Which would you pick? Thru-Axle rear or QR and $100 in your pocket or Hydraulic Disc Brakes+QR?

[joeg26er]

Hi -
I am talking to a custom builder for a gravel/cross bike and they gave me this choice

Which set up would you pick and why?

1) Thru-Axle rear or

2) QR and $100 in your pocket or

3) Hydraulic Disc Brakes+QR?

[Swannie]

1 + disc.

[Chello]

Thru axle + hydro disc, $$ be damned

[joeg26er]

can only Pick ONE of the three

[joeg26er]

Thru axle + hydro disc, $$ be damned

So you would pay $200 more for this config?

[Swannie]

no doubt, yes!

[PhilippCX]

I would also go with thru-axles + discs if possible. The latter hat to be flat mount.

You asked to a reasoning, so here it is: in my opinion, thru-axles will replace QR mid-term on all higher end bikes. Thus if you are getting a frame custom made and plan to keep it for longer, you will simply have more flexibility in the future in terms of wheel choice. Plus, thru-axles and thru-axles optimized hubs can potentially made lighter than a QR system (same reasoning as for the larger spindle size in bottom brakets).

[joeg26er]

Currently Thruaxles and hubs thereof are heavier than QR AFAIK? Please correct me if I am wrong?

[Chello]

Disc are heavier than rim brake. If your after lightness go with rim brakes. If you want what works best go thru axle hydro disc.

[stoney]

I'd definitely go 142 thru axle with disc brakes. That's the NOW and future for CX and gravel bikes.

[PhilippCX]

Currently Thruaxles and hubs thereof are heavier than QR AFAIK? Please correct me if I am wrong?

I think most tru axles are rather heavy at the moment. A 12 mm axle from tune is about 20 g heavier than their QR.

[Tomstr]

What kind of rides are you planning for?

For my use, gravel grinding and some CX, QR's and discs do nicely.

[reippuert]

Hi -
I am talking to a custom builder for a gravel/cross bike and they gave me this choice

Which set up would you pick and why?

1) Thru-Axle rear or

2) QR and $100 in your pocket or

3) Hydraulic Disc Brakes+QR?

Through axles both front and rear...

full Hydralics for road, gravel or cross: No.

Hydralics are too complicated to fix enruote and addds a life with endless bleedings and complicated re-wireing. Go with TRP's cable actuated HY/RD if you can live with the weight, braking power and control is sufficient fr any drop bar bike use, for an enven less complicated and lighter setup: go With TRP's dualpiston mechanical Spyre's. For both: go with the beste cables and housings outh there: DuraAce, Jagwire or better.

At first i tried my HY/RDs with Campy cables and housings but they compressed way too much (it has never been a problem with my campy rim brakes), a pair of Dure Ace cables and housings solved the issue.

[reippuert]

Currently Thruaxles and hubs thereof are heavier than QR AFAIK? Please correct me if I am wrong?

Hubs: not, they should actually be lighter.
Hubs+QR vs HubsThruaxles: they can be equally light but be prepared to shell out a major amount for the lightweigth thru axles.

QR Frame/fork QR vs Thrugh axle Frame/fork: QR Frame/Fork will be lighter.

Still, id say if you want discs go for Thrugh axles both frot an rear. It will bake your life easyer.

[wheelzqc]

For my use, gravel grinding and some CX, QR's and discs do nicely.

That's my pick as well. Hydro and QR ! I was not shy to get a frame with QR, outer cable routing. simple to maintain in the gravelcx dirty world. Hydro for everything it does great.