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Disc brakes an extra luxury or wasted money?

Old 05-11-06, 07:13 PM
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Disc brakes an extra luxury or wasted money?

What is everyone's opinion on disc brakes? I plan to do about 60% roads and smooth trails and 40% off roading. Are disc brakes a good feature to have or are they not necessary? Also, I was looking at an IronHorse bike today. It was last years model on clearance for $280 with disc brakes. Good deal or no? Thanks everyone.
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Old 05-11-06, 07:41 PM
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I have Hayes MX1's on one of my bikes, and I love them. However, I have ridden some bikes with low end disc brakes that absolutely sucked. So I would say they are a good feature if they are a quality set of brakes, otherwise, stick with v-brakes. My recommendation is try to find out what brand and model they are, and see if you can get some info online about them.
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Old 05-11-06, 07:43 PM
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I think they are needless innovation/successful marketing unless you are: A) riding a lot in the mud or rain; or B) riding down a lot of mountains.
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Old 05-11-06, 07:47 PM
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Or c) enjoy clean rims, d) use your bike daily and brake a lot and don't want to replace your rims every year or e) enjoy the same stopping power in all types of weather or f) enjoy being able to have full modulation regardless of how true your wheel is or.... I think I'll stop now.
Sure if you're piss poor and can't afford it, stay away, otherwise, if you can, why not.
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Old 05-11-06, 07:54 PM
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Don't forget the coolness factor.
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Old 05-11-06, 08:16 PM
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Originally Posted by slvoid
Or c) enjoy clean rims, d) use your bike daily and brake a lot and don't want to replace your rims every year or e) enjoy the same stopping power in all types of weather or f) enjoy being able to have full modulation regardless of how true your wheel is or.... I think I'll stop now.
Sure if you're piss poor and can't afford it, stay away, otherwise, if you can, why not.
If you enjoy clean rims, can't you just, well, clean them? Takes all of about a minute. Seems like a silly reason to advocate disc brakes. Like becoming a vegetarian so you don't have to get steak knives.

I'm also still using the original 18-year-old rims on my daily rider.
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Old 05-11-06, 08:24 PM
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Or.... just not clean them and have disc brakes.
I'd rather not touch the black slush that used to accumulate on my rims and tires after every rain storm. It takes a lot more than a minute unless you decide to take a hose to it every time.

It seems like people whine and whine and whine about disc brakes with no real overwhelming disadvantages other than they can't part with their cash.

Originally Posted by spider-man
If you enjoy clean rims, can't you just, well, clean them? Takes all of about a minute. Seems like a silly reason to advocate disc brakes. Like becoming a vegetarian so you don't have to get steak knives.

I'm also still using the original 18-year-old rims on my daily rider.
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Old 05-11-06, 08:52 PM
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Originally Posted by slvoid
It seems like people whine and whine and whine about disc brakes with no real overwhelming disadvantages other than they can't part with their cash.
Some people aren't willing to pay more for a product that boasts a lack of real overwhelming disadvantages.
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Old 05-11-06, 08:58 PM
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See.
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Old 05-11-06, 09:25 PM
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Well, to me, spending more on something that will stop my bike with better results is worth it. I had to use my discs in an emergency situation that avoided me from crashing hard into my friend.

My last accident with a car....It was with Cantis.
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Old 05-11-06, 09:46 PM
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This gets discussed pretty often in the commuting forum, the argument breaks down between those that have them and love them, and those that don't who don't see the point. I have them and love them. There's no question that they are superior to rim brakes, the question is whether you ride in such a place and manner that you need more than rim brakes.
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Old 05-11-06, 09:47 PM
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Is there such a thing as too superior?
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Old 05-11-06, 09:51 PM
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Not when it comes to sparing your life.
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Old 05-11-06, 10:00 PM
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It's like explaining what makes cappicola so much better than all the other lunch meats....yeah it costs more, but words alone won't do it justice. Basically, you have to try it yourself to see what the whole thing is all about.
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Old 05-11-06, 10:11 PM
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Originally Posted by catatonic
Basically, you have to try it yourself to see what the whole thing is all about.
I suggest trying it at 5:30 in the morning, in the pitch black, in the pouring rain, at 2 degrees above freezing, while going down a 20% grade, with 35 lbs of loaded panniers and accessories on your bike, and having a light at the base of the hill turn red.

Im a believer and a user
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Old 05-11-06, 10:42 PM
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Originally Posted by spider-man
I think they are needless innovation/successful marketing unless you are: A) riding a lot in the mud or rain; or B) riding down a lot of mountains.
Not even really that necessary for riding down a lot of mountains. I have bikes with both and they stop with equal ability. At least I haven't gone off any cliffs because of the brakes recently
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Old 05-12-06, 08:07 AM
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Originally Posted by rockindude24
...I plan to do about 60% roads and smooth trails and 40% off roading...
You've answered your own question, IMHO. Discs are the thing for wet and/or loaded downhill. That being said, they're probably not needed for the majority of your riding. Were I in your shoes (and the additional cost a factor), I'd skip the discs.

I speak from some experience - I bought a Kona Dew Deluxe with mechanical discs. I had a problem keeping them adjusted, swapped them out for Avid road discs, and STILL had adjustment problems. I now ride with V-brakes, and MANY fewer adjustments.

Your $$ - your choice.
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Old 05-12-06, 08:24 AM
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Originally Posted by slvoid
I'd rather not touch the black slush that used to accumulate on my rims and tires after every rain storm. It takes a lot more than a minute unless you decide to take a hose to it every time.
Yeah, that black slush takes me longer than a minute to clean also. If you ride in the rain/slush they are a no brainer.

Although, If i was buying a bicycle for less than $500 I would probably opt for 'linear pull'. Cheap disc brakes are a terrible thing
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Old 05-12-06, 09:49 AM
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...and when you get right down to it, if you don't have a coaster brake, don't you have a disc brake?
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Old 05-12-06, 10:29 AM
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I have Hayes disc brakes on my MTB and Ultegra sidepulls on my road bike. I do my own wrenching, so I am confident that both sets of brakes are optimally adjusted. In my riding, the disc brakes provide increased braking power and shorter stopping distances. This is particularly true in wet weather, which occurs from time to time in the Seattle area.
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Old 05-12-06, 10:48 AM
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Originally Posted by FarHorizon
I speak from some experience - I bought a Kona Dew Deluxe with mechanical discs. I had a problem keeping them adjusted, swapped them out for Avid road discs, and STILL had adjustment problems. I now ride with V-brakes, and MANY fewer adjustments.
.
I had the exact opposite. The new avid road discs have zero alignment adjustments for me. Nada, ziltch, none. The only thing I need to do is once a week or so turn the red knob one click. End of adjustment. No toe in, no squeeling, no grabbing, no fuss.
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Old 05-12-06, 11:57 AM
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When you go through the outpout of your own energy, you dont want to be slowed by the continual drag of the pads on the discs
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Old 05-12-06, 12:25 PM
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Originally Posted by AndrewP
When you go through the outpout of your own energy, you dont want to be slowed by the continual drag of the pads on the discs
When properly adjusted, they don't drag on the discs at all, and there is NO slowing from brake drag.
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Old 05-12-06, 12:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Jarery
I had the exact opposite. The new avid road discs have zero alignment adjustments for me. Nada, ziltch, none. The only thing I need to do is once a week or so turn the red knob one click. End of adjustment. No toe in, no squeeling, no grabbing, no fuss.
Hi Jarey!

Your experience is more typical than mine. I just had a "problem child," apparently. Even multiple adjustments by the "pros" at the LBS didn't cure my problems. Overall, though, 90% + of the disc-brake riders I meet LOVE their discs. Your experiences may vary ,,,
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Old 05-12-06, 12:39 PM
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Disc brakes vs rim brakes is like the discussion of HID lights vs other lights. They are better, so the question is can you get a good set for a reasonable price. Naturally for some reasonable is $20 and for others it is about 200. A good pair of disc brakes usually costs about $200. I wouldn't compromise the rest of the ride by having disc brakes on a less than $800 bike. But to each there own preference. It's all about tradeoffs until you get into the $7,000 to $9,000 bike ranges.
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