How to Accessorize a Bike With Disc Brakes

There is nothing more important than stopping if you are riding down a steep hill on your mountain bike. When you get to the bottom or need to slow down for a tight turn, of course you want the best brakes possible. However, this doesn't necessarily mean disc brakes are the perfect choice for you. Here are some things to consider when you are accessorizing your bike with disc brakes.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Determine what kind of weather conditions you will be encountering most often. Ask yourself whether you are mostly a summer rider and prefer hitting the trail while the sun is shining only and whether you like having mud in your face and frost on your knuckles from riding your mountain bike year round. Disc brakes work great in all weather conditions. However, rim brakes offer great control with good weather only.

2. Think about your stopping needs. Determine whether you are a pave- road rider or whether you tackle the impossible trail full of unknown obstacles. Rim brakes provide fine stopping power but cannot come close to matching the performance of disc brakes.

3. Pick up your bike and ask if this is as heavy as you are willing to go. Disc brakes are heavier than rim brakes, which means the heightened performance comes at a price to your weight, which could affect maneuverability and speed.

4. Consider your biking budget. Disc brakes are much more expensive than traditional rim brakes. Know what you are willing to spend on this increase in stopping performance.

5. Know your ability to maintain and repair a complex piece of machinery like disc brakes. There are several moving pieces as well as fluids used to power the hydraulics in a set of disc brakes. If your new brakes have problems on the trail, miles away from a repair shop, determine whether you are confident in your ability to fix them.

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