Disc brake upgrade (Avid BB5)

[Johnno260]

Hi I have a Boardman Hybrid comp 2014 and I have started upgrading things as I can't get the wife to agree to a new pure road bike as of yet.

Wheels and tyres have been changed/upgraded after having an introduction to a pot hole!

but I have noticed the Avid BB5 disc brakes are needing more and more maintenance, is there a direct bolt on upgrade that someone could suggest please? I don't want to spend massive amounts of cash as I am more an entry level rider who is looking to keep fit, but I have definitely been bitten by the cycling bug.

Thanks in advance.
John

 

[Yellow Saddle]

Aaaah, the good old upgrade bug. Silly pursuit that. Forever chasing Nirvana and never quite catching it. May I suggest you forget about the bike, go for some nice rides, take photos and drink beer? I don't understand how the brakes suddenly need more and more maintenance. Are you BSing yourself? Don't.

 

[ianrauk]

Get BB7's. They are much better then the BB5's. Far easier to adjust.
It should be just a straight swap.

 

[Johnno260]

Aaaah, the good old upgrade bug. Silly pursuit that. Forever chasing Nirvana and never quite catching it. May I suggest you forget about the bike, go for some nice rides, take photos and drink beer? I don't understand how the brakes suddenly need more and more maintenance. Are you BSing yourself? Don't.

Hi Yellow the wheels and tyres were forced upon me by the great standard of UK roads! lol

With the brakes I wish it was in my head, the discs work fine for a few rides, then they start squealing and rubbing and it really starts bugging me and my enjoyment level goes down, I have always found these BB5's to be a little temperamental but they have 100% gotten worse.

 

[Johnno260]

Get BB7's. They are much better then the BB5's. Far easier to adjust.
It should be just a straight swap.

Fantastic cheers mate.

 

[S-Express]

Upgrade yourself, by riding the bike some more.

When someone mentions 'upgrades' I always think of 17 year olds driving around in Citroen Saxos decked out in Halfords body kits, bucket exhausts, LED cruising lights and 'turbo' stickers.

 

[Johnno260]

Upgrade yourself, by riding the bike some more.

When someone mentions 'upgrades' I always think of 17 year olds driving around in Citroen Saxos decked out in Halfords body kits, bucket exhausts, LED cruising lights and 'turbo' stickers.

haha maybe I should've used "replacement" in the title vs upgrade.

 

[Sea of vapours]

I replaced the BB5s on my bike with TRP Spyres (it was a toss up between those and BB7s and the Spyre's are nicer looking). Both are designed to require less maintenance than BB5s, which, as you say, pretty much have to be tweaked every couple of 100km, with that process being a bit fiddly. Either is a direct, bolt-on upgrade.

 

[Johnno260]

I replaced the BB5s on my bike with TRP Spyres (it was a toss up between those and BB7s and the Spyre's are nicer looking). Both are designed to require less maintenance than BB5s, which, as you say, pretty much have to be tweaked every couple of 100km, with that process being a bit fiddly. Either is a direct, bolt-on upgrade.

cheers I will take a look at these as well.

 

[jowwy]

Trp spyres on both my bikes.......nirvana right there.

 

[Johnno260]

I must say I am really liking the looks of the TRP calipers, after doing some reading it seems the TRP edge out the BB7's in performance and maintenance, and as the constant issues with BB5's are driving me nuts I am leaning more to the TRP's

Watching some on Ebay and asked some questions, I will also ask my local shop how much he will supply them for, he is normally happy with beer for labour as well! lol

 

[Johnno260]

Just a thought and sorry it's probably a stupid question!

The TRP calipers should work with straight handlebars as my current bikes a hybrid, also the levers should be ok?

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Aaaah, the good old upgrade bug. Silly pursuit that. Forever chasing Nirvana and never quite catching it. May I suggest you forget about the bike, go for some nice rides, take photos and drink beer? I don't understand how the brakes suddenly need more and more maintenance. Are you BSing yourself? Don't.

Not sure I quite agree with that, I have become quite attached to my bike over the years upgrades have been done as things have broken or worn out i,e, shifters from 9sp Sora to 10sp 105 when the right shifter failed, bars when a thread got stripped in the original head set (I got an oversize headset by mistake) and what a difference to riding on the drops they made, cover 5,000+ miles a years there is usually something that needs replacing once in a while and i take that opportunity to put a little better kit on the bike if I can afford it.

 

[ChrisV]

Hi I have a Boardman Hybrid comp 2014 and I have started upgrading things as I can't get the wife to agree to a new pure road bike as of yet.

New wife?

 

[Johnno260]

New wife?

Nope 10yr anniversary very soon, she is coming to the end of her maternity leave so she is a little anxious about cash.

It's about timing once I know the times right I will get her to agree!