upgrading from "v" to disk brakes

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Permalink Reply by Jessica on June 1, 2009 at 8:37am

Hydros are not hard to adjust if you know the cheater tricks.

But, given the option, I would choose bleeding car brakes over bike brakes. =)

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Permalink Reply by Matt M. 18.5KM on June 1, 2009 at 10:32am

Most folks recommend rim brakes unless you're getting seriously muddy and wet all the time. If you're really doing a lot of extreme and fast downhill it might be time for a tandem drag brake (it's a drum brake that screws on to a specially designed hub).

Rim brakes are otherwise the way to go.

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Permalink Reply by Homebuilt on June 1, 2009 at 12:05pm

Are you upgrading an existing bike? If so, does it have disk mounts already?

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Permalink Reply by Matt M. 18.5KM on June 1, 2009 at 12:26pm

convert any bike to disc brakes:

http://www.therapycomponents.com/BRAKETHERAPY.htm

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Permalink Reply by Brett Ratner on June 1, 2009 at 4:00pm

In defense of hydraulic disks, my mountain bike came standard with Avid Juicy 7s, and I couldn't be happier with them. I'm always amazed by their stopping power and by their feel, regardless if they are dry, wet, covered in snow, I'm on loose gravel, I'm on hard pack, pavement, whatever.

I use this bike for aggressive trail riding in the summer and as my winter commuter. After 2 winters and a fair amount of summertime abuse at Palos, Rock Cut State Park, and Ray's Indoor Mountain Bike Park, they have required no maintenance...by me or by the shop during the two times I brought it in for spring tuneups.

I don't have specific experience with cable-actuated disk brakes, but based on my experience with Juicy 7s, I can't imagine them being much less maintenance intensive than hydraulic brakes. The only advantage I can think of it that they may be easier to "field fix" if you have a problem and there isn't a shop nearby...and maybe they don't require as many special tools. But I'm just guessing here.

My only complaint is that these brakes are noisy when wet. Really noisy. Loud like a horn is noisy.

If you plan to use this bike for commuting, this is something to think about. I get a lot of funny looks coming up to a stoplight on rainy days.

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Permalink Reply by on2wheels on June 1, 2009 at 4:13pm

That is probably one of the most sketchy and ugly websites on these great internets.

I don't know about everyone else, but I wouldn't trust a product they made.



Matt M. said:

convert any bike to disc brakes:

http://www.therapycomponents.com/BRAKETHERAPY.htm

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Permalink Reply by Matt M. 18.5KM on June 1, 2009 at 4:25pm

awwwww shucks...they've only been making them for 12 years. How bad could they be? Looks pretty solid in my opinion. The brake mechanism is secured to the V-brake mount.

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Permalink Reply by Matt M. 18.5KM on June 1, 2009 at 4:32pm

Disc brakes get my vote in the winter, without a doubt.

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Permalink Reply by Matt M. 18.5KM on June 1, 2009 at 6:17pm

I hear you j....... My buddy is 63 and just finished his tour to La Crosse and back. He uses rim brakes only. He also biked from coast to coast - going west.

However I think using rim and disc brakes in combination can give you the best of both worlds. If it's wet or sloshy cold a nice front or rear disc brake can really keep your rims nice and clean. If you've got a problem with one brake system you can pop it off and stick with the other.

I've got a rear disc hub on my touring rig.....someday I'll put it all together. It'll be cool to have a MTB lever on my ram-horn bars - and then my wheels will possibly outlast me.

FYI - - touring pros say to use only cable actuated disc brakes.

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