On Tue, 10 Oct 2006 00:04:56 -0600, Chris_MdR wrote:
If they're working properly, either brake should be able to lock the rear
wheel or send you over the handlebars. Disk brakes offer more precise
modulation and better performance in wet conditions, but their extra power
is really unnecessary because other kinds of brakes are more than powerful
enough. Most mountain bikes with decent forks and other equipment come
with disk brakes anyway, so that's what you'll get. Just make sure the
disks are clean and nothing is leaking, and you'll be fine. The same
applies to rim brakes, whether V-brakes, traditional cantilever, or
caliper.
Matt O.
>
> Hi,
>
> I tried a bike with hydraulic disk brakes (Hayes Sole V6) yesterday
> for the first time, and would appreciate your input on my impressions:
>
> - On the first bike I tried, it was not possible to block the wheel
> with the disk brake. I checked and found that the disk was oily. On
> another bike (same brake) I was able to get the wheel to block, but
> with application of extreme force to the brake handle, MUCH more than
> required by any V brake I ever tried.
>
> Question: Are Hydraulic Brakes really weaker than V brakes, or was this
> bike just assembled by monkeys?
>
> - I noticed that the hydraulic disc brakes have a much 'spongier' feel
> than the cable actuated V brakes. This I guess was related to the
> hydraulic hose / brake line expanding under pressure, because it was ok
> on the front brake (1/2 of the brake lever way until full braking), and
> not acceptable no the rear brake (had to pull the brake lever almost up
> to the handle bar to get full breaking power)
>
> Question: Is this again a problem of monkey assembly (not enough
> fluid?, air in the lines?, what else? ...), or cheap brake lines, or
> both? And are there better brake lines that expand less than the stock
> ones?
> Or ARE hydraulic disc brakes just spongier? If yes, that much
> spongier??
>
> - After playing with the brakes for a few minutes, I noticed that the
> discs get noticeably warm, around 170F. Are there ever heating issues
> with disc brakes on longer downhill segments? Seems a stupid question,
> but they did get quite warm just by playing around on level ground for
> about ten minutes.
>
> Thanks a lot!
>
> PS: All the monkey references are founded on an employee there telling
> me that 'there are no electrical brakes' when I asked for differences
> between hydraulic and cable actuated. When I asked her that about the
> front fork maxing out, i.e. hitting the limit of it's travel hard, she
> replied with 'many people like their forks soft'. (I found out how they
> can be adjusted later.) When I showed her that the (later found to be
> well oiled) disk didn't stop the bike, she said 'Oh. Eh? Uh?'
> So monkeys or Neanderthals are definitely a possibility in that store.
> But the bike is on sale, so I might still buy there. Uh. Uh. Uh. I
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