Jim, didn't you have a broken shoulder the last three years? And you don't need brakes cause you still do tripod turns. 😀
The pros won't use them because all they have to do is ride them and then hand it to a wrench. They also get a clean bike every lap on those sloppy days. It is the amateurs who will embrace the discs.
I ran new tires in practices last week. Impressive traction with the Griffos. So much so that I could not lock up my rear wheel at Otto or Chimney rock. (rims may have been wet though) At a few points, I just pulled till my hands hurt and the wheel continued to rotate. I've tried a new canti each season trying to find something better and they all suck including blingy stuff like Paul which everyone raves about.
Oh yeah, I'm also throwing away another rear Mavic wheel because the braking surface of the rim is worn thin. I've had one fail in the past while pumping up a tire. That wear is only seen when using cantis. V-Brakes don't do that. It is the arching motion of the canti arms that cause the pad to dig into the rim. Back in the MTB days, I used ceramic rims to stop the wear.
I have BB7s on a road tandem that stop on a dime with the new Ultegra levers. The cable pull of the new Shimano stuff pairs up nicely with the mechanical discs.
The argument about needing them in cross was answered by the same trend in MTB. Many said you didn't NEED them. No you don't...but being able to tap the brakes and get full power with little interference from course conditions is pretty cool. Later and more consistent braking means more speed in corners. C'Mon Jim, you are an auto-crosser. You have to recognize the value in that.
I will take better braking with less effort, less wear on the rims, less mud clog, ability to brake later into turns, fewer bike changes required, fork chatter is no longer a concern, less maintenance required, etc. You guys can have your weight loss. I'll skip the pre-race waffles and we'll be even.
