[Laneco]

I've got a 'cross bike with Avid cable-disc brakes. Dead reliable and nicely adjustable. The full-suspension cross country bike has hydraulic disc brakes. I also had a Cannondale tandem with disc brakes.

I still have two bikes left with rim-brakes. One road bike with Dura-Ace and one hardtail with XTR V-brakes. Every time I ride them, I am reminded of what a pathetic setup they are compared to discs. I would describe them as adequate with the same enthusiasm that I describe a Hyundai Excel as being an adequate vehicle for daily transportation and of the two of them, the V-brakes are much more powerful than what is on the road bike.

Once you try something better on a long downhill (even on a road bike), especially if you are loaded with a pack or towing a bike trailer - you'll forget about rim brakes forever. Think of good disc brakes on a bike as being a "big brake" upgrade for a performance car.

angela