brakes are actually far more gentle and forgiving, a shame they've become so unpopular these days.

What bike is that?

Pros get paid to descend fast, but more to the point, they get paid to use the bikes they're given. The bikes they're given have disk brakes because that's what bike makers are pushing. People argue that rim brake road bikes sales are down, proving riders want disk brakes, but the sales figures are mostly due to rim brake road bike availability being down. Bike makers can't rack up sales for a product they no longer produce, right? In the region where I ride, long road descents are quite rare, so properly maintained and adjusted rim brakes are perfectly fine. They're simpler, easier to maintain, lighter, less expensive, more aerodynamically efficient, and much harder to unintentionally lock up than disk brakes. What advantage does that leave for disk brakes on a road bike?

Let's all very quickly lose all the unhelpful anxieties ! Generations of cyclists have managed to win Paris Roubaix climb Alpe D'Huez and me well cycle to work in Irish weather !! All of us are still alive - there are people very well paid people out there whose only care is to influence you to buy buy buy and will tell you your wont be happy or safe or comfortable without this or that new product !

Lol, how long did professional riders use rim breaks for? 100% safe and no problem descending. Bikes are becoming MTB now. Rim breakes are perfect for fast descending. Great video by the way!!

Too many People lined up very quickly to become disc brake sheep 🐑 🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑🐑

Disc brakes are more powerful and get locked up easy in a stressful situation. They are too strong for so light bikes, inertia is also present and very dangerous if not calculated

Hypothetical. If disc brake tech existed before rim brakes, people would be complaining about the braking performance of rim and never switch. It would be a hard sell.... save small amount of weight for poorer braking. I don't think so.

You want to know what I don't like about disc brakes, Just watch the Giro and listen to the noises coming from the Peloton when everyone is braking. It's been a very wet race this year so far and even the Pros are having problems getting the braking right when those discs are wet. Disc brakes aren't making anything any better. In fact when the riders brakes start squealing you know some of the riders are shitting in their bibs.

I suppose like all the cyclists who rode with them before disc brakes came around

Nothing wrong with rim brakes on Road Bikes what so ever. Look back through history . Stick some quality alloy rims on if you are worried about carbon.. Discs for dirt . Rim for Road . .

Unsurprisingly: Yes. If rim brakes were good enough to race until the 2010s, how should they not be for a *holiday* trip on Mallorca? With traffic and average technical abilities, you'll be riding way below what has been safely done on rim brake bikes before, so "surviving" casual riding is a bit of a clickbaity title. It's a bit of a shame that people who started riding on disc brakes perhaps think it was a ride on a cannonball. No, it absolutely isn't ... even 20 year old bikes with fresh pads and intact braking surfaces stop absolutely fine and I would assume getting at the material's limit is hard enough even with rim brakes. It might be that it is easier to cook rim brakes if you mistreat them on 20k alpine descent but I'd say that's more of a problem with your technique than technology.

Thing i don't like about disc brakes is all the garbage that comes with it.

Expensive junk .