kamikaze Posted October 9, 2009 Posted October 9, 2009 didnt read many of the other replies, but here's mine: from the offset it sounds like you are stuck with rubbish disc brakes. but that aside, discs ARE better for the following reasons: 1. wet rims dont affect your braking anymore. 2. buckled rims dont affect your braking anymore 3. taking the wheel off doesnt involve hassling with releasing the v-brake cable hanger first. 4. no more aligning brake pads to the rim (or trying and failing). 5. they DO stop better than other brakes - way better! trust me, i have sukkeled with cantilever brakes throughout the nineties and hated every moment. then v-brakes came, and although they stop better than old cantilever brakes, they didnt solve the problem of a bent or wet rim. a lot of th effort put into braking with cable brakes is lost as a cable stretches no matter what, hydraulics have a complete transfer power with no energy lost along the way. plus, disc brakes virtually set themselves up when you replace the pads. discs brakes evolved out of a need - better stopping power and simplicity with fewer parts. i used to have magura louise, and now have hayes stroker. the louise worked very well, but the hayes is out of this world! kamikaze2009-10-09 06:34:53
Tumbleweed Posted October 9, 2009 Posted October 9, 2009 3. taking the wheel off doesnt involve hassling with releasing the v-brake cable hanger first. hate them noodles!
kamikaze Posted October 9, 2009 Posted October 9, 2009 VERY IMPORTANT! discs MUST be run in, otherwise you will squeeze till you go blue in the face and still not stop. here's how: 1. find a long down hill. 2. ride down it at about 25 - 35kph. 3. brake until you come to a dead stop. repeat process a few times for both front and rear (hence finding a long down hill so you don have to go back to the top every time) you will notice that by the 3rd or 4th time you stop the brakes suddenly work a LOT better. by the 6th time you will have to be careful of going over the bars. what this does is it "mates" the pad to the disc on a microscopic level, which in turn maximises pad to disc friction. dealers forget to tell you this. kamikaze2009-10-09 06:46:28
AndreZA Posted October 9, 2009 Posted October 9, 2009 Kamikaze, I wet the pad with a bit of water and just ride around the yard while pulling the lever just enough so that I can still ride. Just do not get the stuff too hot. Had some more water and continue. Take about 5 minutes per wheel. And you get one hell of a workout.
downhilldemon Posted October 9, 2009 Posted October 9, 2009 I'd love to experience those Magura hydraulic rim brakes one day. i've got a pair in my spares cupboard. need to order some pads to get them up and running again. they actually really cool and still lighter than disk brakes they also have more stopping power in dry weather than disk brakes - but you probably wont need that unless you weigh 200kg
deanbean Posted October 10, 2009 Posted October 10, 2009 VERY IMPORTANT! discs MUST be run in' date=' otherwise you will squeeze till you go blue in the face and still not stop. here's how: 1. find a long down hill. 2. ride down it at about 25 - 35kph. 3. brake until you come to a dead stop. repeat process a few times for both front and rear (hence finding a long down hill so you don have to go back to the top every time) you will notice that by the 3rd or 4th time you stop the brakes suddenly work a LOT better. by the 6th time you will have to be careful of going over the bars. what this does is it "mates" the pad to the disc on a microscopic level, which in turn maximises pad to disc friction. dealers forget to tell you this. [/quote']Called bedding them in, the heat creates a glaze on the pad surface, results in the pad hardening, and so lasts longer, so if you sand your pads for whatever purpose, you must bed them in again.It's best to do it on tar when your pads and disks are clean.
CJVDM Posted October 10, 2009 Author Posted October 10, 2009 from the offset it sounds like you are stuck with rubbish disc brakes. ....... i used to have magura louise' date=' and now have hayes stroker. the louise worked very well, but the hayes is out of this world! [/quote'] Funny, i have the Hayes Stroker Rydes. Dont know whether yours are perhaps better spec'd eg Stroker Carbon. So, are they rubbish or not?
kamikaze Posted October 10, 2009 Posted October 10, 2009 Funny' date=' i have the Hayes Stroker Rydes.? Dont know whether yours are perhaps better spec'd eg Stroker Carbon.? So, are they rubbish or not?[/quote'] nope, i have the exact same ones. perhaps your problem is that they aren't bedded in properly yet. i got my bike second hand (about 300km on it), and the brakes were appalling at first. i then bedded them in and hey presto - now they're awesome! the quality of the Hayes is far superior to many other brands I've tried. i can go barreling down hill in front of my complex and slam on the front brake in such a controlled manner that i can endo for about 25m. the modulation on the back is bit less making wheelies more difficult, but i suspect that has something to do with the smaller diameter disc. out of about 1000km, i dont think they have touched the sides of the calipers (and made that squeeking sound) for more than 20km. on the whole i cannot fault them. hope this helps kamikaze2009-10-10 08:27:13
CJVDM Posted October 10, 2009 Author Posted October 10, 2009 nope' date=' i have the exact same ones. perhaps your problem is that they aren't bedded in properly yet. i got my bike second hand (about 300km on it), and the brakes were appalling at first. i then bedded them in and hey presto - now they're awesome! the quality of the Hayes is far superior to many other brands I've tried. i can go barreling down hill in front of my complex and slam on the front brake in such a controlled manner that i can endo for about 25m. the modulation on the back is bit less making wheelies more difficult, but i suspect that has something to do with the smaller diameter disc. out of about 1000km, i dont think they have touched the sides of the calipers (and made that squeeking sound) for more than 20km. on the whole i cannot fault them. hope this helps [/quote'] Yes, it helps for sure - at least it gives me hope. I think ive totalled abt 250km on my bike and havnt been using the brakes all that much. Lets wait and see...
RobG Posted October 11, 2009 Posted October 11, 2009 My first bike had v brakes, granted it was an entry level bike, and when I got my second (FS entry level) with hyd disk brakes my confidence levels took a distinct jump. I have only been riding for 6 months so this confidence boost was great for me. I had had some issues with my v brakes so the disks, which so far have only needed alignment have been a pleasure. I guess it is up to you whether you like v's or disks!
kamikaze Posted October 11, 2009 Posted October 11, 2009 perhaps your problem is that they aren't bedded in properly yet. i got my bike second hand (about 300km on it)' date=' and the brakes were appalling at first. i then bedded them in and hey presto - now they're awesome! [/quote']Yes, it helps for sure - at least it gives me hope.? I think ive totalled abt 250km on my bike and havnt been using the brakes all that much.? Lets wait and see... no don't wait and see, run/bed them in. it takes 5-10 minutes, and afterwards the brakes WILL work. i'm in fourways, if you feel you need help, give me a shout.
CJVDM Posted October 11, 2009 Author Posted October 11, 2009 i'm in fourways' date=' if you feel you need help, give me a shout.[/quote'] Thanks mate. Unfortunately im in the plane now on my way to Nigeria for a week. But for sure when get back, il do the brakes. Will let u know.
SwissVan Posted October 11, 2009 Posted October 11, 2009 Cable Stretch is mentioned as a problem with V brakes... Anyone measure how much these cables stretched....? Ive had the same set of v brake cables on my mtb since 2004 and was just wundering if it was time to change them...LOL
Tumbleweed Posted October 11, 2009 Posted October 11, 2009 ? Cable Stretch is mentioned as a problem with V brakes... Anyone measure how much these cables stretched....? ? Ive?had the same?set of v brake cables?on my mtb since 2004 and was just wundering if it was time to change them...LOL ? ? ? ? ? ? if it ain't broke...
SwissVan Posted October 11, 2009 Posted October 11, 2009 Cable Stretch is mentioned as a problem with V brakes... Anyone measure how much these cables stretched....? Ive had the same set of v brake cables on my mtb since 2004 and was just wundering if it was time to change them...LOL if it ain't broke... You condoning V Brakes
Tumbleweed Posted October 11, 2009 Posted October 11, 2009 ? Cable Stretch is mentioned as a problem with V brakes... Anyone measure how much these cables stretched....? ? Ive?had the same?set of v brake cables?on my mtb since 2004 and was just wundering if it was time to change them...LOL ? if it ain't broke... ? You condoning V Brakes ? ? horses for courses, bud. got discs on my anthem and the f900, v's on the singlespeed and the kona koa i've restored. so i got nothing against v's.
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