Hydraulic disc brakes are fantastic, making it possible to safely roll down even the steepest trails with single-finger brake lever control.
Mountain bikers discovered the power and consistency of
hydraulic brakes, in the mid-1990s. Initially misjudged as a needless
complication and expensive, hydraulic disc brake benefits quickly converted all
doubters.
It took the road bike scene much longer, with some pro teams only converting to hydraulic discs last year.