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TECH NEWS

Do the pros want disc brakes or not? We might soon find out

Professional racing cyclists to be surveyed on disc brakes by the CPA

Following the news that the UCI is extending the trial of disc brakes in the professional peloton for the entire 2016 season, the CPA (the international association of professional cyclists) has announced it is to survey professional cyclists on the merits of disc brakes with the results being published in January.

- UCI confirms disc brake trials to continue in 2016

So far we’ve heard very little from the people that will actually have to race disc-braked road bikes though there has been some comment following the first disc brake trials in August and September this year. Do the pros want disc brakes and do they have any say in the matter, appears to be the CPA’s argument?

The organisation is keen to stress that it isn’t against the rolling out of disc brakes in professional racing, telling us that it “is not all hostile to any  technological development in cycling.”

“Certainly our sport is also a mechanical sport, but so far, research and innovation should not be implemented without considering the priority  concerns of the riders, especially in terms of security,” it declares in a press release today.

“On numerous occasions we have exposed the various problems associated with this technology.”

What are these problems that the organisation is worried about? There are concerns of the difference in braking power leading to crashes, and also of injuries caused by hot rotors scalding exposed flesh. Concerns like these are chiefly why trials need to be conducted to try and gain some meaningful data, and put to bed idle speculation.

The UCI set up the Equipment Commission a few years ago to look at the technical rules regarding racing bikes, but the CPA complains that it has no representation on this panel. It has asked, without success, but says it isn’t able to “explain the views of the riders” to the UCI.

The CPA is currently conducting a survey with professional racing cyclists will reveal the results to the UCI in the New Year. We hope the results are made public.

Focus Izalco Disc 2016 19

Does a professional rider have any say in the equipment they use? Typically, no. Each team is backed by a bike brand with significant financial input, so to an extent the pros race what they’re given. The introduction of disc brakes has certainly been led by several cycling equipment manufacturers, and so far we’ve only heard a little feedback from the people who will actually have to race disc-equipped bikes. Does a rider deserve to have an input into the disc brake debate, or is it too late for that discussion?

The biggest name in professional cycling to wade into the disc brake debate is Vincenzo Nibali, who tells www.cyclingnews.com that “it’s part of a normal evolution of cycling and bikes.” 

He adds: "I've never tried disc brakes on the road and so it'll be something new for me. Disc brakes on mountain bikes are great but using them in races will be a little different.

- 2016's hottest disc-equipped road bikes

“They'll be good in the wet but a doubt that perhaps remains is in the case of a crash that involves several riders. A hot disc brake can be dangerous. Riders will need to learn how to use disc brakes properly and learn how to modulate their braking. It's all about getting used to it."

The CPA thinks the pros haven’t been consulted in the trialling of disc brakes.

“We have many comments and suggestions from the riders, which however cannot express their thoughts freely as individuals. It is well known that the cycle industries are major financial partners of our sport and that sometimes it is very difficult to oppose."

So, disc brakes in the professional peloton, it could be a bumpy road yet.

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes

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11 comments

Avatar
xbr976 | 8 years ago
1 like

I hate complexity getting added to bikes. I'm not much of a mechanic, but I'm able to do the caliper brake stuff just fine. I'm a fairly large guy and rode in CA's Santa Cruz Mtns. for 30 years and never felt my braking was underpowered (or the modualtion wasn't fine enough).

Admittedly that was rarely in the rain, however in my view calipers still work reasonably well in most wet conditions-it's the very fact that pavement is wet is what makes the riding more problematic.

Of course I realize resistance is futile. 

Avatar
Ham-planet replied to xbr976 | 8 years ago
0 likes

xbr976 wrote:

I hate complexity getting added to bikes. I'm not much of a mechanic, but I'm able to do the caliper brake stuff just fine. I'm a fairly large guy and rode in CA's Santa Cruz Mtns. for 30 years and never felt my braking was underpowered (or the modualtion wasn't fine enough).

Admittedly that was rarely in the rain, however in my view calipers still work reasonably well in most wet conditions-it's the very fact that pavement is wet is what makes the riding more problematic.

Of course I realize resistance is futile. 

I suppose you're looking forward to hydraulic disc brakes then? They have fewer moving parts than mechanical rim brakes, I'm told.

Avatar
ridein | 8 years ago
1 like

You never hear of riders/pros who get burned by scalding hot rims after prolonged braking.

Avatar
Kapelmuur | 8 years ago
1 like

It's of interest to road cc becuase what the professionals do is adopted by the trade and riders in general.

If discs become the norm in the pro peleton it wont be long before it becomes difficult to find a road bike in the market with caliper brakes.

 

 

Avatar
fukawitribe replied to Kapelmuur | 8 years ago
0 likes

Kapelmuur wrote:

It's of interest to road cc becuase what the professionals do is adopted by the trade and riders in general.

If discs become the norm in the pro peleton it wont be long before it becomes difficult to find a road bike in the market with caliper brakes.

 

Indeed - which is why it's next to impossible to buy a new bike these days that doesn't have an electronic groupset and deep section wheels  3

Avatar
mrmo replied to fukawitribe | 8 years ago
0 likes

fukawitribe wrote:

Indeed - which is why it's next to impossible to buy a new bike these days that doesn't have an electronic groupset and deep section wheels  3

 

How many non disc mtb's can you get these days? 

Avatar
fukawitribe replied to mrmo | 8 years ago
1 like

mrmo wrote:

fukawitribe wrote:

Indeed - which is why it's next to impossible to buy a new bike these days that doesn't have an electronic groupset and deep section wheels  3

 

How many non disc mtb's can you get these days? 

Loads. Not sure why you'd not want them on a MTB but hey...

Avatar
Chuffy | 8 years ago
2 likes

I don't understand the concerns re: people burning themselves on hot discs. The only way a disc is going to be at a temperature to do damage is after a period of prolonged braking. The only time that occurs is on long, fast descents and I've never seen a mass pile-up on one of those.

The comments from some pros (and ex pros, like Millar) sound like they're based on complete ignorance. Anyone who read forum discussions on road discs from ten years ago would find them depressingly familiar (and wrong).

Avatar
mrmo replied to Chuffy | 8 years ago
0 likes

Chuffy wrote:

I don't understand the concerns re: people burning themselves on hot discs. The only way a disc is going to be at a temperature to do damage is after a period of prolonged braking. The only time that occurs is on long, fast descents and I've never seen a mass pile-up on one of those.

Discs do get that hot from not very long decents, i have seen burns on MTbers in the UK on relatively short descents in the Cotswolds (and i mean relative to local not global)

Pro's and con's, 

Discs do have benefits if your riding in shitty conditions, they do save your rims etc. 

Now in pro racing, race bike, slow wheel changes, or more realistically more spare bikes needed, gets expensive. Do you really gain anything by moving from caliper brakes to disc brakes? I can see improved braking for carbon wheels being a plus, but is it that much of a plus? 

If there are riders who have concerns, which it appears there are, would it not make sense to get them on board. Rather than the situation which appears to be Sram/Shimano have got a new product to sell and riders be damned. 

Avatar
Simon E | 8 years ago
6 likes

Don't care.

Don't care.

Don't care.

This is the most boring non-topic I've ever encountered. Please, please, PLEASE road.cc let's talk about something else!

Avatar
Pigpen replied to Simon E | 8 years ago
0 likes

Simon E wrote:

Don't care.

Don't care.

Don't care.

This is the most boring non-topic I've ever encountered. Please, please, PLEASE road.cc let's talk about something else!

 

I sort of agree, they ride in a group and hardly brake at all. No comparison to me in London in the rain when the lights hit red. I use them for safety, as I don’t have the privilege to ride closed roads.

Although it does have a mild curiosity, and road.cc does try to cater for all...

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