Originally Posted by
lordbaldric
Hi there. I'm new to the forums and am about to buy a new bike from the LBS in the next couple weeks, and have a couple questions.
The bike shop sells Trek bikes and after doing some research I'm considering a DS 8.3, FX 7.3, Verve 3 or Marlin 6.
First question: It seems like disc breaks are more effective(?), but are they a maintenance hassle. I'd be fine with traditional rim breaks if the disc ones are a pain. Or are mechanical/hydraulic disc breaks different in this area?
Second question: I've read some people say that entry level shock absorbing forks are pretty worthless. If that's the case, maybe better to get rigid forks and save the weight? Replace the standard FX tires with a little more robust ones to absorb a little more shock?
I will be riding on streets and sidewalks mostly, but don't want a full blown road bike because of broken pavement, curbs, the occasional tree root, etc. Would also like a some versatility in case I ever ride on some unpaved trails. This probably makes a MTB way overkill.
Anyway, I appreciate any advice you guys can give me.
In that case no suspension necessary. Nor do you need disc brakes which primarily come into good use during adverse conditions (off-road) or foul weather. Otherwise, traditional rim break will more than suffice.
Nevertheless, they're becoming more and more in use on bikes today, so in that case there's no reason to avoid them. I just wouldn't pay extra for them.
If you want/need a more compliant ride look for 32 tires and moderate (lower) the pressure. I have 28 on mine for more on road performance. I found I never went off the black top except to see what it felt like.