Just to weigh in on the disc brake debate, I own 2 bikes with disc brakes and my dad owns one. fyi, disc brake pads are usually *supposed* to be self adjusting, moving themselves inward as the pads wear down so you don't need to touch them until the pads need replacing.

My first bike is my winter bike. It has the Alfine disc brakes. It required constant adjustment of the front brake the brake would rub, squeal, etc. And if you took the wheels off and put them back on (which I was doing as it was my winter bike, so I'd put different tires on during the summer), holy cow what a pain to get them right again. I tried everything - truing the rotor, readjusting the pads, etc. The mechanic said the adjustment ended up with the pads all the way to one side, so it might have been that the fork had the holes for the disc brakes drilled slightly wrong.

Eventually (different story) I got the front fork replaced, and ever since then they've been much, much nicer, not really requiring any adjustments at all (though to be fair I don't think I've taken the front tire off), though they still squeal sometimes (only when braking) if they get wet or snow in them or - something. The mechanic thought the hole was drilled slightly off on the fork which was causing all the adjustment issues.

On my second bike, a mountain bike with Avid Juicy 7's, my disc brakes have been flawless. I should note that I've only been on like 10 rides with it, and since it's a mountain bike I don't really ride it in the rain, but so far they've required absolutely no adjustment, there's been no squealing - nothin' - flawless.

So...it's a mixed bag. Seems like constant adjustments aren't a necessary part of disc brakes, but manufacturers still aren't quite familiar with them enough to have them work flawlessly every time.