What are the benefits of disc brakes over rim brakes?
• All-weather performance (little or no change due to water, mud, ice) • Low maintenance (setup calipers once & forget) • Long pad life • More stopping power for less effort (less forearm “pump-up” on long down hills) • More control – better modulation (smooth grab-free power application and less wheel lock-up) • No more worn out rim sidewalls • Can knock a wheel out of true and still ride, with no effect on braking. • More mud clearance (those who ride in mud and leaves know what that means!) Do I need disc brakes? No, not unless you have issues with rim brakes in general or your rim brakes in particular. Some people are quite happy with their rim brakes and others find that because of their riding environment (terrain and conditions) that rim brakes don’t do the required job. You will find that as your terrain gets steeper and your conditions get wetter, disc brakes become more useful. Also some of us live in fairly flat, dry areas and we don’t actually need disc brakes all the time
