What makes the components on our woom mountain bikes so special – Part 5: The Disc Brakes

Precise and safe braking without severe strength: The disc brakes on our kids' mountain bikes provide the requisite control for young riders.

Full speed uphill, full control downhill

Powerful, reliable brakes are a non-negotiable for riding off-road. You don't just need skills to ride well – you also need confidence,

especially when developing your skills as a young rider. The sense of being confident and in control is key to building trust in your equipment.

Here's where the hydraulic disc brakes from PROMAX really shine: Not only are they powerful and effective when it comes to their braking performance, they're also remarkably easy to operate.

Even the shape and pull of the levers is a thing: they've been painstakingly designed to suit the ergonomics of children's hands and bring the bike to a safe stop with low hand forces. For young kids, they tick all the boxes.

You can also customize the position and reach of the brake levers. This unlocks the ability to fine-tune the distance between the lever and the handlebar grip, and well as the angle of the lever (higher or lower on the bars) so that your child's fingertips get perfect access to their anchor. This range of adjustability results in increased safety, more comfort and – as a welcome side effect – more confidence.

Interested in learning more about brakes, their technology, and how your child can brake more safely and effectively on the trails? Check out our <<designated guide to off-road braking.

Why kids benefit from MTBs with disc brakes

There's good reason why mountain bikers choose disc brakes over other brake setups.

As a sport that covers a variety of terrain and all weather conditions, the braking performance needs to be consistently high to ensure the rider has full control at all times, even in the wet.

Enter disc brakes and the decades of engineering that have enabled them to prevent overheating on arduous descents, opening up a world of long and steep downhills that young riders can confidently tackle with reliable, proven stopping power. As disc brakes rely on slowing the rotor rather than your tire rim (like on rim brakes), it leads to increased overall durability and no friction-based wear to the rim.

One of the biggest proven plus points for disc brakes is their ease of use. Requiring less effort than conventional rim brakes, your child can achieve a solid braking performance with just one to two fingers, leaving the rest of the fingers in charge of holding the bars and steering. On technical terrain, this is a big safety bonus.

The woom MTB disc brakes in detail:

• Hydraulic disc brakes from PROMAX

• Easy to modulate for nicely controlled braking

• Child-specific brake levers, minimal force required

• Adjustable brake lever position and reach

What's that squeal?

Disc brakes can sometimes emit a squealing or rubbing noise if the brake pads are getting worn, if the rotor is sitting wrongly between the pads (there's only a millimeter or so of space down here!), or if the caliper has got misaligned. While it can be pretty annoying when it happens, it can be easy to resolve at home.

In this how to video, we'll give you a step-by-step guide on changing the pads and realigning the calipers with two little screws.

In the same video, you can learn how to adjust the brake lever position and reach to give your child the safest-possible and most confident ride on the trails.

Remember to go straight to <<our online shop for replacement brake pads for your woom OFF, woom OFF AIR and woom UP.

Note: Repairs and maintenance work of any kind require expertise, experience and special tools. If you're in any doubt about the process, we strongly suggest getting a mechanic to replace your brake pads. For safety reasons, any such repairs are best done by a trained specialist.