General Cycling Discussion - Disk brake help neaded

I got an '05 specialized hardrock (http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=9345&bikeTab=techspec) with standard brakes, and no disk brake hub on the rim ( Alex DH-20 ). Is there a way to get a hub and stick it on the rim, or do I have to buy a completely new one? If I can just modify the current one, how would I go about doing that, and what's a good, but not too expensive, buy? What would you recommend for disk brakes aswell?

Thanks, Nate

no you cannot do that, you have to replace the hub. Sorry. I'd get the rhynolite wheels from pricepoint they're like 120 bucks or something? As far as brakes, get the Avid BB7's.

Cool, thanks for the info

I got an '05 specialized hardrock (http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=9345&bikeTab=techspec) with standard brakes, and no disk brake hub on the rim ( Alex DH-20 ). Is there a way to get a hub and stick it on the rim, or do I have to buy a completely new one? If I can just modify the current one, how would I go about doing that, and what's a good, but not too expensive, buy? What would you recommend for disk brakes aswell?

Thanks, Nate

Discs will cost you $60 to $200+ per wheel for the discs and rotors. You will also need new wheels that could cost $100+. So you could be looking at a minimum of $200 to retrofit the bike for discs. Or you could just upgrade the v-brakes for roughly $50 per wheel and get some of these (http://www.cambriabike.com/shopexd.asp?id=13200). I weigh a svelte 220 lbs and have never had problems stopping my hardtail on any Colorado trail with them. Heck, I load up a touring bike with 50+ lbs of gear and use cantilevers on mountainous tours and can still stop the bike cold.

Or you could just upgrade the v-brakes for roughly $50 per wheel and get some of these (http://www.cambriabike.com/shopexd.asp?id=13200). .
I will NEVER hesitate to suggest those. In my opinion they are the best V-brake on the market. They are a notch down from the Avid BB7's, but it's not a huge notch.
side note $50 who are they kidding? Pricepoint has them for $40

However the wet weather performance of discs will trump a V everytime.

BB7's
http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/12605-115_AVDMD3-3-Parts-158-Brakes/Disc/Avid-Mechanical-BB7-Ball-Bearing-Disc-Brake-160mm.htm
Wheels
http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/12012-365_SHIXS3-3-Parts-75-Wheelsets/Shimano-XT-Disc-Wheelset-w_-Sun-Rhyno-Lite-Rims.htm
Arches w/ levers
http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/11985-347_AVD5K9-3-Parts-159-Brakes/V-Brakes/Avid-Arch-Rival-Brake-w_Avid-Speed-Dial-Levers-COMBO.htm
and without
http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/11084-040_AVDA51-3-Parts-159-Brakes/V-Brakes/Avid-Arch-Rival-Brake.htm

The Avid BB5's are about $40 cheaper for a set than the BB7's. They stop just as well, they're just a little trickier to adjust.

However, before you go and spend several hundred dollars on upgrading, ask yourself if you would be better of just selling the bike and buying a bike of equivalent quality with discs.

Maybe you need to ask yourself if you really need disc brakes in the first place.