Mountain Biking - Do you really need disc brakes?

For riding trails and somehardcore trails do you really need disc brakes?

I was just lookin at some gary fisher bikes and i didnt know if you really need disc barkes because I have heard that they can give you a lot of problems?
thanks

I do...you might not. Depends on the trails, terrain and weather. An extreme example would be long extended descents in wet muddy conditions (north shore for example)...NEED discs. Short dry descents maybe not as steep, I think any xc guy will tell you discs are overrated and over weight.

Problems, I run discs on all my bikes and don't have problems.

thanks so you think they r worth it just incase i do go on wet terrain

I think they're probably worth it if you have plenty of money and stuff. V-brakes work fine here, because there's really only mud in the winter...

And if you don't weigh much, a decent set of v-brakes will stop you fine.

thanks so you think they r worth it just incase i do go on wet terrain

I don't know how muddy it gets there, but I would personally get them if I lived there.

r=are

Disc brakes are allot less problematic than v brakes, you constantly have to adjust v brakes if you tweak a rim, or anything like the IMHO disc is the only way to go. I guarantee you will never say, dam I wish I didn't have these disc's, give me my V-brakes back.

The one major advantage I've found is that you can stop a lot safer. In my own experience I've never gone over the handle-bars with discs, I have with V-brakes.

I swear by discs.

The one major advantage I've found is that you can stop a lot safer. In my own experience I've never gone over the handle-bars with discs, I have with V-brakes.

LIES! ;)

First time I tried hydros I was not prepared for them . Coming off vbrakes, i had to pull the lever all the way to the bar to stop. With this thought in my mind. I pulled pretty hard on the hydro lever and went flying.

Good times.

LIES! ;)

First time I tried hydros I was not prepared for them . Coming off vbrakes, i had to pull the lever all the way to the bar to stop. With this thought in my mind. I pulled pretty hard on the hydro lever and went flying.

Good times.


Ummmmm duuuuuuuuhhhhh, LOL, V-brakes suck, and that's the long and short. If you are never going to go off a paved street, never do anything to bend a rim, and never ride in wet conditions then by all means V-brake will work fine.

I use V-brakes. Never had a problem with them. Stopping never has been a problem with V-brakes either. But if you have the money, I would go for the discs.

I swear by discs.

There is one other condition, if you are a big guy, discs are miracles for your riding :)

I swear by discs.

I like discs better 'cuz I ride across creeks and lots of mud. They just
work better because they are above the elements. My Monty Trials bike has
Magura Hydro-rim brakes that will stoppie with two finger pressure but are
useless when they get wet. I guess it depends where you are gonna spend
most of your time

I like discs better 'cuz I ride across creeks and lots of mud. They just
work better because they are above the elements. My Monty Trials bike has
Magura Hydro-rim brakes that will stoppie with two finger pressure but are
useless when they get wet. I guess it depends where you are gonna spend
most of your time
Part of my reasoning is I'm a big guy...disc brakes stop me better than anything I've ridden, I've used some strong linear pull brakes...but nothing has touched my hydraulic discs.

If you want to go faster........get discs.

I have discs on my XC bike.

Why you ask?

1. I'm 210 lbs.
2. I like to ride really, really fast downhill into hairpins
3. It's wet, and muddy quite often here, all my favorite trails have creek crossings
4. I do stupid stuff, and bend rims with enough frequency to make discs worthwhile
5. I hate adjusting Vs and Cantis EVERY STINKIN' RIDE

...and the list goes on :)

I have discs on my xc bike which is being used for fr/xc/dh/urban.

They allow me to stop faster, if I bang a rim out of whack I can still use my brakes, they seem more reliable than v's, much more power, etc.

Just overall better than v's.

when I build up a FR/DH/Urban specific bike it will have discs as well:)

I definitaly need discs. With a good set, you get consistent brakeing, wet or dry, and you have the ability to shave off exactly how much speed to want, and the power is there when you need it.

In a word, YES....

N'uf said.

i had vbrakes before i went to hydraulic disc and it all matters in what you are doing.... i used to be just a normal trail rider then i got into some freeride and doing dropoffs and stuff and the vbrakes just wouldnt stop fast enough

I'm big too(195). I had a hardtail and it takes a lot of hard hits. Discs stop me faster and if I knock a wheel out of true it ain't no big deal.

if you get discs make sure they are good though....my hayes MX-2's dont work NEER as good as v-brakes so im pretty mad. Im upgrading to some avids soon