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

Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2016 8:03 pm
by 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

Re: Cannondale Synapse Carbon 105 rim vs 105 disc for $500 m

Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2016 8:35 pm
by 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

Re: Cannondale Synapse Carbon 105 rim vs 105 disc for $500 m

Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2016 9:18 pm
by 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.

Re: Cannondale Synapse Carbon 105 rim vs 105 disc for $500 m

Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2016 8:55 am
by MichaelB
As a rider on discs for a while, and describing your riding plans and where you live.

Discs. Simple as that.

Re: Cannondale Synapse Carbon 105 rim vs 105 disc for $500 m

Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2016 8:59 am
by rheicel
Plan to ride on wet weather? Disc is the way to go!

Re: Cannondale Synapse Carbon 105 rim vs 105 disc for $500 m

Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2016 9:54 am
by 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.

Re: Cannondale Synapse Carbon 105 rim vs 105 disc for $500 m

Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2016 9:06 pm
by travdat88
Disc it is then. Thanks for the feedback guys! I really appreciate it.

Trav

Re: Cannondale Synapse Carbon 105 rim vs 105 disc for $500 m

Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2016 9:17 pm
by Duck!
Calvin27 wrote: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.