The advantages of Bicycle Disc Brakes

I’ve enjoyed using my mountain bike for over a decade. In recent times it could qualify more as a hybrid bike due to alterations I’ve made to add much more comfort to the ride. This gets to be more necessary to us once we grow older.

One area in which I felt it had been always lacking was the brakes. While they are Shimano center pull caliper brakes, they just don’t perform well in damp weather or muddy conditions. So I was impressed when I recently borrowed a friends bicycle with new disc brakes. Among the major benefits of bicycle disc brakes may be the fantastic all-weather operation. Another point I really like is there isn’t any maintenance required as opposed to the regular adjustments needed on cable activated conventional brakes. After you install the disc brakes, setup the calipers you can merely ignore them.

Naturally if you do opt to upgrade to disc brakes you will find them higher priced then traditional rim brakes. However their overall performance is so great that most will happily pay the purchase price. Another negative could be that the disc brake assemblies and rotor do add a bit of weight to your bicycle. Again, you must decide if considering your riding habits, this is acceptable. In most cases to switch to bicycle disc brakes you will need new wheels also. Disc rims can’t be set up on standard hubs used with typical rim brake wheels.

Even though it will require some work and extra cost to upgrade to bicycle disc brakes, if you want far better and consistently improved brake overall performance in most conditions, disc brakes are a great investment. But you must evaluate if the cost is worth it. Honestly speaking, not everyone actually needs to upgrade to bicycle disc brakes. Most riders are very happy with their rim brake and ride in an environment where rim brakes handle the job like in flat and dry terrain. Yet as you decide to try more steeper trails and wetter conditions, disc brakes become best. An additional point to think about is if you’re a 200 lb rider like me, you will definitely appreciate the improvement in braking power.

I have tested the Shimano disc brakes and as with all of Shimano bicycle parts, they performed flawlessly under virtually any conditions from mountain trails to riding through creek beds.

Besides Shimano, based on reviews, Avid disc brakes, Hayes disc brakes, and Tekro disc brakes are all available in kits and as separate components making it possible to match any kind of application needed.

Crafter