Convert to disk brakes

slowbike
slowbike Posts: 8,498
edited January 2014 in Cyclocross
Just an idle thought ...

Has anyone changed from rim brakes to disk brakes on their frame/fork? Was it worth it?

I've got a Spec TriCross rim brakes without any tabs for disk brakes. It's a 9 speed tiagra setup that I don't intend to change.

I quite fancy the benefits of disk brakes, but can't see that I'd need to replace the bike for any other reason for the foreseeable ...

Comments

  • tgotb
    tgotb Posts: 4,714
    Unless your frame and fork have disc mount tabs AND are designed to take the loads imposed by disc brakes, I'm afraid it's a non-starter.
    Pannier, 120rpm.
  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    Not sure about the forks - prob not, they're carbon for a start ... so that probably knocks it on the head anyway.

    Spec do a disk version of the tricross - can't see they'd bother with 2 significantly different frames for the same model with different components - so rear could be ok if the brake could be mounted ..

    It's all just idle speculation and probably not worth it financially anyway.... cheaper to sell this one and buy a disk specific one.
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Not really a practical - you'll need a new frame, forks, hubs plus the brakes themselves - it'll likely cost more than the cost of a new bike.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • Kieran_Burns
    Kieran_Burns Posts: 9,757
    isn't the clearance on the rear forks different? I know the wheels are.

    Just buy a new bike, n+1 is always the way to go.
    Chunky Cyclists need your love too! :-)
    2009 Specialized Tricross Sport
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  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    TBH as above it would be cheaper to buy a new bike not to mention all the bits that will not fit.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
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  • asprilla
    asprilla Posts: 8,440
    I seem to remember that someone used to do an adapter that connected from a canti boss to the drop out. No experience of them though.
    Mud - Genesis Vapour CCX
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  • bobley
    bobley Posts: 60
    I fitted disks to Mrs B's old MTB. The front was easy as I fitted new forks. The rear adapter was robust but it was a faff to get the wheel on and off as you had to pull the skewer out and also I had to file the adapter down a lot as the fit wasn't perfect (as it was a generic part not bike specific).
  • jomoj
    jomoj Posts: 777
    the minimum needed for this is frame, fork, cable disc brakes and wheels so it's not trivial. The spacing for rear wheels is 135mm rather than 130 so unless you have a pliable steel frame, even an adapter is probably a non-starter.


    Despite this I'm embarking on the conversion myself - got the frameset and will gather the other bits as money and opportunity arise then sell off my cantilever based bits to recoup some of the cost, hopefully.

    Theres a few off the peg frames available, Kinesis, Genesis, Ridley, Salsa amongst others at various pricepoints but choice of ready built wheels is limited so you may need to go for a custom build. Brakewise, quite a lot of choice from about £30 upwards

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