Disc brakes in the Pro ranks.
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So Roompot are running discs all season, while OGE have said they ain't touching them...
Kind of makes sense to me.
The former are a classics outfit so most of their targets will be the flatter races with cack weather. The latter are a sunnier race/GT outfit.
Generalising obviously....Napoleon, don't be jealous that I've been chatting online with babes all day. Besides, we both know that I'm training to be a cage fighter.0 -
Pros get a new bike every lap if required so having clogged up brakes isn't so much of a problem I supposeMost pro CX racers still using Canti's even though their sponsors don't have commercially available canti frames anymore. I'm sure they'd all still use Canti's given the choice.
Talked to Helen Wyman about this last year. She moved to discs a while back and rates them so highly for CX she's baffled why anyone is still using cantilevers....Napoleon, don't be jealous that I've been chatting online with babes all day. Besides, we both know that I'm training to be a cage fighter.0 -
Helen is great, I've spoken to her before. Very friendly
Pros get a new bike every lap if required so having clogged up brakes isn't so much of a problem I supposeMost pro CX racers still using Canti's even though their sponsors don't have commercially available canti frames anymore. I'm sure they'd all still use Canti's given the choice.
Talked to Helen Wyman about this last year. She moved to discs a while back and rates them so highly for CX she's baffled why anyone is still using cantilevers....0 -
So Roompot are running discs all season, while OGE have said they ain't touching them...
Kind of makes sense to me.
The former are a classics outfit so most of their targets will be the flatter races with cack weather. The latter are a sunnier race/GT outfit.
Generalising obviously....
yeah... also some discussion as to whether Scott actually have disc ready addicts/foils... lets see what IAM do0 -
First incident with discs was at Roubaix this weekend, the victim Fran Ventoso has written this open letter in response:
I’ve spent thirteen years in the pro cycling peloton and another thirteen moving up the ladder in youth categories. That makes it 26 years on my bike, training every day, enjoying what I like most, my passion. Since I was six, I’ve enjoyed racing, and I continue to do so. I’m so happy to have turned my vocation into a dream job.
Just like in any other sport, cycling has evolved in many technical aspects. However, it has not done so in others in a way we’d all have liked.
Through all these years, I’ve witnessed many improvements on different parts of the bike and cycling apparel. We started off with steel, then aluminum, and later on, carbon. That last one came here to stay, since it was as rigid as we needed while also offering lightness. We’ve also stopped using toeclips for clipless pedals, much more comfortable, effective and secure. Days are long gone when we used hairnet helmets: modern ones are now lighter, beautiful to the eye and offer absolute security guarantees when you use them.
I’ve also seen very important improvements on gearing. My first bike had one chainring and three sprockets; nowadays, we use two chainrings, even three, and 11 sprockets… and I’m certain it won’t end there. Technology evolution has been a sort of trial and error: getting to this point hasn’t been easy. I remember how easily chains were broken when we first used ten sprockets: links that broke, because of materials still not as resistant as it was required… it still happens today. We could also talk about the revolution that has brought the electronic shifting. When it was first shown and used, we all were surprised and made early judgments: it’s not necessary, it might not work well, carrying batteries seems wrong, having to connect your bike to AC is bonkers… And now, we can’t imagine our bikes without it.
My point is: two years ago, we started seeing disc brakes put on cyclocross bikes, and the rumour was that there could be a chance that they be tested in road cycling events.
Beforehand, I want to make this clear: I’m so in favor as anyone else that cyclocross professionals or participants in sportives enjoy the advantages of disc brakes during their rides.
But then, there’s pro road cycling events. Was there really anyone who thought things like Sunday’s wouldn’t happen? Really nobody thought they were dangerous? Nobody realized they can cut, they can become giant knives?
At Paris-Roubaix, only two teams used them. With eight riders each, that makes it sixteen, carrying a total 32 disc brakes into the peloton. Let me take you to 130km into the race: into a cobbled section, a pile-up splits the field, with riders falling everywhere. I’ve got to break [brake] but I can’t avoid crashing against the rider in front of me, who was also trying not to hit the ones ahead. I didn’t actually fall down: it was only my leg touching the back of his bike. I keep riding. But shortly afterwards, I have a glance at that leg: it doesn’t hurt, there’s not a lot of blood covering it, but I can clearly see part of the periosteum, the membrane or surface that covers my tibia. I get off my bike, throw myself against the right-hand side of the road over the grass, cover my face with my hands in shock and disbelief, start to feel sick… I could only wait for my team car and the ambulance, while a lot of things come through my mind.
Just a stroke of bad luck? I don’t thing so: few kilometers later, one of the thoughts I had sitting in the gutter becomes real.
15km after my incident, Nikolas Maes, a rider from Etixx-Quick Step, comes into the very same ambulance I’m sitting in. There’s a deep wound in his knee, produced by another disc, one of those 32. One question comes inevitably and immediately to one’s mind: what will happen when 396 discs get into a race where 198 riders ferociously battle for position?
Disc brakes should have NEVER arrived into the peloton, not at least as we know them right now. I haven’t met any rider who has run out of braking power with traditional brakes; I haven’t known anyone who didn’t see his wheels skidding when you brake with all power you’ve got, no matter traditional or disc brakes. Then: why using them?
Conversely, there are lots of problems to change wheels after a puncture; added trouble for neutral service, which has to carry three or four different sets of wheels to help you out in case your team car is not around… and the most worrying thing, as I stated before, is that disc brakes in its actual concept are giant knives, ‘machetes’ when crashing against or crashed by them at a certain speed. And in some points, we reach 80, 90, 100 kilometres per hour.
I’ve been lucky: I didn’t get my leg chopped off, it’s just some muscle and skin. But can you imagine that disk cutting a jugular or a femoral artery? I would prefer not to.
All of this happens because the international riders’ association –the CPA–, national riders’ associations, international and national feds, teams and, above all of them, OURSELVES, PROFESSIONAL RIDERS, are not doing anything. We always think that it’s not a problem if it doesn’t happen to ourselves. We always wait for horrible things to happen in order to take measures. Sooner or later, it could happen to anybody: it’s a matter of probability, we’ve all got the same. Pro riders should take a look beyond our own belly. Others tell us what we should do, but we just can’t forget WE’VE GOT THE POWER TO CHOOSE, AND WE SHOULD MAKE A CHOICE.
Disks produce cuts. This time it was me; tomorrow, it can be more serious and happen to others.
http://velonews.competitor.com/2016/04/ ... JwJeGzg.990 -
Very well written letter.
I'm waiting on the usuals on here coming and commenting about needing the stopping power and chain rings.0 -
Not really sure how he managed to achieve such a serious cut off a disc brake like that?0
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And Merckx agreed with him at the event I saw him at a couple of weeks ago."In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"
@gietvangent0 -
Shadowrider wrote:Very well written letter.
I'm waiting on the usuals on here coming and commenting about needing the stopping power and chain rings.
This is a significant injury and the reasons behind it need to be understood as well as the risk and frequency. Pro peloton riders have been injured by support cars, dogs, horses, spectators etc. It may just be a freak occurrence or could mean a redesign of disc brakes for more tightly packed road racing. The "letter" sounds like it was written while in shock as it contains various inaccuracies but an understanding of what happened is important0 -
Did anyone happen to see this crash? I'm not convinced the injuries (pics were included on the facebook post) were caused by merely touching a disc.And the people bowed and prayed, to the neon god they made.0
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NeXXus wrote:Did anyone happen to see this crash? I'm not convinced the injuries (pics were included on the facebook post) were caused by merely touching a disc.
The injury to his his left leg, he claimed he hit the back of a back and didn't come off during the collision. Unless someone was upside down or doing a barrel role it doesn't really tie up.0 -
bobmcstuff wrote:Not really sure how he managed to achieve such a serious cut off a disc brake like that?
I can't figure it out either.0 -
why doesn't it tie up? someone in front of him stops,, as he stops he comes to a hult alongside/behind the rider in front but still at speed, unclips puts his foot down and leg hits the hot, thin disc rotor which slices through his legfrisbee wrote:NeXXus wrote:Did anyone happen to see this crash? I'm not convinced the injuries (pics were included on the facebook post) were caused by merely touching a disc.
The injury to his his left leg, he claimed he hit the back of a back and didn't come off during the collision. Unless someone was upside down or doing a barrel role it doesn't really tie up.0 -
I can't see how a disc results in that shape cut.Napoleon, don't be jealous that I've been chatting online with babes all day. Besides, we both know that I'm training to be a cage fighter.0
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http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/rac ... ake-220827Given the cut on his left leg and that discs mount on the left side of bikes, Copeland said it becomes harder to believe that it could have been from a disc brake. However, he said it is possible that Ventoso tumbled and landed in such a way for it to happen.
However he said he didnt fall, just bumped into the bike in front. How the hell did he slice his left leg against the rotor which is on the left hand side of the bike in front then?0 -
The lying liar :roll:"In many ways, my story was that of a raging, Christ-like figure who hauled himself off the cross, looked up at the Romans with blood in his eyes and said 'My turn, sock cookers'"
@gietvangent0 -
He could have got tangled up a bit without coming down, if he was passing the bike in front to the right, unclips with his left and gets his leg over the back wheel.Warning No formatter is installed for the format0
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Good to see the experts righting the wrongs.0
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Uci have suspended discs them.My blog: http://www.roubaixcycling.cc (kit reviews and other musings)
https://twitter.com/roubaixcc
Facebook? No. Just say no.0 -
Tw@tter full of morons comparing the speed at which the UCI have made a decision vs apparent indecision over motos.
I have swiftly unfollowed.
Can't be dealing with thick morons. Life's too short.0 -
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:roll:Rick Chasey wrote:Tw@tter full of morons comparing the speed at which the UCI have made a decision vs apparent indecision over motos.
I have swiftly unfollowed.
Can't be dealing with thick morons. Life's too short.
Banning something that's hardly being used anyway is hardly the same as trying to redesign the whole moto thing. Fairly obvious.
They must be thick as you say.Napoleon, don't be jealous that I've been chatting online with babes all day. Besides, we both know that I'm training to be a cage fighter.0 -
Be interesting to see the conclusion of this. It does sound a bit weird that he's cut his left leg on the disc of the bike in front, but weird things happen in crashes. I once fell off my bike on some tree sap coated paving slabs. Next thing I knew I was sliding feet first on my stomach facing back the way I'd come. I had to pull one of the brake levers out of one of my socks afterwards.0
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Feel sorry for Roompot - their mechanics will have a lot of work to do before GP de Denain tomorrow.
Good decision though.0 -
frisbee wrote:NeXXus wrote:Did anyone happen to see this crash? I'm not convinced the injuries (pics were included on the facebook post) were caused by merely touching a disc.
The injury to his his left leg, he claimed he hit the back of a back and didn't come off during the collision. Unless someone was upside down or doing a barrel role it doesn't really tie up.
Yeah, not saying he didn't manage to cut himself on a disc but as described it doesn't really follow. I guess as others have said shock of the incident etc...0 -
RichN95 wrote:Ventoso's claims aren't enough for me. I will need some high definition footage of a really shocking injury until I get outraged. Until then the riders should shut up and adhere to my ill thought out opinions.
There really does need to be a daily Outrage poll of cycling fans to decide which is to be the Outrage du Jour0 -
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ddraver wrote:So long as the knee jerks in the way one wants eh?
a knee jerk certainly explains how he got his injury.0
