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===== Disc Brakes =====
Shimano introduced mass produced, cheap, disc brakes in [[https://www.disraeligears.co.uk/site/shimano_bicycle_parts_-_72_page_17.html|1972]] with the Shimano B 700, followed a year later, in [[https://www.disraeligears.co.uk/site/shimano_bicycle_parts_-_73_page_20.html|1973]], with the hydraulic B900 - and then many other manufacturers jumped on board. Unfortunately, they were usually placed with low end, department store bikes, and hence never rose above obscurity and respectability.
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[[mcr:start|Mountain Cross Racing]] were far ahead of the curve in using the best technology for their downhill machines.
The example below was made by [[vva:start|Victor Vincente of America]] with Brian Skinner in 1983. Later MCRs lost weight, became refined and successful at winning downhill races. Despite their success on the race course, few Descenders were made.
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Despite MCR's limited early success, it would be another six years before [[http://dansbikestuff.blogspot.com/2013/02/mountain-cycle-san-andreas-and-me.html|Mountain Cycle]] made the first mountain bike specific disc brakes in 1989. Other mountain disc brake makers soon followed:
* **1991** : [[https://www.oldschoolracing.ch/archiv/hope/|Hope]]
* **1993** : [[https://www.rideformula.com/page/our-heritage/|Formula]] - fully hydraulic
* **1995** : [[https://web.archive.org/web/20101126141111/http://www.amp-research.com/company/history/amp-research-mountain-bikes/|Amp Research]]
{{mcr:1983.jpg?300|1983 Skinner Descender}}
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1983 MCR Skinner Descender
[[http://mombatbicycles.com/MOMBAT/BikeHistoryPages/Descender.html|mombat]]
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Rear disc brakes only, with cantilever fronts.
{{phil.jpg?300|1980 Phil Wood}}
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1980 Phil Wood Disc Brakes
[[https://www.bikeforums.net/bicycle-mechanics/679565-phil-wood-disc-brakes-anybody-have-real-world-experience-these.html|bikeforums]]
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Disc brake overkill for a mountain bike. Appearances were deceptive, as they are actually a tandem [[https://santanatandem.com/brake-tech/|drag brake]] - but they look like they work!((Phil Wood disc brakes were discontinued soon afterwards, due to brake fade and mechanical failures.))
{{hope.jpg?300|1991 Hope Disc Brakes}}
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1991 Hope Disc Brakes
[[http://mombatbicycles.com/MOMBAT/Bikes/1991_Fisher_RS1.html|mombat]]
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Disc brakes from a full-suspension [[http://mombatbicycles.com/MOMBAT/Bikes/1991_Fisher_RS1.html|1991 Fisher RS-1]]((Interestingly, the Fisher RS-1 went on to rely upon the Mountain Cycle [[https://mbaction.com/throwback-thursday-merts-moab-magic/|Pro-Stops]] in later versions.))
{{lemon.jpg?360|1973 Schwinn Lemon Peeler}}
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1973 Schwinn Lemon Peeler
[[https://www.mecum.com/lots/DA0919-389968/1973-schwinn-lemon-peeler-bicycle/|mecum]]
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Five speed stick shift, front suspension and Schwinn rear disc brakes.
{{prostop.jpg?360|1991 Mountain Cycle Pro Stop}}
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1991 Mountain Cycle Pro Stop
[[https://www.pinkbike.com/news/now-that-was-a-bike-mountain-cycle-san-andreas.html|pinkbike]]
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In 1989, Mountain Cycle made perhaps the first disc brakes specific to mountain biking: the Pro-Stop cable actuated hydraulic disc brakes mated to their Suspenders inverted fork.
{{formula.jpg?360|1993 Formula Standard}}
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1993 Formula Standard
[[https://www.rideformula.com/page/our-heritage/|rideformula]]
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The first fully hydraulic mountain bike disc brakes.