KyleSimmons

Hey all, far froma hardcore cyclist, but have started up to help lose weight. Short story long, I want to replace my rim brakes woth disc brakes. With my size, im going to just get a cheaper set of cable disc brakes until I decide if cycling is something I want to stick with long term. My rear fork has the proper mounts for the disc brakes im looking at (will need new wheels but I have some a friend gave me with the 6 spoke mount), as well as the front. But my question is, does the brake mount need to be on the side of the forks, or iwill it still work if the mount is under the bolt connecting the wheel to the fork? Picture included because i suck at explaining.

https://i1295.photobucket.com/albums/...svmobdgwv.jpeg

Keep in ming the bike is upside down, so this is the right side of the front wheel. Also, i know a set of hydraulic brakes would be a better bet, but this was a free bike, and its not the best so im not gonna put a ton of money into it lol.

SkyDog75

That fork has eyelets to install a rack and fender, but it doesn't have a mount for a disc brake.

Your best bet to improve braking on that bike isn't to install disc brakes, but to make sure your rim brakes are in good working order. Properly set up, decent rim brakes will stop even a heavy rider just fine. Post some more detail about your existing brakes and I'm sure you'll get plenty of helpful advice.

Andrew R Stewart 

The often talked about concern of adding disk brakes to a fork that wasn't made for such is that the fork blades weren't picked with the stresses that a disk brake can develop. There are many cases of bent, twisted and misaligned forks after adding a disk. Of course there are people who have had no problems also. Unfortunately one doesn't get to pick which they will turn out to be. Andy.

KyleSimmons

I'll post some pictures as soon as my phone finishes updating I'm pretty sure they're the stock brakes that came on the bike new, and it's sat for years so the rims are rusty and the rubber on the brakes are brittle. Can I just use steel wool to sand the rust off the rims or is there something else you recommend?

JonathanGennick 

What is the bike in question? Does it run v-brakes now? If so, then throw $20 at a couple sets of Kool-Stop brand Salmon-colored mountain brake pads. You'll probably be stunned at the difference they make. That's a more prudent upgrade than trying to retrofit discs to a bike not designed for them.

gsa103

Sand paper or Scotchbrite pads depending on wear. Steel wool can leave embedded bits leading to rust. Your old pads are likely harder than rocks, shine the rims up and install some new pads. It's a cheap fix.

Given that new quality bikes with disc brakes run $300-500, buying a new bike is likely vastly more cost effective than upgrading.

KyleSimmons

Its nothing more than an older Schwinn Sidewinder. It was given to me, and I want to get as much out of it before I leave to go to school. (Have plans on getting a road bike in about 9 months for local commuting)

KyleSimmons

Are there decent road bikes in that price range? Im trying to avoid the noname bikes on ebay, because i cant find any real info on them.

SkyDog75

You're not going to find a high-end bike in the $300-500 range, but you can something functional and reliable from at least a few sellers like BikesDirect, Nashbar, or Performance Bike. Maybe some other sellers like REI, too. Especially in the winter, when sellers may have some leftover inventory they're looking to offload.

You can also land a pretty nice used bike for that kind of money, but you've got to be an educated buyer to get your money's worth. If you're looking to buy a bike in 9 months, you've got a little while to do your homework so you can be prepared come time to buy. Sites like My Ten Speeds (put together by one of our forum members) can help you figure out what marks the differences between bikes that are worth buying and bikes that aren't. That site is definitely aimed more toward the vintage crowd, but there's some good advice regardless. There are plenty of other resources online for information on newer bikes, too.

Before buying any bike, new or used, you'll want to know what size bike to look for. Better bikes come in an array of frame sizes because a well-fitted bike is SO much more comfortable and efficient to ride. A too-big or way-too-small frame can make for a miserable ride. Your local bike shop can help you figure out what range of sizes should work for you.