phantomcow2

I have been running disc brakes for a while and im building a new wheelset. I was looking at hubs and i noticed theres a lot more non disc hubs than disc hubs. It brought me to wonder, if i even need disc brakes. I don't ride a lot in snow, rain maybe but only if it catches me by surprise. I do all xc or road travel. CUrrently im running avid mechanicals with 6" rotors. If i switched to say, a high end avid V brake, would i notice a large decrease in power? and regret it?

Maelstrom 

You don't need discs. You won't regret it and you will likely save some weight. If I were in your shoes I wouldn't run discs.

phantomcow2

Yea i was thinking about that. I mean disc hubs add weight, the hugi 240's for disc are 50 grams more than non disc or somehting like that. Its 100 somethoing for the rotor and the mechanicals are well over 300grams/piece.

jayson

If you ride XC changing to V's is the maddest thing ive heard in time. Unless your a hardcore racer V's are a total waste of time and money. The modulation is crap, power is crap, the pads will eat your rims. Do yourself a favour and get a set of Hope Mono Minis and relish in the joy they'll bring you everytime you ride your bike. Your brakes could save your life so why choose a crappy set of Vs? even the mechanical discs are better than v brakes so a decent set of Hopes will really blow your mind. Maelstrom mate i dont know what your on about saying he'll regret fitting a set hydro discs, do you actually ride off road? there's no comparison between Vs and hydros especially Mono Minis, so if i were you Phantom i would totally ignore the crazy advice maelstrom is spouting and get some proper brakes.

sparks_219 

First of all, the guy is running a set of Avid mechanical disc brakes. Although they work nearly as well as some hydros, they are not hydros.

Second of all, I do not believe anyone really needs disc brakes. I consider myself to be a pretty hardcore rider, and I believe my Avid SD 7s provide more than enough power for my purposes. Yes V-brakes are not as good as disc brakes, but they still do the trick for most people.

In his case, unless he's a real weight weenie, I probably would keep the disc brakes simply because the discs will be somewhat stronger than V-brakes. Switching from disc brake setup to a V-brake setup probably means 3/4 - 1 pound of weight difference. Do you really think the extra pound slows you down that much???

Maelstrom 

Hahaha...no I don't ride off road at all. I don't know anything about anything. Nope not me.

Not even going to justify defending my response as it is correct. Disc brakes are new to the world of mountain biking, are you saying all of the pros in previous DECADES couldn't come to a stop? Crappy v's...my question to you is even easier, have you even used a set? For normal xc and a light weight rider, you sure as heck don't need the power of discs (although, it is nice sometimes). Lets relate this to an f1 vs a ford topaz. You can use f1 brakes on a topaz, they will work (assuming they fit) but they sure aren't needed. (heck at that point drum brakes can still 'work')

Oh and another note...I didn't say v's offered the same power...I said he doesn't need the power...if you think a light person needs the power of disc brakes on standard xc without adverse weather, you need to rethink the way you ride, because...YOU ARE WRONG!!!!

And as a side note...I ride dh and fr on mountains bigger than anything you have in the UK...I actually USE my hydros to their fullest...do you really? Honestly...or are you kidding yourself? Have you experienced brake fade from 30 min dh runs when NOT using the brakes often? Have you found long enough sections where hydro 8in brakes fail because of how long it is and you can't release the brake?...before you insult someone or question someones opinion you had better learn something about them. I know my skills are high enough where on a xc bike in bc with the same kind of rain you get AND more terrain I could use v's just fine on the xc trails (heck my gf does .... )...

Maelstrom 

Oh well I justified my statement. I am just not used to reading pure ignorant opinions based on magazine write-ups with what seems like little real world knowledge.

jeff williams

If you do it, add $15 and buy a softer pad for the front.
Most stock pads are high carbon and only o.k IMO for the rear slowing.

I use V-s on my XC\road\trail mtb. Light bike and rider, works fine.

More aggresive bike I'm building, a disc front, V-s rear.

If your fork has canti bosses..???? Why not.

climbo

I'd say you will regret it after running discs and then switching back to V's. I would never go back to V's after running the Avid mechs. In my experience, they just plain stop better in ALL conditions, v-brakes suck in the wet/snow/slush in comparison. I ride XC, nothing extreme but the discs are much more reliable for descending and quick stops when needed.

PhattTyre

You will notice a difference in braking power. I have a great v-brake setup (xtr on ceramic rims) on one bike and Avid mechanicals on another. Huge difference. Less fade, stonger brake, just better all around with the discs. I've always been an xc guy and thought discs where just for the gravity guys, then I actually rode discs and from this day forward any mtb I get will have disc brakes. Better brakes make a faster rider.

Cornish_Rdr_UK

Quote from Mealstrom

'Have you experienced brake fade from 30 min dh runs when NOT using the brakes often? Have you found long enough sections where hydro 8in brakes fail because of how long it is and you can't release the brake?...'


No

swifferman

I say just keep the discs to save some cash and on your next bike (I'm sure you'll buy another one ) switch back to V's to save even more cash.

Do you weigh a lot?

Cornish_Rdr_UK

I'd say stick with the disc brake... i doubt very much if you'd see the weight difference while riding anyway (not that much anyway) I doubt if i would, save the money, and spend it on something else

Maelstrom 

I should point out I didn't give an opinion if he should switch. Just an opinion based on performance of his style of riding. Personally swifferman has the same idea I would do. Wait to buy a new bike and then switch everything up ...

hebrew_rider

discs are only useful for the contitions you specifically said you dont ride in.(Snow, rain, steeps, etc...) go with vees. they are lighter and require less maintince.

bac

Discs all the way! I'll never go back.

phantomcow2

I dunno, i dont ride in snow, unless its on the road. The things disc brakes have for an advantage are the situations i dont see. I think the verdict is V brakes, sure some people say they suck but you know they've been around more than disc brakes and people stopped then.

earlygrace

any which way, disc brakes just look way cooler!!

Feltup

V-brakes are all you need. I have never had a problem locking up either wheel with v-brakes. Disc brakes are for wet conditions or for people that need them to boost their ego. I also have never ruined a rim with vs. The side walls out last the wheels.

Feltup

Wrong discs look like junk. I like a clean bike and discs just add to the mess.

mtbikerinpa

Even in perfect conditions, rim brakes are at best short lived. I ran Canti and V all the way up to my 5th race season before biting the bullet. The thing that I cannot get over is how much more controlled the discs are. Vs are prone to wheel lockup which can be hazardous and in general is bad anyway. The pads cost roughly similar(at least for good V pads) but last 1/4 as long. Then there is the afore mentioned point that the rim surface will wear out, at very least it will need continual cleaning from worn pad material.
I should also add that using Vs in most races aggravated my carpal-tunnel wrist problems(yes I got that at 16yrs) due to more mechanical force needed, once dirty or a little wet.
From a mechanic as well as racer standpoint, discs are so much more sensible.

Feltup

As a mechanic discs are more sensible? How is that?

phantomcow2

i dont think they are sensible, you need to remember i didnt start this as a disc vs V brake thread. More than half of my cycling is done on the road, you dont see my roadies using disc brakes

Feltup

You never will. Discs lock up easier than V and caliper. Calipers are the best brakes for bikes. They would be great off road if it weren't for clearence problems.

mtbikerinpa

When I say sensible, look at hours spent maintaining. How much, all other things equal, do you spend in working on removing cooked on junk from the rim surfaces vs how much you spend keeping a disc going?

From an operation standpoint, if I had the option, I would have discs on the roadie no question about it. The brakes on it are up to spec, but I still do not trust them fully for high speed control and long hill grip(I have had rim brakes fade several times, not fun)