Quote Originally Posted by emily_in_nc View Post
... I found some sources that said that v-brakes are perfectly adequate if you don't plan on riding under muddy/wet conditions most of the time. Another plus for v-brakes is that they are lighter weight and less complex than discs.

I also read that the disk brakes on lower-end mountain bikes are just not that good. V-brakes might be a better choice in a lower-end bike for that reason. If you go higher-end, then the disk brakes obviously get a lot better.
Emily has a valid point. I know a number of riders that share her opinion, that v-brakes are adequate, which is why I mentioned above that they should be the minimum. Quite a few people I have spoken with have expressed the opinion that a good v-brake is a whole lot better than a bad disc brake. But, again Emily is correct regarding mud - v-brakes will not work well in very muddy conditions due to the mud getting on your rims and not allowing the brake to come in contact with your rim at it's optimal pressure. Now this isn't a problem experienced with disc brakes.

So, as long as you're happy to ensure that your rims are nice and clean, and that you aren't going to be riding in muddy areas (at least not before going on a steep descent!!), then v-brakes will probably do... But again, spending that little bit extra on a bike with reasonable quality disc brakes might be the way to go - then it won't matter at all!