Originally Posted by
Wishiwasabiker
Found a Giant escape 3 with rim brakes for $250. Looking for a bike to get started with, but I was under the impression that disc brakes were the way to go. Any input?
I think it's mostly up to personal preference. The good thing is you have a lot of options to try. You can go to any bike dealer and try bikes with linear pull brakes, mechanical disc brakes, and hydraulic disc brakes. Ride all three options with an open mind and see what feels the best to you. I suspect you'll walk away from that experience knowing exactly what you want. If not, if one type doesn't speak any stronger to you than another, then that's good to know also -- you have more choice in the used market!