Which rim brakes are best for XC, I'm a 15 stoner and ride hard. Any suggestions?

Dave

Avids are generally better than Shimano, especially when used with Avid levers and LX and XTR Vs are meant to be good but XT tend to squeel.

That's pretty much the jist of it. You will probably need some more specific guidance though.

Magura hydraulics - the HS33. You should be able to get a complete (levers, hoses, brakes) for about £100, though it's a bike job to fit them.

Otherwise the parallel-push XTR Vs are said to give the most feel & power, while Avid's Speed Dial levers are the best levers.

I have Avid Mag Ti V's with cartridge pads, I replaced the rim wrangler 2 pads with WTB dual compound 'razor blades' for winter conditions all activated with XT levers and Clarke Climb8 cables. These are really excellent V'brakes, lightweight and powerful so I can highly recommend them.

HS33s are too heavy for xc really, go for XTR Vs or spanky pants Avids. Was possibly setup, but I was impressed mroe by the XTRs than the Avids (can't remember which model the Avids were).

As a 14st hardtail rider with a riding style I would call 'clumsy' I've tried all sorts over the years and have ended up with XTR V's, XTR cables (does actually make a difference fitting decent cables & outers), and XTR levers all running on Mavic X517 Ceramic rims. All pricey I know but the combination of fantastic brakes and ceramic rims is fantastic. I've read mixed reviews on ceramics but I used to get through a normal 217 or 517 rim every year or so and these ceramics look like new after two and a half years of abuse and the braking's miles better as well. Everyone should have some.

A complete HS33 set weighs about 800g, but the control & power is so superior to cable brakes, it's worth it.

Dan has the correct answer, especially for someone who weighs 15 stone.

To be honest (not wanting to be rude) the few hundred grammes extra for hydraulics, compared to your 17stone weight, will more than be compsenated for by the extra power to slow your mass. (Hope that wasn't offensive.)

Ooo didn't see MW post there, and 'your' refers to dave!

And sorry for calling you 17st, not 15!

That OK, no offence caused, dont the maguras cause problems with crushing rims when they become weaker

It's not something I've ever heard of, anyone else?

Its only my personal opinion but I tried having maguras about 4 years ago and thought they felt too solid with not much feel to them. Very on/off with not much in between, plus I didnt like the quick release on them compared to V's.

i've run XT and got avids with my stumpy and am impressed by the avids, much better action/feel/lever.

I've used Avid, XT, and XTR V's. Avid speed dial levers are the best, XT brakes are the most powerful, and the pimpster in me just loves the full XTR setup, which are neither quite as powerful as XT, nor precisely adjustable on the lever as the Avid. Avid brakes themselves are powerful, but too grabby compared to the parallel push Shimano offerings. Still you'd get used to all of them. I've also converted back to V's after giving up on the appalling pad life of Hope disc brakes in the wet. Top V's get 95% of the job done, whereas very shortlived disc pads have forced me and friends to get off the bikes in the past - no brakes at all is just too dangerous.

I like the look of the Avid single didgit 7, full set for 70 notes (including Flack Jacket cable set) sounds a bargain to me.

I've got the Avid SD7s - I got the 70 quid deal you are talking about. They seem pretty good to me, although they are the first `good' brakes I've used (the V-brakes that came on my bike were pretty mince...)