Mountain Biking - mechanical disc brakes

hey i just got a new bike and would like to set it up with disc brakes...

budget: $100-$200

What are some good prices or places to get everything i need.

thanks

I will say one thing. I don't now the prices but really and very seriously Avid's are the only ones worht getting. I have hayes maches (in theory the second best) they Suck. They require constant attention and adjustment and loose power at any given time. They also don't use the whole brake (something I just found out) they leave about 1/3 of the brake on the brake base before you have to replace them. I believe Avids and hydro use ALL of the pad.

Like I said I don't know price but if you don't get avids regular brakes are virtually the same.

I knew I'd seen Avid mechanical brakes on sale - Pricepoint specials (http://www.pricepoint.com/netspecials.html). I've also heard these are the brakes to have if you don't go hydraulic.

thanks guys what about hubs and wheels?

could i take my existing wheelset and put new hubs on it pretty easily or would it be more efficient to buy a kit with everything?

thanks guys what about hubs and wheels?

could i take my existing wheelset and put new hubs on it pretty easily or would it be more efficient to buy a kit with everything?

Cheapest deal going: http://wheelworld.com/site/itemdetails.cfm?ID=1891&Catalog=39&sort=Price

$300 for wheels and brakes, including rotors Not bad!

L8R

i saw that ad in mountain biking magazine thats a sweet deal for sure

Originally posted by BrokeSpoke
hey i just got a new bike and would like to set it up with disc brakes...

Question 1. What kind of bike did you get?
Question 2. Why do you need disc brakes?

Originally posted by CycleMON

Question 1. What kind of bike did you get?
Question 2. Why do you need disc brakes?

I've often wondered why there's such a push for discs. I know all about the awesome stopping power and the great modulation and better performance when wet/muddy but honestly, is the stopping power of rim brakes really that lacking? What other factours do people consider when making a decision between discs and rim brakes? To me, here are the obvious:

[1] riding conditions: rim brakes get exposed to the yuck easier than discs and can fade and degrade more when wet/muddy but even in the worse slosh, I've never had a problem locking up my wheels. I have Avid Arch Rivals and Sun 0 XC rims. OTOH, when disc brakes get contaminated or rtors get warped or bent, they're at best headaches and at worse useless.

[2] riding style: rim brakes may not offer enough stopping power for extreme DHers or heavier riders but for XC and typical trails, they're lighter and you're less prone to snagging a line and leaking fluid (yes I know mech discs don't have this problem) all over the place when you're far away from civilisation. I weigh in at 145 lbs. on after consuming a huge slab of prime rib and I ride mostly XC and singletrack and my downhill riding is moderate if any. Rim brakes can be easier to repair on the ride and easier to carry spare parts for during an extended excursion.

[3] rim wear: discs don't wear down the rim and rotors are cheaper than a new rim. However it seems that discs warp easier and are more sensitive to minute rotor defects than rim brakes are to rim trueness. Disc wheelsets are more expensive.

[4] maintenance: discs seem to take more time to get set up and adjusted properly and they seem to fall out of adjustment easier. Rim brakes can be just as bad but in my experience they've been much easier to to maintain. And as I mentioned before, rim brakes seem to be more tolerant of misadjustments than discs.

So those are my impressions. Anyone care to verify or dispell? I'm not saying that discs are bad and everyone should go back to rim brakes but I do question the trend of the industry of promoting discs as inherently superior.

Just like everything else (I don't really need 125 satelite channels do I?) I'm a techno wienie. I like the latest and greatest. I'm not alone!

As the technology of disc brakes advances, performance gets better and better and weight keeps coming down. Many many moons ago, only Pro DHers used discs. They were noisy had a lot of drag (rubbed) and were heavy as heck. As the technology advanced, it trickled down and got to the point where it was affordable, both cost and weight.

Is that level of performance necessary for us regular Joe's (no implication for those named Joe), not really, but they are cool.

However, with this advancement comes the inherant contradiction. Now everyone wants them and a lot of generic companies are now making inferior products to provide a bike with what everyone wants. Now you are getting crap bikes with crap brakes and creating a bad rep for discs.

If you decide to upgrade, go for quality components or don't go at all and stick with vee brakes.

Just my $0.02.

L8R

i'm with a2psyklnut here...

i bought a really cheap GT Agressor i guess its where they went bankrupt...where I paid so little i can afford a few cheap upgrades to make this a really nice bike

just trying to spot a few things that i can do to make it great

I don't run disks, but have been on numerous rides when I wished I had them. North Idaho (Moscow Mountain in particular) has a combination of sand, dirt and wet that can fry your rims in one ride. Also, ever have a tiny rock stick in your brake pad? Rim killer. For these reasons I'll switch to disks when I can afford a nice set of wheels, probably just the front wheel at first.

i have a lot of coal dust and sand where i ride...its rough on em as well

I have to agree with a2. Wheel World has a sweet deal on the wheel set. I also give WW props because they are my LBS and know how to treat their customers. Which ever way you go, stick with Avid mechs.
Slainte:beer:

Originally posted by khuon


I've often wondered why there's such a push for discs. I know all about the awesome stopping power and the great modulation and better performance when wet/muddy but honestly, is the stopping power of rim brakes really that lacking? What other factours do people consider when making a decision between discs and rim brakes? To me, here are the obvious:



You bring up some valid points. For me if I didn't live in whistler with the extreme downhill and I wasn't a heavy rider I would probably use regular v's...

I know on a number of occasions I have considered going to good old brakes. Especially in the front. My gf has more stopping power than me at times and this gets frustrating. If you are a basic rider in a regular type of area without steeps get v's. NEVER GET MECHS. I swear to god people think they work better because they are 'DISCS'. I plan on switching both in the fall to hydros. I need em. I am just getting sick of thinking I am going to die every time I go down a steep rockface during one of my rides.

If you have to get mechs (they are cheap) get AVIDS ONLY. Don't think or look at anything else until next year. Who knows maybe another company will give it a shot. :)

Do we really need cars to get around? Well, people in the past ride horses....

It's the same with newer and better technology or products. If there wasn't car we wouldn't know how fast we could have went right?

Just like those fancy technology in Formula1 brakes and other things. They are unnecessarily advanced but will be used in normal cars eventually. Technology creates needs, and when everyone else proceeds along, you can't just say," You guys go ahead, I am fine."

I have Avid disc brakes on my GT avalanche. I did not ask for one, but since it was there for a good price, I went for it.

Thanks a million Mealstrom! I was getting kind of frustrated with all this disc brake talk and NOBODY mentioning how bad the mechanical ones are. Here's my opinion on disc's:

- If you ride XC in dry areas with a few puddles, stay with V's

- If you ride DH or XC in wet/cold areas with snow and you feel you need the extra power, go to normal hydraulic brakes or hydraulic disc brakes.

- If you ride in the city and want to look trendy get mechanical disc brakes...but stay in the city.

I use regular hydraulic's (Magura) and have never had a problem with stopping power even in super wet/muddy conditions. Fact is that regular hydraulic brakes have more stopping power than mechanical disc brakes.

Another thought, if you want more stoping power without going to discs you could always go with Magura's Hydro rim brake. I ran the race lites for years and they would stop on a dime. They do add a bit of weight but they are incredable stoppers.
Slainte:beer:

I can't speak for other brands, but I have Avid Mechs., and they are very noticably better than V's. When I first get on my Cyclocross bike after riding my MTB, it's unbelievable how much less stopping power it has without discs. Also, I take my front wheel off to put my bike on the rack. Having discs makes this much easier. After having both, I would never go back to V brakes on my MTB.

Avids rule, Hayes drool. It is really that simple. The more I ride the more I wish I had 500$ to change over to hydros.

Discs are a waste of money and needless weight in my opinion. My Avid Mags can lock up on any terrain and that's really as good as you can get, isn't it?

My Avid Mags can lock up on any terrain and that's really as good as you can get, isn't it?
Nope, locking up your breaks is bad. :D

Originally posted by Ferg
Discs are a waste of money and needless weight in my opinion. My Avid Mags can lock up on any terrain and that's really as good as you can get, isn't it?

Modulation is the real power of discs. Not cables of course but hydros. :)

I feel I need to clarify some things:

Q: Are mechanical discs worth the $$$$?
A: Only if you get Avids, or Hayes, (Verdict still out on the Deore ones, but have been getting a so-so rating)

Q: Are discs better than Vee brakes?
A: Yes, if you're into Downhill, or extreme Freeriding where there are long downhill section, and/or extremely muddy conditions.

Q: Are discs worth the extra $$$ over vee-brakes? (Similar to ? above, but with a different point-of-view.)
A: Not for 90% of us. But they are cool! Nothing says you can't or shouldn't have them if you've got money to spend.

Q: Does everyone need discs?
A: No way, vee brakes have great stopping power and are efficient and relatively inexpensive. Lighter weight too!

Q: Are hydraulics better than mechanicals?
A: In most cases, yes!(if you buy quality of both) A side-by-side comparison will show that hydros have better feel, more power and better modulation.

It all boils down to A) what type of riding do you do? and B) how much are you willing to spend?

L8R

BTW, I've got 2 mtn bikes one with vee-brakes (Avid's) and one with discs (Hydros). BOTH STOP when I need them to!

All i can say is if you are just wanting discs coz ya think they make ya bike look siiiiick dont waste your money.

If your serious about getting discs save up for hydros. The performance between vbrakes and cable discs is debatable.

oh and its actaully best to buy disc specific rims if your havinf discs rather than just a compatible hub. it can wreck a rim thats not strong enough.

Let me throw my 2c in here and remark on my Shimano XT hydraulic. I got a front one (frame doesn't have mounts for a rear) and frankly, it is not very impressive. Sure, the modulation is probably very good, but the power just isn't there for some reason. They're thoroughly broken in and bled, so my guess is that Shimano went a bit too far in their quest to avoid a grabby brake. If I had a non-disc front wheel built, I think I'd switch straight back to V-brakes up front. :(

The Avid mechanicals do seem to be great mechanical discs (I haven't tried Deore mechanical or Deore hydraulic). For hydraulic, I did like the sheer power of the Hayes hydraulics I've seen in the past (haven't tried Magura).

As a XC rider/racer I figured discs were unnecessary. After all, how many pro XC racers use them? Roland Green doesn't, and he's the best. Right?

But this year my fitness and speed clicked up quite a bit, and I've found myself wanting more stopping power. Also, a couple of rainy race days left my v-brakes (Avid SD7) slow to stop. So, now I'm rethinking my original position.

In dry, perfect conditions V-brakes are, generally, adequate for XC. When it's wet, though, Vs don't cut it. Morning dew, rain, puddles or stream crossings compromise V-braking. As a result, when it's wet I've found myself riding slower to compensate for lack of braking. This is not conducive to fast riding.

Fade is another V-brake problem. I flatted recently on a long, fast downhill (a 4WD trail). By the time I got off to fix the flat my Vs were, maybe, 30% less powerful. When I grabbed the rim to change the flat it was too hot to touch. Heat induced fade was the culprit.

Yeah, I still run Vs, but I accept that discs are in my near future.

If you're not racing XC, or you don't ride "at the limit" very often, V-brakes will suit you fine. The faster you ride, the more discs will call out to you.

As to mechanical discs being no better than Vs: That's fine in the dry, but the MUST be better than Vs in the wet. Thoughts?

I've thought a few times of just getting a mechanical front brake - Avid of course. Saves on weight and cost while dramatically increasing performance.

Originally posted by WoodyUpstate
As to mechanical discs being no better than Vs: That's fine in the dry, but the MUST be better than Vs in the wet. Thoughts?

Yes. They are way better. That is where they work best. If you ride n wet conditions then they are helpful. But still only get Avids :)

First off, I'm very glad I ran across these forums.

I recently acquired a bike (given to me for a mode of transportation at college) It's an aluminum hardtail with the old style pre V brakes. I've been riding it a lot lately and the braking power SUCKS. (I weigh 175 and ride fairly quickly) I was thinking of getting some avid mech. brakes on the front, but after reading this i'm not sure. I dont really care about looks, its just that the local shops seem to not carry vbrakes.

I can get a front disc brake for 150 cdn, but I am unsure if my current wheelset will work with discs. I also don't know how much v brakes will cost me.

Budget is important; I still have to buy different pedals (clipless pedals freak me out) and some forks. I've got my eyes on some Marz Z4 Air forks for 250 CDN.

I suppose what I'm asking here is How much do v brakes usually cost, and how can I tell if my wheelset/hub will accomodate a disc? (I dont know what kind of rims are on the bike, but the front hub says "HUGI Compact made in Germany" on it.

Thanks for any help

Ok, You may just ne3ed to do some adjustments or change the brake pads on the v-brakes. I ride very quickly and hit the 250 makr with weight. V-brakes stop me fine under normal conditions. They don't work worth crap on downhill or muddy sections.

If you don't want to adjust them try finding a company online. Most carry v-brakes or canteliever.

www.123bikes.com //American
www.bikecanada.com // canadian

Originally posted by Seth
I recently acquired a bike (given to me for a mode of transportation at college) It's an aluminum hardtail with the old style pre V brakes. I've been riding it a lot lately and the braking power SUCKS.

I assume you are referring to cantilevers. Here is a guide on how to set them up more optimally:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/cantilever-adjustment.html


(I weigh 175 and ride fairly quickly) I was thinking of getting some avid mech. brakes on the front, but after reading this i'm not sure. I dont really care about looks, its just that the local shops seem to not carry vbrakes.

If the bike originally came with cantis then it is very unlikely that it has tabs on the frame and fork to accomodate the disc brake caliper. It will also not have disc hubs, which have the required holes on the left side to bolt the rotors to. Save the discs for your next bike.

Now, V's like Shimano Deore or Avid SD3's are very good for the money (about $90-100 CAN for front and rear brakes and levers where I live). I can't imagine a shop which deals with MTBs and/or hybrids not having V-brakes as the installed base for them is huge. The only problem you might encounter is if the shifter is integrated with the brake lever, as V-brakes do require more cable pull and less leverage than cantilever levers provide. You can still buy 7-speed STX-level Rapid Fires (I'm assuming the bike is 7-speed) but if it gets to this point you might be better off tuning the cantilevers which are on there now, or look for a good deal on some new-old stock higher end cantilevers.