Author Topic: disc vs v-brakes? (Read 5000 times)

Dennis · « **on:** February 08, 2004, 12:49:11 am »

ok guys, here is your chance to chime in on a brake question. as some of you are aware, my current bike project is building up a Giant carbon HT frame (as well as switching the Oz over to discs).
anyway, I have not yet decided whether to use disc or v-brakes on the Giant. I have both, its just a question of what I decide to go with. The v-brakes I have are the Precision Billet brakes that are currently on Blue Crush. If I use those I get to use the custom painted Spinergy wheels that are currently on Blue Crush and that will go well with the paint job that the Giant frame is currently getting (how many more times will I use the word "currently"?)

If I go with discs, it will most likely be a pair of Formula Activa brakes that I had originally bought for Blue Crush but have since replaced with Avid mechs.
also, I would use the AClass Vectra D2 wheels that I just bought.

the thing is, the Spinergy wheels do soak up alot of vibration and small bumps so the ride will be much more comfortable. are disc brakes really worth the extra weight and so forth? I have been thinking that the Giant ought to be real light as I have the Oz as a more all around trail bike.
what do you dudes think?
[smiley=groucho.gif]
ps. I didn't use "currently" again, did I? Man, I must be going crazy, this broken toe is really getting to me. oops, got to go, peapod.com is at the door with my groceries.

Old Proflexer · « **Reply #1 on:** February 08, 2004, 01:18:47 am »

with a variety of different high end wheelsets and braking systems, both disc and v -

if you're :-/, wouldn't it be best to just experiment a bit to see what combination you like?

OP

keen · « **Reply #2 on:** February 08, 2004, 01:39:03 am »

Discs will give better performance... if you need it. I can ride faster and w/ more confidence on disc's. If you ride dry slower trails/ climbs V's are more than adequate plus they are lighter. I wouldn't choose Formula Activa's - they secure the cables w/ pinch bolts which has to be the worst I have seen in years.

Dennis · « **Reply #3 on:** February 08, 2004, 02:55:55 am »

OP

yeah, it would be good to experiment, but all the stuff, excepting the v-brakes and the Spinergys, are brand new, still in the wrapping stuff, so if I don't use them, I can get more for them on ebay than if I had used them once or twice or thrice, you know what I mean?

I guess I could try out the discs on Blue Crush and see how they are compared to the v-brakes before I build up the Giant. but, I kind of want to see how much cash I can put together as I just saw the [shadow=blue,left,300]Dodge Magnum[/shadow] the other day, and its the first new car in 15 years that I would want to own, so I need money in order to do that. (my current car is a 1989 Shelby CSX that I will own forever-which,of course, I can't drive with this damn fractured , in 3 places it turns out, distal phalange (sp?) on my left big toe, because I can't push down the clutch pedal without writhing in pain).

[smiley=furious.gif] [smiley=worry.gif] [smiley=depressed.gif] [smiley=doh.gif]

btw, if anybody ever ends up being in the predicament I am currently (there's that word again!) in, where you really can't walk well enough to go to the grocery store, peapod.com is great!!!!!

[smiley=groucho.gif]

Scott · « **Reply #4 on:** February 08, 2004, 06:12:27 am »

Dennis-I hear you about Peapod!! With V brakes I'd say use them with the salmon colored Kool Stop pads. It's a compound formerly licensed to Scott Mathauser and is far and away superior to any other I've tried.
They are very good in the wet, wear very slowly, and don't pick up debris only to grind your rim down with embedded grit like many other pads do. Yeah, I'm a big fan!

Trail_Thumper · « **Reply #5 on:** February 08, 2004, 07:44:45 am »

I just got a set of discks, haven't put them on yet though. I'm waiting for my new AClass D2 wheels to get here. I'm going disk because I'm sick of picking up a bunch of crap in my pads and having to listen to that horrible grinding sound thru out my ride. Not to mention the wear on the rims.

Matno · « **Reply #6 on:** February 09, 2004, 12:07:41 am »

Well, as a fellow New Yorker, I'd have to say that I've been loving my discs ever since I got them. They are especially nice in mud, leaves, and other crud that V's tend to pick up.

HOWEVER, since you have a separate (awesome) trailbike, I'd almost be inclined to say go with your turbo light, really cool V-brake/Spinergy setup. I never had a problem with V's braking power - unless they're wet or dirty, they're at LEAST as strong as discs. I don't know if you plan on racing or anything, but if you want a really light fast bike that you don't have to ride in the mud if you don't want to, I'd say go with the V's. Otherwise, save up your pennies for one of those featherweight disc setups that are available now (and almost as light as the lightest V's)!

Really, these kinds of questions are unanswerable. If my attempt didn't make sense, it's because I just got home from a 26 hour shift in the trauma surgery ward...

Dennis · « **Reply #7 on:** February 09, 2004, 11:48:06 am »

ok, so here is what I have decided after getting all your great ideas.
since I paid alot of money to get the Spinergy's painted, and the PB v-brakes work awesomely, and the Activa's aren't up to the quality of build of the PB's or the Avid's that are going on Blue Crush, I have decided to go with v-brakes on the Giant, to make it more of a race-type lightweight.
thanks again for your great insights.
plus, and this may sound silly, but v-brakes really are disc brakes also, aren't they? the rim is the rotor and the brakes are the calipers. I know, I know, the real disc brakes with the separate rotors are out of the way of the mud, muck and mire, and the calipers operate differently than the v-brake calipers, but I am a fyziks teacher and I like to break things down to their phundamental principles. Gosh, I hope this toe heals quickly, its making me weirder than ever.
btw, the Giant is currently getting a cool paint job!

Scott, thanks for the info on the Kool Stop pads, I'll try those out.
Matno, my toe has this humongous blood blister on it, any idea on how long it may take to pop? I go back to see the doc (a podiatrist, actually) on Thursday for an update.
[smiley=groucho.gif]

Trail_Thumper · « **Reply #8 on:** February 09, 2004, 02:36:15 pm »

Hmmmm, rims brakes are really disc. Never thought of it that way.

Jeff77 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 10, 2004, 10:32:36 am »

Recently installed a set of disc brakes (Hope Mono Minis) replacing v-brakes. The difference in stopping power especially in the rain or snow is dramatic. The setup was a bit of a hassle (disc brake adapters and alignment issues)... All and all though, very much worth the effort!

tmaybee · « **Reply #10 on:** February 10, 2004, 10:49:55 am »

Here is a good post on this topic from mtbr "save some weight" board

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=4678

Dennis · « **Reply #11 on:** February 10, 2004, 11:08:21 am »

Trevor,
great link, thanks man.
lots to think about, but here is what my decision came down to:
I know the Spinergy's are going to break one day, but I love the ride they give, and their ability to soak up bumps will surely be a key thing on a hardtail. Also, I spent a sh__ load of moolah getting them painted, so I don't want to sell them, plus they look totally pimp.
also, the PB v-brakes are amazingly powerful and I don't think I will be riding this bike much through mud.
at my advanced age, I can handle a bit of mud here and there, but not a whole lot.
thanks again for the link!
[smiley=groucho.gif]

tmaybee · « **Reply #12 on:** February 12, 2004, 02:41:50 am »

np. Happy to help.

btw, that thread is still being added to.

Trevor

Simon · « **Reply #13 on:** February 13, 2004, 07:38:52 pm »

Has anyone gone back to V's after having disc's

and why

thanks Simon [smiley=nod.gif]

GaryF52 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 14, 2004, 10:03:40 am »

Didn't exactly go back to V's but I won't be doing a disc upgrade on my 5000 anytime soon. After building two bikes with discs, I was becoming more and more disappointed with the V brakes on my 5000. Was going to go to discs but then I started messing around with the V's to see if I could improve them. Tried some new brake levers and WOW WHAT A DIFFERENCE! I truely never realized what a difference the brake levers can make. Now they stop almost as well as discs, not enough difference for my style of riding to justify switching over now.

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Author Topic: disc vs v-brakes? (Read 5000 times)