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Which bike is better? Disc brakes? Rim brakes?
My parents are in the process of getting everyone in the family a new bicycle, and I need a bike that I can do serious road racing on, but my parents won't purchase a pure road bike. They stipulate that is has to be able to handle the occasional patch of dirt or whatnot, so they'd like me to get a hybrid-oriented bike.
However, I convinced them to let me get a cyclecross bike in place of a hybrid. 
So I have two options, the Kona Dr Dew (hybrid) or the (cyclecross) Kona Jake, max price $1,000:
http://konaworld.com/08_jake_w.htm
http://konaworld.com/08_drdew_w.htm
Thing is, they still seem to think that the Dr Dew is better because it has disc brakes, which the Jake does not. Sure, rim brakes have the disadvantage of heating the rim. Disc brakes are heavier. I don't know. Also the Dr Dew is less race ergonomic. What do you guys think?
Thanks in advance . . . .
If what you want is speed for racing you're going to want to go with the cyclocross bike. Maybe you can convince your parents to put on some thinner tires geared more towards the road. The hybrid will have you in a less aerodynamic positiion and is not necissarily for speed. More for comfort. As far as discs go, once again, if your purpose is for road racing, I dont think you really need them. Notice how all road bikes have rim brakes. There is a weight difference. Part of the issue with the weight on the disks is that it is rotating wieght which essentially multiplies its effect (something with rotational kenetic energy vs. just moving, you need to provide both for rotating parts). I wouldn't worry very much about heating the rim with rim brakes either. If they are overheating you are either moving way to fast or braking way to much.
And by the way, disc brakes also will need replacement pads and adjustments just as rim brakes do. And frankly, trust me because I get paid to do this, rim brakes are much easier to adjust and replace than discs.
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