I’ve never ridden disc brakes, so can’t comment on that.
But as Matt said there are some real bargains to be found. A friend of mine bought a set of 50mm rim brake Mavic Cosmics for £250!
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Graham, you’re perfectly entitled to your opinion; especially when expressed in a civil manner. But a great number of people don’t agree with your view on disc brakes. I have been commuting on them since 2011, long before they became ubiquitous on road bikes; and I found them to be better for my needs, in my personal experience.
To say no-one in the UK needs disc brakes, and dismiss it as pure gimmick, looks blinkered and depending on how you express it… a little arrogant.
Disc’s are too much of a pain to set up and maintain for commuting for me, they’re a real PITA, too much endless fiddling, they’re for people who like bike maintenance I think.
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I kind of agree, but I have mounted the TRP Spyre to my Frankenbike, and they are dual piston, so much easier to maintain than the cheaper road cable discs i.e. very little or no tweaking.
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Another vote for disc brakes. Control and performance feels better to me. From a maintenance perspective rim would be the winner.
I’m not sure of the relevance of German here?
What if you have a ‘best’ summer bike in the UK but once or twice a year do a training camp in the Alps, Mallorca or Tenerife 
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A friend of mine, who is pretty similar to me on climbs and flat, is an ace at descending: on his rim brake bike he can put a huge amout of time into me on the big 2000m descents, even though I am using disc brakes, therefore the biggest differentiator is the rider not the bike. Later this year, when I do Triverest, I am not sure whether to go with the light rim brake bike or my disc brake bike. With around 8000m climbing bike weight may help a little with my legs
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I think it can best be summarised thus:
If you like discs and want them then buy them. If you don’t that’s fine. It’s mainly down to personal preference. Some people get on fine with rims, others swear by the enhanced abilities of discs. Try them out and do what you want.
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The bike manufacturers have decided that disc brakes are the future (regardless if its better or not) probably because obsolescence means more sales. The outcome; there will be less rim braked bikes to choose from in the future like it or not.
I have TRP Spyre on my gravel bike and Tiagra rim ones on my decent bike, and I much prefer the power of the TRP brakes, and they are just as simple to maintain as my rim brakes with them being cable operated
Yeah I much prefer the TRP Spyre on my newer CX bike than the Frog Leg cantis on my old CX/commuter. Better stopping power & easier to adjust.
Edit I’ve had some literally memorable alpine descents on those old brakes.
Indeed. Saying to am-triathletes you dont “need” something is a bit of a nonsense. Its about want and opinion. I dont need a power meter, garmin, £6k triathlon bike, TT helmet, high end wet suit. I’m a fat old knacker and not competitive and that stuff is largely wasted on me. But I wanted that stuff so I bought it.
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Ditto!
Spend on what you enjoy!
No power meter
Wetsuit is crap, but I’m 99% certain it’s the fastest one for me…
Be happy
The end.
Is another factor that when any new technology comes along, however good it may be, it doesn’t make the old technology any worse?
If you were happy with rim brakes before discs appeared then your situation hasn’t changed, there’s just a new option which may or may not interest you.
It’s not just bikes, but TVs etc, it’s in a manufacturers interests to give the impression that HD is now crap and you need 4k.
I also think the rise of discs is directly related to the rise of carbon rims which did create a need that wasn’t there to the same degree with alloy.
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Yes mate, thats the best answer yet! 
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And most of those people watch sky which isnt even true HD let alone 4K
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I’m not sure my eyesight is good enough to appreciate whatever the best definition is!
It’s almost getting irrelevant, the market seems to be heading towards to disc brakes, pushed by the manufacturers.
Aren’t some of the new Cervelo’s disc only? Not sure I see the point on a TT bike as twisty descents are rare, but having done Wimbleball on a soaking wet day with carbon rims, I’d have much preferred disc brakes that day. There was practically no braking at all.
Jeff
I cant notice the difference between SD ans HD.