Mountain Biking - I have a few noob questions about disc brakes

So at this point it looks like I'm getting a late 90's specialized frame for my urban assault bike. I'm 99.99% sure these bikes never had disc brakes as an option, but rather they would have used V-brakes. However, it seems that I can find disc brake wheelsets for cheap such as these:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mavic-X117-Disc-Brake-Wheel-set_W0QQitemZ190202803481QQihZ009QQcategoryZ58087QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

As well as numerous others.

Here is where I'm confused: Where does one mount the brake caliper? Can I use it on any old frame as long as the wheels are compatible? Can I use normal cables and brake levers for these?

I don't need them really, but I just figure why not.

if your already completely setup with v brake, dont switch. The caliper mounts to the frame in two holes above the rear dropouts, the one in the front mount on the fork. Most likely a late 90's frame will not have these holes for calipers. So i wouldnt bother any farther. If you do though, cables can be used for cable disc brake calipers, dont bother with hydraulics since you dont know enough about disc brakes yet.

Alright that's what I figured. The bike isn't set up with anything at the moment but I have a decent set of v's I can take off a destroyed bike.

Any suggestions on v-brake wheels, or should I go to the LBS and ask for the house special? (I think they carry bontrager here).

while it would be the best option, you will pay more at your LBS, so ask what they got thats any good, use up their time, walk out of their shop buying nothing, then find the same pair on ebay for half price.



MWUAHAHA

Search the web and Ebay- you should be able to get a great deal on v-brakes, since they are so out of date anymore- say XT or XTR's.

Search the web and Ebay- you should be able to get a great deal on v-brakes, since they are so out of date anymore- say XT or XTR's.

I wouldnt go that heavy unless your really serious, you will still pay out the nose for XT or XTR

while it would be the best option, you will pay more at your LBS, so ask what they got thats any good, use up their time, walk out of their shop buying nothing, then find the same pair on ebay for half price.



MWUAHAHA

I try to support them when I can, but sometimes it's hard to justify spending as much as they mark up on some stuff :(

I wouldnt go that heavy unless your really serious, you will still pay out the nose for XT or XTR

I'm not gonna lie to you guys, the bike won't see any heavy duty trail riding. I'm definitely going to beat on it, but I doubt it will be anything like what some of you do. I can get away with cheaper wheels..

sry im sour to my LBS, they are jerks there.

sry im sour to my LBS, they are jerks there.

lol I'm sure it's hit and miss. The people here are patient and helpful, and they've yet to be a-holes. They've helped me find some really really obscure stuff for some of my road bikes :D

I'm not gonna lie to you guys, the bike won't see any heavy duty trail riding. I'm definitely going to beat on it, but I doubt it will be anything like what some of you do. I can get away with cheaper wheels..

Defintely, i ride some serious "pieces" and im fine taking 7 foot drops, and weigh about 150.

I wouldnt go that heavy unless your really serious, you will still pay out the nose for XT or XTR

Yeah, hard to cough up 30 bucks... :rolleyes:

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/BR706A00-Shimano+Xt+Br-M760+V-Brake.aspx

lol I'm sure it's hit and miss. The people here are patient and helpful, and they've yet to be a-holes. They've helped me find some really really obscure stuff for some of my road bikes :D

No joke, the LBS i go to has a policy that they dont give away boxes. They also charge above MSRP for their items and act like its a chore when you ask them anything about their bikes. Out of the whole shop i think only one guy actually bikes.

Yeah, hard to cough up 30 bucks... :rolleyes:

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/BR706A00-Shimano+Xt+Br-M760+V-Brake.aspx

Thanks for the link... now can you find WHEELS that cost that much? :o

Defintely, i ride some serious "pieces" and im fine taking 7 foot drops, and weigh about 150.

7 feet is intense... I don't think I have the balls to do half that (mt bike noob)

Yeah, hard to cough up 30 bucks... :rolleyes:

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/BR706A00-Shimano+Xt+Br-M760+V-Brake.aspx

My bad, i was refering to a wheelset.

7 feet is intense... I don't think I have the balls to do half that (mt bike noob)

It isnt that bad, its like diving off a high board or something. Once your in the air it just happens. It helps to have a bike that feels sturdy. I ride 6 inches of dual travel which isnt nearly neccesary for drops but adds alot of confidence.

Defintely, i ride some serious "pieces" and im fine taking 7 foot drops, and weigh about 150.

What's your bike setup for doing 7 foot drops? Frame? Fork?

What's your bike setup for doing 7 foot drops? Frame? Fork?

Specialized enduro, with manitou nixon platinum 145mm (No, its not standard manitou, its one of the few manitous that actually work, yet ironically its still not popular) (and my bad, its 4 inch travel in the rear, fox float R) with hydraulic brakes (they really do matter on drops)

Specialized enduro, with manitou nixon platinum 145mm (No, its not standard manitou, its one of the few manitous that actually work, yet ironically its still not popular) (and my bad, its 4 inch travel in the rear, fox float R) with hydraulic brakes (they really do matter on drops)

I lust for an Enduro.

Thanks for the link... now can you find WHEELS that cost that much? :o

Take a look around, there are deals to be found.

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/WH707A17-Shimano+Deore+Discrhyno+Lite+Wheelset.aspx

Take a look around, there are deals to be found.

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/WH707A17-Shimano+Deore+Discrhyno+Lite+Wheelset.aspx

That's not terrible. So are those like the cheapest acceptable wheels? lol

mazdaspeed-

That's about as good as it gets for inexpensive decent wheels. Buy 'em.

Here is where I'm confused: Where does one mount the brake caliper? Can I use it on any old frame as long as the wheels are compatible? Can I use normal cables and brake levers for these?

I don't need them really, but I just figure why not.There is a way; and I'll show you when you get the frame (BTW, I misspoke; it may be more mid-(?) than late-90s - - it does have a 1 1/8" head tube, though).

It will require a little fabrication work with some 6061 aluminum angle, but you can fabricate a "sharkfin" - - a bracket that attaches to the dropout or the axle and runs up to the left V-brake boss. If you build it right, there will be a spot you can drill for your caliper mount. Specialized used a nicely-forged and formed sharkfin for the early FSRs that did not have built-in disc tabs.

I think I see what you mean. I might just scratch the disc idea to save some cash and get the bike up and running (riding?), I'll have to think about it.

Specialized enduro, with manitou nixon platinum 145mm (No, its not standard manitou, its one of the few manitous that actually work, yet ironically its still not popular) (and my bad, its 4 inch travel in the rear, fox float R) with hydraulic brakes (they really do matter on drops)

Wow,7' drops and a Nixon fork.............are you pro?

I use Deore V-brakes on my commuter. If they can stop a 50 pound bike with 60 pounds of groceries and a 185 pound rider with ease, they would probably be good enough for some offroad action. :p

P.S. Mine performed considerably better after I installed Koolstop pads.

Wow,7' drops and a Nixon fork.............are you pro?

not even remotely, i got into it about 3 years ago, and i dont really break limbs easily so i figure i havent got much 2 lose.

If you're getting a disk compaitble fork anyway you could always put a disk on the front and leave the rears V. The front does most of the stopping work anyway...

not even remotely, i got into it about 3 years ago, and i dont really break limbs easily so i figure i havent got much 2 lose.

You got a pic of that sweet bike? Are you sure that frame has 4" of travel?

You got a pic of that sweet bike?

and a pic of the drop? preferably in the same frame/shot, with the sweet bike in the air, with/sans rider?

i put pics up of the bike in the other thread and will soon have pics of the drop, i cant take pics of myself going off the jump, best i can do is tread marks in the dirt :), so deal with it

i put pics up of the bike in the other thread and will soon have pics of the drop, i cant take pics of myself going off the jump, best i can do is tread marks in the dirt :), so deal with it

Sure you can. Just get a camera with a remote, set it up on a tripod facing the drop, keep the remote in hand, as you go airborne, let the camera fire away.


This is just a suggestion. I'm an XC guy who gets nervous when the wheels leave the trail.

Sure you can. Just get a camera with a remote, set it up on a tripod facing the drop, keep the remote in hand, as you go airborne, let the camera fire away.


This is just a suggestion. I'm an XC guy who gets nervous when the wheels leave the trail.

You mean when "the wheels leave the mountain bike simulator".

I'm an XC guy who gets nervous when the wheels leave the trail.

I thought I was the only one of those around these parts... :)

Sure you can. Just get a camera with a remote, set it up on a tripod facing the drop, keep the remote in hand, as you go airborne, let the camera fire away.


This is just a suggestion. I'm an XC guy who gets nervous when the wheels leave the trail.

haha, i dont think they make tripods for cell phone cameras, which happens to be the only camera i have.

Specialized enduro, with manitou nixon platinum 145mm (No, its not standard manitou, its one of the few manitous that actually work, yet ironically its still not popular) (and my bad, its 4 inch travel in the rear, fox float R) with hydraulic brakes (they really do matter on drops)

I really don't want to open the "mech vs. hydro" can of worms but could you expound on why hydro's "really do matter on drops" please? Thanks!

I really don't want to open the "mech vs. hydro" can of worms but could you expound on why hydro's "really do matter on drops" please? Thanks!

Thats been on my mind as well. As far as the drop goes......no pics= no drop.

if your already completely setup with v brake, dont switch. The caliper mounts to the frame in two holes above the rear dropouts, the one in the front mount on the fork. Most likely a late 90's frame will not have these holes for calipers. So i wouldnt bother any farther. If you do though, cables can be used for cable disc brake calipers, dont bother with hydraulics since you dont know enough about disc brakes yet.

That is an interesting perspective.

^^^^ good pickup - i missed that one. I'll echo the sentiment - that statment smacks of a whole lot of BS.

I let a lot of things go becuse I didn't want to look like I was just picking on people........you guys know I'm not like that.

dont bother with hydraulics since you dont know enough about disc brakes yet.

Funny...that's exactly WHY I like my hydraulic brakes so much. :rolleyes: Have them set up and forget them for a year or so.

Not that I have any problem with cable discs. I've ridden on BB7's before. Basically the same as my hydraulics except they suck just a little bit more.

^^^^ good pickup - i missed that one. I'll echo the sentiment - that statment smacks of a whole lot of BS.

Dude, what do you think you are? the guy is just moving up from department store V brakes, and you want to put him on hydraulics? What are you smoking? Have you ever noticed the skid marks that continue without breaking all the way down trail descents? That is what hydraulics do when you havnt learned properly.

Funny...that's exactly WHY I like my hydraulic brakes so much. :rolleyes: Have them set up and forget them for a year or so.

Not that I have any problem with cable discs. I've ridden on BB7's before. Basically the same as my hydraulics except they suck just a little bit more.

I have BB7 (cable), Hayes IH2 (cable), and LX (hydraulics), and cable brakes have the same stopping power and more reliability than hydros, just a different feel. I agree that the feel of hydraulics are very nice but they're completely uneccesary for casual trail riding

I started on hydro's, and I'm glad I did. I tried a friends bike with BB7's, and it just felt bad to me. The lever throw felt grainy and strange, and didn't have a clear point at which you can't pull the lever anymore. On my Juicy Threes and Carbons, it's all smooth with high-modulation.

cable brakes have the same stopping power and more reliability than hydros, just a different feel.

False.

Here we go again.

False.

Hey, it's Pete with yet another name. I must admit that he's been relatively subdued, almost polite.

Hey, it's Pete with yet another name. I must admit that he's been relatively subdued, almost polite.

Why do you care?

Hey, it's Pete with yet another name. I must admit that he's been relatively subdued, almost polite.

As your recent posts confirm (what your earlier posts proved), you are so incredibly slow and unobservant that you should just do yourself a favor and burn your modem, lest you continue to broadcast your feebleness onto the internet.

On second thought, don't. You're much too funny, albeit unintentionally.