I’ve loved using my mountain bicycle for over a decade. Through the years it might qualify much more as a hybrid bicycle as a result of changes I’ve made to add additional comfort to the ride. This gets to be more important to us as we mature.
The one place where I felt it had been constantly lacking was the brakes. Though they are Shimano center pull caliper brakes, they just do not perform well in damp weather or muddy conditions. So I was impressed when I recently borrowed a friends bicycle with new disc brakes. On the list of major advantages of bicycle disc brakes is the great all-weather operation. An additional point I really like is that there isn’t any maintenance required in contrast to the regular adjustments needed on cable activated conventional brakes. After you install the disc brakes, setup the calipers you can simply ignore them.
Of course should you decide to upgrade to disc brakes you will find them more expensive then conventional rim brakes. However their operation is so great that most will happily pay the price. Another negative would be that the disc brake assemblies and rotor do add some weight to your bike. Again, you must determine if considering your riding habits, this is acceptable. Generally to switch to bicycle disc brakes you may need new wheels also. Disc rims cannot be set up on regular hubs used with typical rim brake wheels.
Even though it will require some effort and additional cost to upgrade to bicycle disc brakes, if you would like much better and consistently improved brake overall performance in all conditions, disc brakes make the perfect investment. But you have to determine if the cost is worthwhile. Seriously speaking, not everyone actually needs to upgrade to bicycle disc brakes. Most riders are quite happy with their rim brake and ride in an environment where rim brakes manage the job such as in flat and dry land. But as you take to more steeper trails and wetter conditions, disc brakes become most valuable. One more issue to think about is if you’re a 200 lb rider as i am, 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 beautifully under any conditions from mountain trails to riding through creek beds.
In addition to Shimano, based on reviews, Avid disc brakes, Hayes disc brakes, and Tektro disc brakes are all available in kits and as individual components making it likely to suit just about any application needed.