Gravel bikes come with disc brakes – I am sure I never had a choice on this one with Cinelli. I’ll admit, I was hesitant about them, if not a little petrified. Firstly, there aren’t many things I detest in this world, but screeching brake pads are right up there. I’ve heard many disc brakes either screaming bloody murder on descents, or possibly worse, ting-tinging rhythmically on the flats. So far my pads only touch the rotors when I’m standing on the pedals, so my sanity is intact for the moment.
I was never really sold on the braking power argument of these things because my rim brakes are just fine, except when it’s wet of course. Well, I gotta say that I’m liking the power and modulation of the Ekar brakes. There is really no comparison between these and the brakes I have for the Colnago. I can easily just use my index finger for braking on descents.
Am I sold? No, especially not for a road bike. There’s just too much technology and things that can go wrong for my liking, not to mention they are heavy and ugly. For off-road use I’ll bet they really come into their own, though.
I’m sure I’ll come around in the end, if only because I probably won’t be able to buy a road bike with rim brakes soon anyway.
The Vicious Cycle 
You brake on descents? Pffff
Just for show.
I had them on a bike for years and they never gave me any trouble. I like them because they are easier on ancient hands.
I can see that coming my way, too. It’s good to know I have choices in the years to come!
On a mountain bike, absolutely! On a road bike? I’m not sold either, but I’ve also not ridden a road bike with disc brakes for any length of time so cannot really pass judgement (apart from the 🤢 styling). I hardly ride in the rain when I’m sure disc brakes outperform rim+carbon a hundred times over. Keep us posted on how you get on with them!
Will do. When I have my first catastrophic brake failure in the Alps and have no bleed kit on me, that’s when it might be going on Ebay!
Gerry, I know this debate. I am absolutely with you. I worry about “too much” technology baked into the disk. Admittedly, this ship has sailed for me with a snazzy new frame in the house that is a “disc frame”. This more than anything makes me nervous…..stuck in rural MN without a bleed kit! What have I done! Good luck and keep the reports coming.
You are stuck, Eric, but at least you’ll be in the 21 century, unlike me and my C59.
As for the boonies of MN, you hopefully have a wife who drives and will take pity on a cyclist down on his luck from time to time 😉