disk or normal breaks?

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Wouldn't bother with front suspension OR discs at the £250~ mark. The disc brakes are likely to be a fiddle to set up and keep maintained without rubbing, and the other components will be lower grade to offset the price of discs. Also wheel quality (hub/spoke) won't be that good for the forces in disc braking.

Only trouble is, sub-£300 the marketing people all think sticking suspension on the front is necessary to sell the bike so rigid bikes are harder to find than bouncy ones

 

[Fab Foodie]

Wouldn't bother with front suspension OR discs at the £250~ mark. The disc brakes are likely to be a fiddle to set up and keep maintained without rubbing, and the other components will be lower grade to offset the price of discs. Also wheel quality (hub/spoke) won't be that good for the forces in disc braking.

Only trouble is, sub-£300 the marketing people all think sticking suspension on the front is necessary to sell the bike so rigid bikes are harder to find than bouncy ones

I agree.
Unless you're going to be riding on really rough ground (which a cheap suspension bike might not be good for anyway) then why not look at something like the Carerra Subway at Halfrauds....


http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...165534_langId_-1?cm_vc=IOV4PDPZ1&iozone=PDPz1

The normal brake version is only £250. That's a very competent bike for road and basic trail use for not a lot of money.

 

[HJ]

In terms which brakes are better, decent disc brakes offer stopping power under all conditions. However, a decent set disc brakes cost about £125, which wouldn't leave a lot for the rest of the bike.

 

[rosscbrown]

I wish I had disks today. Coming into the Grassmarket in edinburgh and had to hit the breaks. *Nothing*. Okay, not quite nothing but it sure felt like it. Hurt my wrist pulling on the break. Gave me a bit of a fright to the extent that I'm thinking about disks...

 

[Mark82]

I agree.
Unless you're going to be riding on really rough ground (which a cheap suspension bike might not be good for anyway) then why not look at something like the Carerra Subway at Halfrauds....


http://www.halfords....Z1&iozone=PDPz1

The normal brake version is only £250. That's a very competent bike for road and basic trail use for not a lot of money.

cheers for that, but what im after is a fully off road bike, I have a cafe2 for my road/work riding.................... Looking like second hand is the favoured route ATM (MUDDYFOX )

 

[Ventolin]

I would advise getting Disc Brakes - awesome stopping power.

I had some tektro disc brakes which were included on my bike from new, but have now upgraded to Avid BB7 and Avid Speed Dial 7 brake levers on my flat bars.

The brakes are so good I have almost gone over the handlebars on a couple of emergency stops (heavy panniers on rear, front brakes did lift the rear wheel off the ground!) . Both the BB7 and SD7 are very easy to setup and can fully adjust in seconds on the road with your fingers.

Price - £50 for the BB7, £20 for the SD7 levers.

Even the stock Tektros were better than the V brakes on my previous bike. The disc pads on the Tektros lasted longer than a year, the V brake pads I have on the rear lasted only half a year which I use only for when gently slowing down on a hill.

If you don't buy disc brakes now, your wheel might not have disc hubs which means if you want to upgrade later, you'll need a new wheel.

I commute on a hybrid with road tyres (700x23) btw.

Regards,

Vent

 

[normskirus]

Hi

Disc brakes if you can get them for your budget.

Or if you can hang on long enough buy a bike that is disc ready, with all the mounts on the frame, fork & wheels. Then when youve got the cash buy your brakes - hydraulic ones if you can afford it. I bought a trek 4500 without discs (2007 model) but disc ready, I was going to get to get a 4300 but really wanted the disc ready option. I got avid juicy 3's in the end.

Then again most MTBs these days seem to have disks on them anyway.

I wish I had disks on my tourer. Ive done about 3000miles on it and the front rim is looking a bit smooth! What I realy wanted was croix de ferr but it was outwith the budget I had set and for other reasons....boo hoo.

Norman

 

[g00se]

If you're using it only off-road - go for discs - especially if you'll be riding in the wet.

Check out the evans, wiggle and chain reaction cycles websites - mountain bike sales on.

 

[stavros]

disk breaks - Disc Brakes

break block - Brake Blocks

I like brake blocks

Yep - they work better if intact.