I have enjoyed riding my mountain bike for more than 10 years. In recent times it would qualify a lot more as a hybrid bike due to changes I’ve made to add a lot more comfort to the ride. This becomes more necessary to us as we get older.
The one area where I felt it had been always lacking was the brakes. Even though they are Shimano center pull caliper brakes, they simply do not perform well in damp weather or muddy conditions. I really was amazed when I recently borrowed a close friends bicycle with new disc brakes. On the list of key benefits of bicycle disc brakes could be the fantastic all-weather operation. Another point I truly like is the fact there’s no maintenance necessary as opposed to the normal adjustments required on cable activated standard brakes. Once you install the disc brakes, setup the calipers you can simply forget about them.
Naturally if you do decide to upgrade to disc brakes you will find them more costly then conventional rim brakes. But their effectiveness is so good that most will happily pay the purchase price. Another negative is that the disc brake assemblies and rotor do add a bit of weight to your bike. Once again, you have to decide if considering your riding habits, this really is acceptable. Generally to switch to bicycle disc brakes you will need new wheels also. Disc rims can not be installed on regular hubs used with standard rim brake wheels.
Even though it will take some effort and extra cost to upgrade to bicycle disc brakes, if you’d like far better and consistently improved brake performance in most conditions, disc brakes are a good investment. But you have to decide if the price is worth it. Truthfully speaking, not everybody actually must upgrade to bicycle disc brakes. Many riders are quite very pleased with their rim brake and ride in an environment where rim brakes handle the job such as in flat and dry land. Yet as you decide to try more steeper trails and wetter conditions, disc brakes become most valuable. Another point to think about is if you’re a 200 lb rider as i am, you will truly appreciate the improvement in braking power.
I have tried the Shimano disc brakes and as with all of Shimano bicycle parts, they worked beautifully under just about any conditions from mountain trails to riding through creek beds.
In addition to Shimano, based on reviews, Avid disc brakes, Hayes disc brakes, and Tekro disc brakes are all obtainable in kits and as separate parts making it likely to fit just about any application needed.