TT-bike brakes will no longer suck, thanks to SRAM

Disc brake domination perhaps inevitable with announcement of new S-900 brake

SRAM's new S-900 brakes removes the reliance on mechanical options for disc equipped TT bikes

SRAM

Jack Luke

Published: July 6, 2017 at 5:00 pm
SRAM
SRAM
SRAM

Time-trial and triathlon riders who enjoy stress-free stopping got another braking option today with the announcement that SRAM has released its brand new S-900 Aero HRD disc brake lever.

The new textured lever is said to be optimised for use on TT bikes, with the power and modulation of the brakes “optimized… for triathlon and time trial bikes”. Shifting is still kept separate, being taken care of via either bar-end end shifters or the brands eTap BlipGrip’s.

The system is 'non-series', so should fit in with the rest of SRAM's groupsets nicely - SRAM

The caliper looks identical to the RED 22 hydro caliper save for the all-black colour scheme, which should blend in a little better with any of SRAM’s groupsets. Unsurprisingly, this will only be available in a flat mount configuration.

The small calliper tucks in neatly behind the fork - SRAM

The rest of the setup features familiar SRAM tech, including the brands easy to use Bleeding Edge system and Stealth-A-Majig connectors.

The S-900 brakes will cost $249 / €277 / £235 / AU$TBC and are due to be available as of September.

Discs to become the norm for TT bikes?

Funky cable routing and awkward brake placement have meant that many TT bikes have long been plagued by vague — or just plain bad — braking. In a discipline where weight is less of a concern, we’re openly welcoming the move towards disc brakes becoming the norm.

The pros are clearly accepting the move, too, with Alberto Bettiol taking on the first stage of this year’s Tour aboard a Cannondale Super Slice equipped with discs, though the Shimano-sponsored team resorted to using TRP’s Spyre mechanical brakes as the brand is yet to bring a hydro aero-lever to the market.

We’ve seen a lot of disc-equipped TT and Tri bikes being released in recent months, the majority of which have been specced with either the aforementioned TRP Spyre mechanical disc brakes or the brand’s HyRd mechanical/hydro hybrid brakes.

While these are a certainly workable solution, we’re looking forward to more hydro brakes becoming available for the road in the near future.

Are you looking forward to actually being able to stop in a controlled manner aboard your TT bike or are you happy to continue hurtling towards the barriers? Leave your comments in the thoughts below.

Jack Luke

Deputy editor

Jack Luke is the deputy editor at BikeRadar and has been fettling with bikes for his whole life. Always in search of the hippest new niche in cycling, Jack is a self-confessed gravel dork, fixie-botherer, tandem-evangelist and hill climb try hard. Jack thinks nothing of bikepacking after work to sleep in a ditch or taking on a daft challenge for the BikeRadar YouTube channel. He is also a regular contributor to the BikeRadar podcast. With a near encyclopaedic knowledge of cycling tech, ranging from the most esoteric retro niche to the most cutting-edge modern kit, Jack takes pride in his ability to seek out stories that would otherwise go unreported. He is also particularly fond of tan-wall tyres, dynamo lights, cup and cone bearings, and skids. Jack has been writing about and testing bikes for more than six years now, has a background working in bike shops for years before that, and is regularly found riding a mix of weird and wonderful machines. Jack can also often be seen zooming about with his partner aboard their beloved tandem.
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