Disc for CX

Now that disc brakes are uci legal, people are wanting them, people who don't race uci races. I think its funny how the industry is going to change so much due to this UCI law. People will see that pros are allowed to use them an automatically believe they are better. It is my opinion that disc brakes are not better than cantis for cx. I do foresee riders might be tempted to get disc in the front. If you read the cxmagazine forums or other cx blogs, front fork shutter is something that most people who race cx hate and try to avoid, but sometimes it is impossible.

To this, many might be checking out different disc forks and wheels for cx. If this were me, here is what I'd be looking at.

Niner Full Carbon Disc, 550grams, $375

Salsa Cromoto Grande Steel fork, 1025 grams, $100

An average Carbon cx fork for cantis weighs between 440 and 600 grams, so you are sacrificing anywhere from 100 grams to more than a pound just in the fork.


Next are hubs. I use velocity hubs, they are light, nice, and not a lot of money.

Front velocity regular road hub, 80 grams, $60
Front Velocity Disc Hub 220 grams, $70
Front Velocity Lightweight Disc 142 grams, $120

Anywhere from 62 to 140 grams more for a disc hub.


Brakes.
Since most are using sti levers, the rider you must use mechanical disc brakes that work with the levers. There are not many options.

Avid BB7 Disc, 318 grams, $75/wheel
Avid BB7 Disc, 335 grams, $50/wheel

Tektro CR720 Canti, 121 grams, $30/wheel

About 200 grams(almost 1/2 lb) difference in the weight of brakes for just 1 wheel.


Not sure if going to disc is worth it at this point, with the weight penalty being about 2-3 lbs per wheel but wheel see what industry does, we might be seeing some 460 gram carbon disc forks, 250 gram mechanical disc brakes and 100 gram disc hubs coming through the channel soon.