Originally Posted by
ClydeClydeson
However, U brakes are, in my opinion, the bottom of the barrel. I hate them. It is possible to get good braking out of them but they are the biggest PITA to set up, and they limit clearance for tires, fenders and/or mud more than V or canti brakes.
it sounds like your experience was with mountain bikes, where a u-brake indeed does NOT belong. this discussion is about BMX bikes, which is a perfect application for a u-brake. what is the extent of your experience riding BMX? I rode BMX (street and skatepark, not racing) for almost 20 years and would never consider anything but a u-brake for that application. BMX bikes are rarely ridden in wet and muddy conditions, so your concerns are unfounded here. putting a disc brake on a freestyle bike would be absurd, but I can see the logic on a race bike.