Decent Mechanical Disc

[OakLeaf]

I need to learn to bleed mine. I bought a set of Shimano dual control levers for practically nothing, and I can't install them without bleeding (to the best of my knowledge anyway).

Much easier with one of those vacuum gizmos. Failing that, much easier with a helper to pump the lever and top off the master cylinder, while you open and close the bleeder valve and hold the bleed hose to keep it from falling off the nipple. (I've only done m/c brakes, but hydraulics is hydraulics.)


And, define "ages." Brake fluid will absorb water from the atmosphere over time, so it does need to be changed periodically.

[Irulan]

Ama, found this in a different thread from you.

Yippee! I have a Scott Hardtail I found on Craigslist and it is a great starter.

Do I understand correctly that you want to put mech disk brakes on a craig's list find? So that's around a $200-250 upgrade, what's the total bike worth?

Or, are you talking a different bike..

[Aggie_Ama]

Ama, found this in a different thread from you.


Do I understand correctly that you want to put mech disk brakes on a craig's list find? So that's around a $200-250 upgrade, what's the total bike worth?

Or, are you talking a different bike..

Precisely, why I don't want hydraulic. This bike was about a $700 new bike. It is 2005 Scott Contessa 30. But since we are going to Alaska this summer on DH's work bonus (if he gets one) I am not getting a fully for a while. So this bike is what I have for now and honestly I REALLY like my bike. It is stock to that Bikepedia link except DH gave me some Mavic Crosslands he had put on his HT and never got to put many miles on.

Maybe I should just tell the man to leave well enough alone and let me use my V-Brakes? I mean we don't ride in wet, more like dust! And I don't do much crazy downhill riding at all and nothing you can even call true downhill in Texas.

[Irulan]

Maybe I should just tell the man to leave well enough alone and let me use my V-Brakes? I mean we don't ride in wet, more like dust! And I don't do much crazy downhill riding at all and nothing you can even call true downhill in Texas.

That is what I would do. It's the old "I'm a guy and let me tell you what you need" scenario. A $200 upgrade on a $700 bike is just silly, imnsho....Surely as a Texan you can appreciate the "sows ear - silk purse" analogy?

This is where you educate your self, and make your own choices in gear. I way surpassed DH in bike knowledge sometime ago, heh heh.

[Aggie_Ama]

He thinks it will give me more confidence for going down stuff, I think riding more will. Honestly I think a nice new pair of brake pads will help and just riding more. Is it scary to say I like that I don't completely stop on a dime?

[Irulan]

He thinks it will give me more confidence for going down stuff, I think riding more will. Honestly I think a nice new pair of brake pads will help and just riding more. Is it scary to say I like that I don't completely stop on a dime?

stopping on a dime will throw you into an endo, or a skid, your choice.

You gain confidence through skills and experience. Equipment will help, but does not replace a skill set. If you don't have the confidence for speed on descents, disk brakes just means you can go slower than ever before.

I'd take that $200 and look for a good skills camp in your area. Skills training improved my biking more than 100%. I'm pretty sure there's a strong group in Austin that does women's clinics, spend your money there.

[SadieKate]

AA, listen to Irulan.

Depending on the bike, I run both linear brakes and disc. The biggest obstacle (or benefit) to my riding isn't the components, it's my pea brain.

[Aggie_Ama]

I'd take that $200 and look for a good skills camp in your area. Skills training improved my biking more than 100%. I'm pretty sure there's a strong group in Austin that does women's clinics, spend your money there.

Actually they are free come May and I will be going. Now at least I can tell the man to be quiet I like Tess the way she is and nothing but time will help me.

Disc made him more confident but one of those fun things he doesn't understand, we learn differently. I am getting better and having fun he should leave well enough alone, which 9 times out of 10 he is smart enough to do.

[DirtDiva]

And, define "ages." Brake fluid will absorb water from the atmosphere over time, so it does need to be changed periodically.

Well, obviously you can't leave them forever... (As always, the real answer to that question is one that depends on what you ride, how you ride, when you ride and where you ride.)