Introductions - info

Thanks for the welcome. I noticed you seem to know a lot about bikes. I have a 99' Trek 7000. I love it! I was thinking about adding disc breaks to it. It has the mounts on the fork and the frame. Some people say I should get a new bike, but I'm so comfortable with mine, it fits me perfectly. What do you think?:confused:

Well, for the most part they're right. The cost to upgrade to discs afterwards is a ton compared to buying a new bike with them on already. The question you've got to ask yourself is, "Do I really need discs?" Most people don't, and a good set of vee (linear pull) brakes work great for 95% of riders.

O.K., I admit I've got a pair on one of my bikes, but they came with the bike! My other bike has Avid brakes and I don't have a problem stopping.

The benefits of (good) discs are only realised on long downhill stretches. The disc won't fade. What that means is, that vee brakes will stop working well as the friction from the rim and the brake pads get extreme. This doesn't happen with discs. Also, if you ride in very muddy condition, the rims get caked with mud and the pads on vee brakes will rub, or just won't work if the mud is slimey. Another nice thing is if you wack your rim on something. You can beat the wheel kinda straight and still have brakes on the rest of your ride even if your wheel resembles more of a potato chip.

The Trek is a good bike and should last a long time. If you're comfortable on it and like it, just ride it until it dies! Save your $ for the new bike a couple years down the road.

L8R

I have those Avid breaks, but like you said, i do ride in mud! I live in a very wet area. I am constantly having to stop and clean off my rims to get any kind of breaking action. I was thinking about only getting the discs on the back, and not the front. what do ya think?