[fire_lake]

> Disc brakes alone are such a game-changer for bad weather riding that it's not worth owning a bike without them unless it's a novelty or antique.

This is true if you’re going fast or perhaps off-road but discs are overkill for basic utility cycling around town. In fact many Dutch bikes only have a coaster brake!

[Gualdrapo]

> This is true if you’re going fast or perhaps off-road

Or, if like me, you live on a hill. Disc brakes made a huge difference in my case - no more worn out rim brake shoes every three-four weeks and worn out rims every couple of years. Add how rain affects all of that on top of that.

And about the feasibility of a coaster brake bicycle: not even enough gearing to get home.

[tim333]

I crashed into a car while doing basic cycling around town because I was cycling behind it, it braked and my old bicycle was unable to brake as hard. There are times when it's handy to have good brakes.

[delusional]

> This is true if you’re going fast

Even this claim is dubious to me. My bike has a coaster brake, and I've never been in any weather condition where the brake wasn't able to apply sufficient braking power to skid the rear wheel. I ride that bike in rain and negative 10 degrees weather. At the point where my rear wheel loses traction, the brake has more than done its job.

I don't understand disc brakes. I've never felt the need for more brake.

[AstralStorm]

The disc brakes start to be necessary on very fast ebikes and on downhill bikes going 50+ kph with need for quick thinking and pathing on the fly.

Everyone else uses them because they're fancy and can be made hydraulic more easily. Mechanical disc brakes are mostly worthless and essentially on par. Hydraulic brakes, now, make for comfier braking with less lever force and better modulation. Unless they aren't bled properly, which can be a pain to do. The alleged benefit of not having to replace a wheel rim instead replacing the disc is way overstated for most riders, even daily.

There's technically no reason not to make a hydraulic caliper or V-brake... Other than it still being expensive. Magura made one of these, they probably still do.

Not that oiling a brake wire every now and then or adjusting the tension on it is hard in any way, but it does take a bit of work someone might rather not do.

[delusional]

Fair enough, I get it if you're doing 50 on a heavy bike (like an e-bike). I also agree that it provider easier activation, I've just never felt the need for that. Not in all of my years riding rim or coaster brakes have I ever felt it was too difficult to activate the brake. I've also only rarely (in my 20 years of bike riding) lubricated the wire. Most people get their bikes serviced, and they'll oil your wire too.

I think disc brakes are technophilia in almost all cases.