Cannondale Synapse Carbon 105 rim vs 105 disc for $500 more?

[travdat88]

Hi all,

Im returning to riding a roadie after 5 years off and this new world of disc brakes has got me stumped.

After A LOT of reading and research i am definately going to be purchasing a Cannondale Synapse Carbon 105 but cannot decide between rim or disc brakes. From everything i have read disc brakes are obviously a better choice but i just dont know if i can justify an extra $500 for them over the 105 rim brakes. The disc brakes also mean a slightly better wheel but if i went rim brakes i would have an extra $500 in my back pocket to upgrade the stock Mavic Aksium wheels down the track.

I suppose i should add i plan to ride the bike 50-80 km a day, every day, rain or shine and the odd day long escape. I live at the foot of the blue mountains so will also plan to ride up and down them quite often.

So what is the concensus? 105 rim brakes or upgrade to disc for $500 more?

Thanks
Trav

[Mulger bill]

G'Day Trav, welcome outside

All year, all weather AND Blue Mountains runs?

Discs. You may not need them all the time but sooner or later there'll come a time on a rainy day when you'll want to get off the bike and just cuddle the hell out of them (once you stop shaking).
Just my opinion but it's based on experience of all weather commuting, first on a slickshod MTB, then on a rim braked OCR2, finally on my still current Kona DewDrop. I won't go back.

Shaun

[find_bruce]

One thing people forget about is maintenance cost - much cheaper to replace a disc than a rim.

My sunny weekend fun bike has rim brakes, but like Mulger Bill my all weather commuter has discs. Only time I really notice the difference is in the wet.

[MichaelB]

As a rider on discs for a while, and describing your riding plans and where you live.

Discs. Simple as that.

[rheicel]

Plan to ride on wet weather? Disc is the way to go!

[Calvin27]

Discs for sure, but word of warning, the cannondale synapse disc brakes are rubbish. Keep a handy $150 for BB7 road, or $300 for some TRP brakes.

[travdat88]

Disc it is then. Thanks for the feedback guys! I really appreciate it.

Trav

[Duck!]

Discs for sure, but word of warning, the cannondale synapse disc brakes are rubbish. Keep a handy $150 for BB7 road, or $300 for some TRP brakes.

Better idea, tolerate the stock brakes for a while, then when funds allow upgrade to hydraulic brakes (will need suitable shifters, that's the exxie bit). Vast improvement over any cables.