Wet weather SSCX commuter

Cool. Can you pop round to mine and fix the stuck pad on my marta and the blown seal on my Shimano SLX? The later might be difficult because you can't actually buy spares. But that's OK, just buy a new caliper. Oh wait, the connection standards have changed. But that's OK, you can just buy a new connector. Oh wait, you can't actually buy the connectors separately. That's OK, we'll get a new hose. But hang on, for the price of a new caliper and hose you could buy a whole new leaver, hose, caliper, pads...

Spares are expensive. Thats the same for any bike component. It doesn't change the fact that hydraulics are in generel very reliable.

The dirty secret of hydraulics is that they do get contaminated. That's why they require bleeding from time to time. Self adjusting pads is fine too - and in the Spyre we have that now in a cable pull brake. Freezing temperatures - not sure what you mean there. If you are referring to that cross race in the US where they were eating pads due to froozen mud acting like sandpaper this problem has been solved by doing away with the static pad (again, see the Spyre) and using non-drilled rotors. Hydraulics would have suffered the same fate anyway, except they would have eaten both pads.

Yes, it is possible to contaminate a hydr. system but a cable system is much more prone in this regard. Especially in muddy cross conditions with frequent washing of the bike. Even the now discontinued GORE sealed cable system can't outlast a hydraulic system in this regard.

What I meant by handling is freezing temperatures is not with regard to the pads. As you said, they handle it pretty much the same as mechanicals. I was refering to the cables which when slighty worn can take in a bit of water and seize (or only just work) in low temperatures. Hydraulics work down to about minus 10-15C no problem.

More seriously, and as I hinted at above - because they stop you better, in a discipline where stopping can be really rather important. Unlike cross...

Consistent modular braking matters in cross because of the slick conditions, not so much braking power. Another point where cables are inferior. And who only ride their crossbike on a crosscourse? A weekend warrior also rides the trails where the added braking power is welcome.