What type of Bike ?

[Joe_W]

I guess I'd not take hydraulic disc brakes but rahter mechanic rim brakes. They are easier to work on and the likelihood of coming across parts that can be (ab)used to replace a broken brake is higher + I gues that (with some grease on the pivots and a new cable and brake pad now and then) they should work forever (or as close that it makes no difference 'cause I'd be eaten by a wolf before that, or dead from something that can be cured easily now but is lethal in that situation)...