On Sat Aug 16 14:32:45 2025 sms wrote:

On 8/16/2025 9:43 AM, Roger Merriman wrote:

<snip>

Interesting that it did largely stop dead Hydraulic rim brakes unlike for example cable disks which maybe the development has stopped still using same designs from 2005 or so, but they are sold and used.

I recall when JC Penney introduced disc brakes on one of their bicycles around 1975 with a Shimano cable disc on the rear <https://thecabe.com/forum/attachments/img_2443-jpg.746542/>. $79.88 <https://i.imgur.com/idUQEtp.png>. A Schwinn Varsity retailed for
$131.95 in 1975.

Not to be outdone, Sears then introduced a bicycle with front and rear hydraulic rim brakes <https://proxy.imagearchive.com/173/173ed4ea80610b69efab010057ed451e.jpg>.
It was $119.00 <https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikeforums.net-vbulletin/1080x990/screenshot_20221124_140653_chrome_36ae8642712cae4158cd9c62ebf3682330ec6b2b.jpg>,
but included front and rear dynamo lights. My favorite part of that ad "chrome-tipped front fork marks this as a precision bicycle."

So it's not too surprising to see hydraulic disc brakes even on lower
end bicycles, the cost to the manufacturer is probably not very
different than for rim brakes or cable disc brakes ? tubing may cost
less than a cable plus cable housing.

Likewise rim brakes which are still about even new bikes as I did last year, with the ?old school? roadie /commuter

I read about rim brakes in my history book.

I keep hearing horror stories about leaking hydraulic lines on bikes
with hydraulic brakes, leading to complete brake failure. OTOH, I recall riding down a hill, while in college, and both brake cables snapped. It
was a very cold day which may have made the cables more susceptible to breaking.

They only leak if you don't tighten them until they hit the stop.

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