» Do You Need Disc Brakes?

When you are riding any bike the single most important piece of safety equipment besides your brain is your brakes. A helmet would probably come in third. If you are descending a steep hill and you have a hairpin turn and your brakes don’t work then you are in for a world of hurt. Many types of braking systems are available for mountain bikes with the linear pull brake being the most common. These are the brakes that have a cable running to your brake lever and have two rubber pads that grip the outsides of your rims. Disc brakes, however, are becoming more popular and are available on many new bikes. They have many advantages and make your bike safer.

Do I need disc brakes?
Well, if you just need to stop then you don’t need them, but like I said, they have many advantages. First of all disc brakes are more powerful. This means that you have plenty of braking power on that 5 mile long descent. Disc brakes also let you modulate the braking power in a smoother fashion. In other words they are less likely to lock up and easier to control. Do you like riding in muddy or wet conditions? Well then disc brakes are for you. They are located closer to the center of the wheel so they accumulate less dirt. In addition the design of the rotor makes disc brakes self-cleaning. Each rotation of the rotor clears any mud or debris that may get in the caliper.

Now I have to admit that I am new to disc brakes. I have been using good old rim brakes for most of my life. I installed a front disc about a year ago and left on the rear rim brakes. This allowed me to see the difference between the two; and it was massive. My front brake never had any problems with stopping power. The rear, however, would sometimes just not have enough stopping power. I would squeeze harder and it wouldn’t really stop much faster. With disc brakes you get that power you never knew you were missing.

What’s the downside?
The first penalty of disc brakes is the extra weight. However, when you factor in that you are replacing the old braking system this usually only amounts to tens of grams. In addition, as with anything, disc brakes cost money. You can get a kit for between $70 – $150 for each wheel. Expect to pay additionally if you want them installed for you. You can also buy a bike that comes with disc brakes. You may find that this is a good deal or you just want the convenience of a bike being configured the way you want it. If you buy a bike without disc brakes make sure it comes with hubs that can accept disc rotors. You don’t want to have to change wheels out just so you can upgrade your brakes. The most common hub design is International Standard (IS) which has 6 holes on the hub. Mounting for the caliper can be IS or Post-Mount. Your local bike shop will be able to tell you if you need an adapter to get the brakes to mount to your frame or fork.

Do I want Hydraulic Brakes?
Many people think they want mechanical disc brakes because they are easier to maintain. However, when you take into account that many hydraulic brake systems won’t need maintenance for about 5 years and most are preset and ready to go, they actually are easier to maintain. Mechanical brakes use a cable. These cables have a break-in period where they will stretch a little. Then you have to re-adjust them. Hydraulics on the other hand may not need to be touched for a long time except to change the pads. Then you may need to bleed the system to get any air bubbles out using the manufacturer’s suggested fluid (dot3, dot4 or mineral oil depending on manufacturer).

I ride a road bike. Can I get disc brakes?
Yes! More road bikes are coming with the option for disc brakes. Now these will carry smaller rotors and calipers then their mountain bike cousins because people who ride road bikes are very weight conscious. In addition, discs are not making much headway into triathlon specific bikes or race specific road bikes. Instead the market they are making headway into is the hybrid and commuter style road bikes. Still don’t be surprised when you see discs on road bikes at the local bike shop.

So if you ride in the dirt and the mud or you just want more stopping power, disc brakes are the way to go. You have to pay with a little extra weight on your bike and less money in your pocket but if you ask me it is worth it.

Written by Bryan Sheasby