Consumables such as pads will be a little bit cheaper for rim brake bikes.
Touring bike disc brakes vs.
V brakes for our purposes are a generic and misused term for the several varieties of caliper brakes that work by pinching the bicycle wheel s rim between two brake blocks to create friction and slow the bike.
As most touring bikes have a decent amount of weight over the rear wheel this kickstand type is undoubtedly the most stable given its ultra wide stance.
While it s technically more of an off road touring bike it can easily be re purposed for road and gravel use by fitting some schwalbe super moto x slick tyres.
V brakes can slow a loaded touring bike in dry conditions very well as can hydraulic rim brakes.
You press the brake lever the fluid forces the pads against the rotor and the resistance created between the two objects stops the bike.
After analyzing and aggregating more than a dozen professional reviews we believe the 2020 trek 520 is the best mid range road touring bicycle for most people.
The best touring bike trek 520.
Here manufacturers get rid of the steel cable and use a sealed fluid filled system instead.
This adds to the cost.
If you re on a tight budget it s best to stay away from disc brakes.
While it was a hard call between the trek 520 and the surly disc trucker winner of our customizable pick we chose the trek because we think it is a better value as an entry level bike.
Disc brake compatible bike frames also cost more than frames that are designed for rim brakes.
More engineering is required to design and build the frame.
In terms of parts it offers a jones loop handlebar shimano slx hydraulic disc brakes microshift thumb shifters front and rear racks and a cane creek suspension seatpost.
The biggest downside to disc brakes is the added weight.
That doesn t mean that if you run rim brakes you re going to crash into the first corner you come across in the rain well you might but it isn t because of your brakes.
It has an old school mountain bike aesthetic right down to the wtb mountain drop bars but a geometry built for touring mechanical disc brakes and enough tire clearance to accommodate 29x2 0.
And as usual there s no clear cut answer.
How hydraulic bicycle disc brakes work.
There s plenty of debate over whether v brakes or disc brakes are better for touring.
Disc brakes really shine in adverse weather conditions as they re unaffected by water and dirt.
If you re planning on going on a bike trip where you need to carry 10 days of food and a decent amount of water you may be best served with the 35 80kg capacity models.
By the time you add everything in including front and rear brakes and the added weight of the disc specific hubs you end up with around 150 to 350 grams additional weight to the whole bike.
This weight number greatly depends on the wheels rims hubs and disc brake system you choose.
