Originally Posted by
BigBlueToe
I'm currently beginning an experiment with disc brakes. I'm building a 29er for a ride on the GDMBR this summer, and I'm using Avid BB7 mechanical discs. I read these forums daily and hear people championing this or that, and it gets me thinking. But I never fully believe until I try something for myself. I've been contemplating disc brakes for awhile. When I decided to try a 29er, I figured it was a good time to also try discs.
Mech discs have an issue with housing compression. The small rotor and compared to a 29er rim size means a disc pad has to squeeze much harder vs a rim brake on the same wheel. The increased force ends up compressing the housing rather than ending up in the pad. So you may want to think about upgrading the cable housing to something designed for higher forces like Nokon.