Jon Bendtsen wrote:
> Is it worth paying about 10% extra for the bike
> just to get disc brakes rather than rim V-brakes?
>
> The bike in question is the hp velotechnik Spirit.
In terms of /need/ (as opposed to just liking shiny Bling!),
categorically not.
Discs are primarily an advantage when your rims are covered in crunge,
which is mainly off road. You also don't gradually wear your rims away
over time, but most folk manage to make a pair of wheels last quite a
long time...
Hydraulic brakes have a much nicer feel with fingertip control enough
for almost all eventualities, but you can get hydraulic rim brakes
rather than hydraulic discs (Magura HS-33s) and they're quite a bit
cheaper and have the same advantages of better feel in use. I'd
personally sooner have hydraulic rim brakes than cable discs, even with
the rim wear issue, but V brakes will be perfectly adequate.
One thing to bear in mind for a self-confessed hater of doing cleaning
on the gears, is that hydraulic brakes generally need much less
attention to keep them (and your braking) in trim than V brakes. I
replaced the original Vs on my Streetmachine with HS-33s and they've
been as close to "fit and forget" as its reasonably possible to expect.
But though I do prefer them, I don't /need/ them.
Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net
[email protected] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/
