Just realized I was wrong about disc brakes on older bikes

For years I swore you couldn't put disc brakes on a vintage steel frame without ruining the whole feel of it. Then a guy named Tom rolled his 1985 Miyata into my driveway last spring asking about a conversion kit. He showed me how he'd already done it on a similar frame using adapters that bolt to the seat stay and fork. I spent about 45 minutes with him looking at the setup and he let me take a test ride around the block. Honestly the stopping power was way better than I expected and the frame didn't feel any different. Has anyone else tried one of those bolt-on disc adapters on an old road bike?

2 comments

2 Comments

jasonallen1mo ago

Tom sounds like the kind of guy who shows up with a six pack and a welder and just makes things work. I've been eyeballing those bolt-on kits for my old Trek 520 but I'm still scared I'll screw it up and end up with a front wheel that stops faster than the rear and sends me over the bars. At this point my braking style is just praying and dragging my feet anyway so maybe it can't get worse.

emerym361mo ago

You ever notice how we all get locked into this idea that something has to be "authentic" or "pure" to be good, but then reality smacks you in the face with a totally fine compromise? Like with my old truck I swore I'd never put modern tires on it because it'd ruin the look, but after I did it handled way better and nobody even noticed until I pointed it out. That's how I feel about these bolt-on kits, they let you keep the frame you love without sacrificing safety or performance. Tom probably saved that bike from hanging on a wall as decoration.