Slightly OT: Disc brakes

I've used the fucking search but nothing came up, so I thought I'd try and ellicit some knowledge from those of you with a MTB background.

I'm currently putting together a cyclo-cross/winter bike and the frame comes with mounts for disc brakes. I know next to nothing about these so any advice is appreciated.

The plan is to go with a pair of Avid BB7 road cable disc brakes as they should work with the Campag Ergo levers I plan on using. Do these use standard brake cables or do I need to source disc specific ones?

Thanks.

Standard cables....but i'd totally recommend a set of nokon cables....expensive, but work so well...the brakes will be more powerful and feel better.

Brilliant. Thanks Scott, I'll seek out the Nokon cables.

I used an Avid BB7 with a road lever- I was told that there was both a road lever and an MTB lever version.

Needless to say I ordered the road version and the MTB version turned up, so I had a look at it and returned it.

Three weeks later and the road version turned up- identical to the MTB one bar the inclusion of one of those cable tensioning things that Shimano STI's use on the gear cable- a sort of barrel style adjuster.

The brake itself worked extremely well- very happy with the power, and I am used to Avid Juicy Carbon's clamping 180mm rotors on the MTB.

The pull is different too Dammit, that would not be obviouse from just looking at it.

That's what I was told- however I fitted the MTB one, tested it and then put it back in the box and waited for the road one.

Pull seemed (with my ever so accurate testing) identical.

I would recommend you get some of the shimano deore disc breaks instead of the avid bb breaks.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=11947
The avids have ZERO modulation — they only really do "on" or "off", which is no good in the wet as your wheels will just lock up. The shimano's are super powerful (for a budget brake) and they have tons of modulation so you can brake properly.

Not my experience- plenty of modulation, good feel, from the BB7's.

I had an XT hydraulic disc on my old Klein and thought it was a great let-down however.

really? I've just changed up to the deore's on my dj bike from the bb7 and the difference is unbelievable. The avids were really jerky and meant that I almost killed myself a couple of times because I had no confidence breaking on off camber corners etc.

the deore's are way better than the hope's I used to have too, and better than some of the avid juicy's – I really can't say enough good things about them. Cheap too.

I'm surprised the xt was a let down - shimano normally make really good disc brakes.. it's all about xtr ftw though! I'd take xtr over pretty much any other brake - even all the high end Avids and Hope's.

hydrulics all the way, no comparison imo but then again depends what and how serious your going to ride

The XT that I had was a stranger to "bite", I never really had any confidence in it, even after fully bedded in.

I switched from Avid Juicy Five with 160mm rotors to Avid Juicy Carbon with 180mm rotors after a trip to Brechfa, and found that the added stopping power did not reduce the modulation to any noticeable degree.

Strange. I've never heard of that happening before. Did you try different pads etc?

It's all about the biggest rotors you can get! 180 is a proper size.. I've got little guys on my dj bike (in fact I've only just put my front brake back on- was riding it like a bmx for ages!) , but on anything bigger I'd definitely go in that direction.

Right, bump time.

Does anyone have experience of the Tektro Lyra brakes? I've been using the BB7s but they weigh a ton and the Lyra's would save me a whole 200 grams, which appeals to my inner weight weenie.

Hijack! I've got hold of a hayes mechanical caliper, can i buy any 16omm 6 bolt disc? or does it have to be a special hayes one?

Nope any will do, but I'd advise getting star nutted one as they reduce the risk of round off

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?PartnerID=79&ModelID=20170

noice. cheers.

Three year old bump.

Have a project in my head, and the possibility of getting a frame custom built up for it. Alfine 8spd Hub Gear at the rear, clearances for larger tyres, think 28s and above, and for some reason I've set my heart on disc brakes. What are the advantages, disadvantages of disc brakes? Will I be pining for rim brakes, or will I never go back. This bike is supposed to be for all year found riding, so it has to be robust enough to get me through rain, sleet and snow...

it has to be robust enough to get me through rain, sleet and snow...

Then disk brakes are definitely the go. I really like them and would go bb7s over anything for an all rounder bike.
Just my preference though.
Mechanical brakes could be a ball ache, rim brakes are not great in adverse weather, disk brakes are easy to adjust, well the bb7's are.
A lot has changed since the above was written and the Avids are now far superior to the Deores.
bb7's ftw, and make sure you have the correct pull levers.

And Hai Corney!

BB7's are pretty excellent brakes
one finger front endo stopping power
easy to adjust / fit
using the avid speed dial levers make them very adjustable not just at the disc but also up on the lever
work well in all weathers
saves your rim and thus the need to rebuild your wheels every few years

Never realised BB7's were quite so cheap actually. Well worth the money.