The Benefits of Bicycle Disc Brakes
I have enjoyed riding my mountain bicycle for upwards of a decade. In recent times it might qualify more as a hybrid bike as a result of modifications I’ve made to add much more comfort to the ride. This grows more important to us once we mature.
One area where I sensed it was always lacking was the brakes. Despite the fact that they are Shimano center pull caliper brakes, they just never perform well in damp weather or muddy conditions. So I was amazed when I recently borrowed a close friends bicycle with new disc brakes. One of the key advantages of bicycle disc brakes may be the fantastic all-weather performance. Another point I really like is that there is no maintenance needed in contrast to the regular adjustments needed on cable activated standard brakes. Once you install the disc brakes, setup the calipers you can simply forget about them.
Needless to say should you decide to upgrade to disc brakes you’ll find them more pricey then traditional rim brakes. However their functionality is so good that many will gladly pay the purchase price. One other negative could be that the disc brake assemblies and rotor do add some weight to your bicycle. Again, you must decide if considering your riding habits, this really is suitable. In many instances to switch to bicycle disc brakes you will require new wheels also. Disc rims can’t be mounted on standard hubs used with typical rim brake wheels.
Though it will take some work and additional cost to upgrade to bicycle disc brakes, if you need much better and consistently improved brake overall performance in most conditions, disc brakes make the perfect investment. But you need to decide if the price is worthwhile. Seriously speaking, not everybody really must upgrade to bicycle disc brakes. A lot of riders are quite pleased with their rim brake and ride in an environment where rim brakes handle the job for example in flat and dry ground. Yet when you decide to try more steeper trails and wetter conditions, disc brakes become most valuable. Another issue to think about is if you are a 200 lb rider like me, you’ll really appreciate the improvement in braking power.
I have tried the Shimano disc brakes and as with all Shimano bicycle parts, they performed perfectly under almost 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 easily obtainable in kits and as separate components making it possible to fit almost any application needed.