The Origin Of Bicycle Rotor Discs
2025-04-16
The origin of bicycle discs is closely related to the development of disc brake technologies for cars and motorcycles.
Here is its development history:
- Early Explorations: In 1898, American engineer Elmer Ambrose Cleveland installed the first mechanical brake disc system on the front wheel of an electric vehicle, which was the earliest prototype of disc brakes in human history. In 1902, British engineer Frederick William Lanchester applied for a patent for disc brakes for cars and used them on the Lanchester cars produced by his own company. However, the early cast iron discs were prone to rusting in humid environments and made a lot of noise. As a result, this technology was later replaced by the more reliable drum brakes.
- Impetus from Military Applications: During World War II, aircraft and tanks needed to deal with extreme braking loads, and the heat dissipation advantages of disc brakes were rediscovered. The disc brake technology was further developed and improved in the military field, laying the foundation for its application on bicycles later.
- Early Attempts on Bicycles: In the 1950s, with the emergence of new processes and materials, disc brakes began to be applied to racing cars. Although there was no officially released version, it is reasonable to believe that some enthusiastic hobbyists with strong DIY skills would install the disc brakes used on motorcycles onto bicycles. In 1971, Schwinn launched the cable-operated disc brake Manta - Rays. In 1973, Shimano introduced two products in its product manual, the B700 mechanical disc brake and the B900 hydraulic disc brake. However, the disc brakes at that time had an inaccurate market positioning and only existed as expensive accessories, and soon disappeared.
- The Rise of Mountain Bikes and the Development of Disc Brakes: In 1981, Specialized's Stumpjumper initiated the mass production era of mountain bikes. On the muddy tracks, the traditional V-brakes showed their shortcomings. For example, after sand and mud invaded the brake pads, the braking distance increased significantly. In 1984, a group of cyclists in California grafted motorcycle disc brakes onto mountain bikes, welded caliper mounts with angle irons, and made homemade steel discs. In 1987, the Italian brand Formula launched the first mountain bike hydraulic disc brake, which adopted a closed oil circuit and was a product of epoch-making significance.
- Application and Popularization in the Field of Road Bikes: In June 2010, the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) announced that disc brakes were allowed to be used on cyclocross bikes, which was an important step for disc brakes to enter the field of road bicycles. In 2015, the UCI announced a trial use of disc brakes in professional road races. However, during the 2016 Paris-Roubaix race, a disc brake caused an injury to a cyclist, and the UCI urgently suspended the testing of disc brakes in professional road races. Later, the UCI promoted the lifting of the ban through technological improvements, jointly promoted the standardization of 140mm discs, flat-mount calipers, and thru-axles, and solved the problems of wheel changing efficiency and safety. In 2018, the UCI finally approved the full use of disc brakes, requiring the edges of the discs to be chamfered to avoid the risk of cuts. Up to now, disc brakes have been widely applied and popularized in the bicycle field and have become one of the standard braking systems for modern bicycles, especially sports bicycles.\
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