Convert a Cannondale SM1000 (about 1991 model) to disk brakes I've got an older, about 1991, model Cannondale SM1000 mountain bike purchased new.  Would it be worth it to convert to disk brakes and if so what would be the process?
Adding a front disk brake:


Possible?  Yes!
Financially feasible?  Probably not.
Worth doing?  Only as a learning experience - don't expect it to turn out as good as a modern bike.


Your bike is 25 years old, and as such it will be a product of its time.  The fork will not have mountings for disk calipers, so you're up for welding some on, or replacing the fork.

If you weld, hopefully its a rigid fork because welding anything onto a suspension fork is incredibly hard, plus the risk of damaging the suspension.

Replacing the fork is easier, but you're going to need a 1" threaded MTB fork with disk mounts.

If all the other parts swap over unmodified, you're very lucky.

Do you have any emotional attachment to the old canoodle ?  Modifying it can be a bad idea and spoil your connection with the old bike.

I suggest you price up a new fork, wheel, caliper (both cable and hydraulic) rotor and see what the total parts cost is for both sorts.  Then go try some new bikes in a real shop, and calculate the difference in price.   You can even subtract whatever you'd get for selling the old bike, or revel in becoming a cyclist whose N value is now 2.

Just remember rule 12 (http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/#12)

If you can get the parts for nothing, then by all means its a good project.  However it'll never be modern - instead its mutton dressed as lamb.