Hope Tech V-Twin Cyclocross Hydraulic Disc Brakes Converter Now Shipping

Its named the V Twin, because it looks like a V Twin engine.

@Gillis

That all depends on what you’re needing and when. This system is as light or lighter than a set of BB7s and will work better too. We don’t even know if SRAM for sure is coming out with hydraulic on their systems for 2013, and even then who knows how good it will be. Plus it’s on SRAM Red, which means the pricepoint will be at least $700 for shifters alone; probably $1000+ for shifters and brakes.

I’m leary of waiting too much on what will one day be available. The bike industry seems to be full of various promises, many of which never see the light of day.

While obviously a compromise. This system can give you the best of both worlds:
1. Compatibility with your currently existing shifters.
2. A weight that’s as light or lighter than existing systems.

When you look at it that way, a $200 or so (likely) premium over mechanical brakes isn’t such a waste afterall…even if it is just for one year’s worth of advantage.

Jerry! Jerry! Jerry! I’m excited, for disc breaks for CX and Road – y’all both have good points, but its time that’ll show what comes to market, and experience that’ll prove comparisons. It’s the future, and we’re on the edge.

“All I’m saying is that the cost/benefit isn’t there and that most are better off going with a cable system or waiting for a full hydro system, not a patch.”

How would you know, Gillis, when you yourself acknowledge that “few have been ridden let alone a side-by-side comparison”? How do you know the answers without experience when no one else can?

This system is a “patch” only because you say so. It has the advantage of self-adjustment that mechanical doesn’t, plus it uses proven calipers from a respected manufacturer. A “full hydro system”, whatever that means, from SRAM still has the downside of being an SRAM hydro brake, just at outrageous cost.

UCI doesn’t allow straight bars in CX events.

First things first. You need to have a disc compatible frame to start all this with and that’s a alot more than the brake systems cost. A lot of peeps are going to be running out and getting a frame just to have a “disc” cross bike (for what? to have the latest and greatest? it’s ok!). Then there’s a new disc wheelset to buy or new disc hubs to be laced to your current tubulars. Switching to disc on a cross bike is costly. Don’t hate on someone for wanting the “new stuff” even if it won’t be worth much in a year or so. Consumers that DO go out and buy stuff like this keep companies striving to be on the cutting edge of technology and provide them with the capital to do so.

PS: @Gillis never ever crticize someone’s spelling unless you have a Phd! We all misspell words sometimes. When you do so people percieve you as being a pompous a** and you’re probably not, maybe.

and last ….. Bikerumor works hard to bring us the latest news from the cycling world we love so much. Unless you have a comment that’s meritorious I would say (IMHO) that the reading public doesn’t appreciate threads that contain non-productive useless feedback. Step’n off the soap box now…

The USE system is about the tidiest thing I’ve seen so far.

I’d really like to see a light weight cable disk offered, I’m yet to have any success with hydraulic brakes having tried Avid Juicy, Hope Mini, Hope Mono M4’s and Shimano XT.

I stor bikes due to space concerns with the wheels out and hung from the rear dropouts over the winter this always seems to have led to some sort of pooling of hydraulic brakes with a bleed being required in the spring.

A guy I ride with who stores in the same way has exactly the same problem.

I’m guessing the chances of this happening with CX bikes put away from a season of racing is just as possible.

I’d like to be able to pull a bike out of storage and just stick wheels in and ride cable disks let me do this, so I’m really hoping for a super light set of BB7, sure they’re not as powerful as hydraulic brakes but they’re ready to go whenever I need them.

Fingers crossed for BB Ultimates?

I agree with #Joeking: So you mean that all this time CX riders could have had disc, but they had to wait til the UCI “decided” it was ok to use them? If all that was needed was a simple rule change, then why not petition for CX racing to be done on 29er rigid mtb’s instead? Better handling with flat bars and since its not a road race, mtb gearing is all you need anyway. It never made since to race CX on a modified road bike since we invented something called mountain bikes back in the late 70’s.

I’ve seen plenty of Youtube videos of CX races, and I’ve watched racers crash over simple little things that would make a mtb rider laugh. It really would make more sense to do that kind of race on a basic mtb and you’d still have more fun and stay upright longer.