Are disc brakes worth it?

[entry level]

Planning on getting a Giant Roam 2 disc hybrid and just wondered whether the extra cost for disc brakes is worth it? My commute is a few miles with a 50:50 mixture of bridle path and tarmac paths. Bridle path gets pretty muddy.

 

[ianrauk]

For a few miles each way? Probably not? Will you notice a difference on muddy bridle paths. Probably yes.

 

[Flying Dodo]

Yes - you never know when you might need the extra stopping power.

 

[Cubist]

Yes. They are perfect for all-weather commuting.

 

[DooDah]

If I was buying a Hybrid or MTB, I would buy with disc brakes, a road bike, I would stick to rim brakes. Just my opinion though.

 

[Sara_H]

I prefer disc brakes. I live at the top of a very steep hill and find disc brakes better at stopping and need less maintenance.

 

[Pale Rider]

Hydraulic discs require slightly less maintenance than cable operated.

 

[MikeW-71]

It's not so much that they have extra stopping power, it's that they work in the dry, and in the wet, and when it's muddy. There's a good reason why you don't see any decent MTB without them.

 

[Dave W]

Yes, yes, yes.

 

[User33236]

I changed my commuter bike earlier this year and one primary factor was the desire to move to disc brakes following some near misses with rim brakes in the pouring rain.

I'm in love with the new bike

 

[ScotiaLass]

I love my disc brakes for all the reasons already mentioned

 

[samsbike]

Commuting in rubbish weather is just that much easier with discs brakes.

 

[Doc333]

I like the idea of being able to stop fast in crap weather. Mine does that and its great and it actually looks pretty good too.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Plus buckling a wheel in a pot-hole doesn't mean rubbing brakes

Got to admit, it's the only thing I regret about the Ribble 'winter'(aluminium version) bike I bought earlier this year - they still don't offer a disc-braked version

 

[Leodis]

I didnt like commuting on drops & with mech disc brakes, hydro on flats all the way now for commuting.