My first ever disc brake was an Avid BB7, front only because my new 2004 fork had mounts but not my 1998 frame. I’d already splurged on Avid Ultimate levers so I wanted to keep them, keep the levers the same left to right.
That dang brake, on 160mm rotor, was GREAT on my local (janky, steep but not mountainous) terrain. Good feel, modulation, and I could lock it up for a hop or nose pivot whenever I wanted.
But when I took it for a race in Vermont that started with a 2000’ descent, oh boy did I find its limitations fast.
Feb. 12, 2025, 8:34 a.m. - ackshunW
My first ever disc brake was an Avid BB7, front only because my new 2004 fork had mounts but not my 1998 frame. I’d already splurged on Avid Ultimate levers so I wanted to keep them, keep the levers the same left to right. That dang brake, on 160mm rotor, was GREAT on my local (janky, steep but not mountainous) terrain. Good feel, modulation, and I could lock it up for a hop or nose pivot whenever I wanted. But when I took it for a race in Vermont that started with a 2000’ descent, oh boy did I find its limitations fast.