[maximan1]

I have my Puch bike *PROUDNESS* and I don't belive it has disk brake mounts, since its an OOOLLLDDD bike, around 70's or 80's. I don't want to change the fork or anything, but I want to mount disk brakes. Are disk brakes good for road bikes? How efficiant are they? Are they worth the $$?

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[jsigone]

leave disc brakes for the dirt. You dont' need that type of stopping power on the street. Just get some good brake pads, I got some nice ultegra pads for $11 and worked very well going down Palomar Mt.

[Luwin1026]

+1

Disc brakes are more useful if say you go through some water on a mtn bike so you don't have to worry about diminished stopping power or wicking some water away if your rim is wet. I don't foresee you fording any streams on your roadie, so you should be fine without disc brakes.

[maximan1]

Thanks. So if I ever need an MTB I should get disk brakes?

[jsigone]

most bikes comes w/ them stock to begin with. They are good to have but not always needed.

[Luwin1026]

Thanks. So if I ever need an MTB I should get disk brakes?

It's something that I would have liked to have gotten on my MTB, but I've been fine with my V-brakes as well - stopping power is adequate and if I run into some water I just lightly apply the brakes to wick some wetness away. But I shall defer any further MTB questions to jsigone as he is the experienced racer.

[jsigone]

luwin, I'm not sure what v-brakes you have now, but before you think about stepping to disc setup, I'd suggest you try the Avid Single Digit 7's Cost is like $28 per. I've used these at Big Bear on the DH and my hands didn't cramp on me during the 20 min DH run. Great stuff. The disc brakes worked a bit better on the DH, biggest difference they modulate better then V's. When I built my hardtail race bike, I went with the V's cuz they stop and they are almost 3 times lighter then running disc. For a big guy like me, I was a lil weight weenie for the bike. It's easier pedaling a bike that's 5-10lbs lighter up long steep climbs

Only downside of V's is water and mud, we don't get much of either so it's not a problem. I still have disc setup on my full suspension, 8" up front and 6" in the rear, but that my play bike.

[markw]

leave disc brakes for the dirt. You dont' need that type of stopping power on the street. Just get some good brake pads, I got some nice ultegra pads for $11 and worked very well going down Palomar Mt.

I'm going with a front disc on my next Bacchetta. Those things reach tandem passing speeds on descents, and I fear burning up the brakes. I've gotten them toasty a few times, 1 mile of 7% will have me at 55-60.

On the Puch, well, it's probably got single pivot, a dual pivot front and some good pads couldn't hurt. Disc brakes would cost more than the bike is worth, heck, a new dual pivot front caliper would cost more than it's worth. Find a used ultegra front caliper and be done with it.

[Brian]

I'm going with a front disc on my next Bacchetta. Those things reach tandem passing speeds on descents, and I fear burning up the brakes. I've gotten them toasty a few times, 1 mile of 7% will have me at 55-60.

In that case, a rear drum is a better choice than a front disc.