Upgrade path advice needed
Image 1&2: my current bike. I’ve had this 2022 Contend SL rim brake for 36 months. I’ve bike packed with it around the stans, Italy and LeJOG in March this year. And I train a a decent amount on it (4000km including LeJOG year to date). I upgraded the cranks, so it has full 105 and upgraded the wheels. It’s served me pretty well and i reckon I’ve done ~20,000 km on it.
The trouble is it’s not great for bike packing. The rim brakes aren’t powerful enough when it’s fully laden and I’ve actually gone through 3 wheels since purchasing it because the brake tracks wore out so fast.
The plan is to have 2 bikes for the future; one zippy road bike for training/racing in the future and 1 more robust gravel bike for touring. (Probably a genesis CDF or steel gravel bike from VSF fahrradmanufaktur) or maybe even an aluminium revolt 🤓.
Images 3&4 are two options I’m mulling over for my next road bike. 3 - 2021 tcr advanced 1 w/ ultegra, factory wheels, disc brake. Listed for £1000.
4 - a 2020 tcr SL2. **Rim brake** Ultegra group set, giant pro power meter. ISP, scope r1 wheels. Listed for £800.
Basically I’m not sure whether to stick with rim brake since I’m a home mechanic and like the simplicity of it - I work on everything except wheels. I currently run 30mm on my contend with rim brakes, but the tcr SL is unlikely to accommodate more than 25/28mm. The ISP might be a pita when it comes to travelling with bike. Not sure it will go in a cardboard bike box.
The disc brake option is slightly more expensive, and the hydraulic brakes will need to be maintained by a bike shop. Though it could allow me to upgrade the wheels without the risk of wearing out the brake surface.
TLDR - I want to upgrade from my contend sl1 to a tcr. Do I stick with rim brake and keep all my current components cross compatible with new purchase or pay slightly more for disc brakes that may serve future proof me more. I’m a home mechanic that likes to do 90% of jobs myself
What do you guys think?
I don’t feel the need to have disc brakes on a road bike. For touring I defo see the appeal. Has anyone here travelled with an ISP frame?