SRAM need a problem for this solution

[TangoBlue]

Well said. And I'm really happy to see Ogg doing well these days as the head of development for SRAM. I bet he loves it in Chicago.

I was talking to one of my buds who writes for a big magazine and he said it best, "SRAM is well known for making the world's worst mountain bike brakes. Now they plan to dominate the road market with the world's worst road brake."

Ogg says hi. Maybe I'm dating myself but remember when SRAM came out with twist shifters? Or when disc brakes came out - who on earth would ever use disc brakes on a bicycle?

I'm not advocating this new product - I know nothing about it - but I do appreciate the innovation and desire to explore new technologies. Maybe they'll tank. Maybe in 10 years you'll be responding the same way I did on some other new piece of equipment.

[fisher205]

Maybe they are for us old guys that use the brakes a lot more than we used to but have problems with carpal tunnel? I thought disc brakes on a mtn bike were a joke ... until I got them.

[Flounder]

I remember well when "Grip Shift" was so new, it was on more road bikes than mountain bikes. Funny stuff.

What's bizarre is the fact no one has yet to complain about cable actuated road brakes. Even cheap road brakes have gobs of power and plant of modulation for negligible weight and virtually mindless servicing. The one caveat to the perfection of the current road brake is the heat developed at the pad, and this hydro road brake doesn't address that...at all.

The disc brakes for road discussion makes tons of sense. It's the braking surface at the rim that is so problematic. This is what drove discs on mountain bikes. Discs on road bikes would eliminate the worrisome heat build up at the pad and allow frame and wheel designers more latitude with their carbon shaping since they would't have to allow for braking surfaces on the rims.

So, it's a really whacko idea. Magura had a hydro rim brake for mountain bikes and it's pretty tough to say that was a success.

[Bike_Mech]

So, it's a really whacko idea. Magura had a hydro rim brake for mountain bikes and it's pretty tough to say that was a success.

The Maguras were uber-popular in the mid-90s with the developing dh crowd and tandem riders, and still are quite popular among trials riders(a very small market segment). I sold/installed quite a few of the Tomac neons.

I still don't see the need for a hydro road rim brake, most everyone has gone to single pivot road brakes for their rear brakes because their lighter than dual pivots and the singles provide enough stopping power, generally. Disc roads with carbon rims is a different story.

-Chris

[Bike_Mech]

I'm wondering if they are thinking about the flat-bar road crowd? The brake could interface with a mtb lever.

I'm just brainstorming for applications...

-Chris

[Bike_Mech]

Last one.....

Tri bikes frequently have funny cable routings and the cable can drag inside the housing.

I think thats my best answer.

-Chris

[lowenbrau]

FWIW I still have the Maguras on my MTB that I installed in the 90s. I'm pretty sure I also still have mud on the bike from the same era. They seem to be more reliable at holding brake fluid and just working when I (rarely) need them than my Toyotas are.

[Jay H]

Wow guys thanks for the laugh. That is indeed funny. Speaking of which you just made me re-watch this video yet another time because these hydro road brakes made me think of it. See maybe there is a good use of these new brakes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5z1fSpZNXhU

Seriously thanks for the laugh.

[Flounder]

Last one.....

Tri bikes frequently have funny cable routings and the cable can drag inside the housing.

I think thats my best answer.

-Chris

Thomas Edison would disagree. Electricity, my friend has made tri bike cable headaches a thing of the past...for the right amount of Di2 money. My best answer? SRAM is hoping to increase sales of bleed kits.

When I say the Magura brakes were not successful, I mean to say they didn't start the frenzied rush for everyone to get hydro rim brakes.

This reminds me of a conversation I had at Interbike years ago. An engineer was designing an ABS system for road bikes. It was super complicated. A passerby simply said, "I've had ABS on my bike for years." <He was holding up his index finger> He the said, "it's even connected to a very sophisticated sensory system." <Pointed same index finger to his head.> Funny stuff.

[Bike_Mech]

Exactly di2 and hydro brakes could open the door for even more funky(and aero) routings. Di2 on tribikes is awesome. Multi position shifters work excellent.

-Chris