wtf sonny, I been riding in the rain in vancouver for some 35+ years I know how to keep it sanitary. :rolleyes:
I feel like when I'm ripping around in the rain on the bike, the amount of spray I get from cars would negate the effect of fenders. If I was on bike paths or trails, things would be different for sure.
You're comparing apples to oranges. There are lots of MTB hydro disc brake options, there are few Road hydro disc brake options (and those options aren't cheap). Also, saying that buying calipers is 'cheaping out' on a road bike is silly. If he's not riding in the rain, 20 year old 105 calipers will lock a wheel pretty damn fast.
^ This… road hydro levers/brakes are upwards of $800… and putting mtb levers on the road bike would be the suck.
That said, the modulation would be $$$, but I'm not time trialling down seymour, so I can deal with the calipers.