i'm just rebuilding my cannondale caad 5 ht frame with some exotic carbon forks, a 1x9 transmission, on one midge bars and avid bb7's mountain (teamed with tektro long travel drop-bar levers).
at the moment i have the kit for a 160 / 160 set up. i was just wondering whether there is any merit in going for a 180 at the front (which will mean buying a new rotor and mount).
i've never used cable discs before, so i have no experience with the stopping power. my other bikes use new deore xt ( 180 / 160 ), deore ( 160 / 160 ) and juicy 5's ( 160 / 160 )
i don't really want to spend another £20 if i don't have to.
(btw... i weigh circa 200lbs, ride like a girl and do xc mainly, as i have a turner flux for the bumpier stuff)
cheers
I have 160s on my Flux and have never felt the need for more for XC - I am about 13 stone laden.
I had 160s on my 29er, they always felt fine.
My 456 has a 203mm rotor on the front, but mainly because that what the set came with (second hand from here). There's certainly not shortage of stopping power there...
Got 160 front and rear on my SS and they're more than enough. Bit fiddlier to set up than i'd expected, but flipping awesome once they were sorted!
Had these with 160 front and rear and had no problems with stopping power for XC @ 13 stone. Would have needed more for steeper descending though...
160 is fine, they lock up quite easily with those and I wouldn't want them to be any grabbier than they already are.
203 and 180 here.
Is that like a cycle cross bike with drop bars then? With skinny tyres? If so 160 will be plenty, I wouldn't want any more otherwise you'll just lock the wheel up on everything.
With BB7s, the biggest improvement you can make is a outer cable that is as incompressible as possible.
Can I ask, would BB7's allow me to run more pad-rotor clearance...?
I have 160/160 on my 29er by the way, plenty if braking power for my gnar level.
Just sick of dragging pads.
Can I ask, would BB7's allow me to run more pad-rotor clearance...? I have 160/160 on my 29er by the way, plenty if braking power for my gnar level. Just sick of dragging pads.
Oooh, this!!!
Run bb7's for the past 2 years drag and problem free, just built a 29er and bought some formula k24 hydros....can I get them running rub free? NOPE...PITA! Whatever the 'stated' drawbacks of cable disc brakes are, they're still worth it compared to fiddly less time riding, more time fettling hydros.
yes, use speed dial levers, run a nice big gap, and still brake with one finger (one each hand...) 🙂