Hydraulics

If it were up to me, everything on my bike would be adjustable with a 5mm allen wrench. I know that isn’t practical, but I would be willing to sacrifice a LOT of wait savings and sleekness to achieve that lofty goal. For now, I have settled on carrying a small tool kit with the essentials (4, 5, 6, 8mm wrenches, a small flathead, and a pair of quick link pliers). What I will never do as long as I live is carry any tools for hydraulics on my bike, nor will I have hydraulic brakes. The entire idea is preposterous to me.

I have ridden hydraulic brakes, and all of the marketing is true: they are (slightly) stronger than mechanical disc brakes, they have great modulation, and they are self centering. Awesome. But let me ask you this: when you ride on BB7s, are you thinking to yourself “Man, I really wish these were more powerful, had more modulation, and were self centering”? I bet you are if you mainly mountain bike, but for the other 90% of bicyclists out there, I bet you aren’t. I live in downtown Seattle, and my commute involves going up, and later descending, a 300 ft high hill reaching a grade of 15%. My BB7s do just fine. Hell, my caliper brakes on my rim brake bike do fine, even with my panniers attached, in the rain. I want my bike to be simple. I want my bike to be serviceable in my apartment with very little fuss. Hydraulics are the opposite of that and are a psyop by Big Bike Mechanic™ to make you less in control of your own bike. If your bike isn’t built for sending it off nasty jumps, it don’t need hydraulics.