So why Purchase Bicycle Disc Brakes for Your Mountain Bike?
I have enjoyed riding my mountain bike for upwards of 10 years. In recent times it would qualify much more as a hybrid bike due to the changes I’ve made to add much more comfort to the ride. This grows more important to us once we grow older.
The one area where I sensed it had been continually lacking was the brakes. Even though they are Shimano center pull caliper brakes, they simply never perform well in damp weather or muddy conditions. So I was pleased when I recently borrowed a friends bicycle with new disc brakes. On the list of key advantages of bicycle disc brakes could be the excellent all-weather performance. One more point I really like is the fact there’s no maintenance needed as opposed to the normal adjustments needed on cable activated standard brakes. Once you install the disc brakes, setup the calipers you are able to just forget about them.
Not surprisingly if you do decide to upgrade to disc brakes you’ll find them higher priced then conventional rim brakes. But their functionality is so great that most will gladly pay the price. One other negative could be that the disc brake assemblies and rotor do add a bit of weight to your bike. Again, you have to evaluate if considering your riding habits, this is acceptable. In most cases to change to bicycle disc brakes you will require new wheels also. Disc rims can not be installed on standard hubs used with typical rim brake wheels.
Even though it will take some effort and additional cost to up grade to bicycle disc brakes, if you want far better and consistently improved brake performance in most conditions, disc brakes are a good investment. However you need to evaluate if the cost is worth it. Honestly speaking, not everybody really needs to upgrade to bicycle disc brakes. Many riders are very happy with their rim brake and ride in an natural environment where rim brakes manage the job such as in flat and dry ground. However when you take to more steeper trails and wetter conditions, disc brakes become most valuable. Another issue to think about is if you are a 200 lb rider as i am, you will truly appreciate the improvement in braking power.
I have tested the Shimano disc brakes and as with all of Shimano bicycle parts, they worked beautifully under any conditions from mountain trails to riding through creek beds.
In addition to Shimano, in line with reports, Avid disc brakes, Hayes disc brakes, and Tekro disc brakes are all obtainable in kits and as individual parts making it likely to fit virtually any application needed.