colnago62

79pmooney

They get paid to ride the bikes provided by their sponsors. Very few of the top pros get much choice here. (Yes, they can speak up in private to their managers and mechanics, but come race day, they suit up, ride the bikes they've been given and say good things about them after the race if they are interviewed.) I wouldn't read too much into this.

Ben

Seattle Forrest

Disc brakes work the way I want my bike's brakes to work. Whatever other cyclists ride doesn't change that.

colnago62

colnago62

CliffordK

I was watching some of the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (Men's & Women's). It looks like the riders are on a mix of Disc & rim brakes.

The wheel change is apparently quicker for rim brakes if they should choose to change wheels rather than swapping bikes.

Retoocs

If you were to put accelerometers on the bikes and strain gages on the brake levers to monitor braking force, I guarantee no rider would come close to 100% except in a crash. Even on a closed course criterium with slow speed corners. Cyclist simply do not ride the same way as racecar driver or motorcyclists would around a track. Cyclist prefer longer gradual braking than short maximum braking. In reality, it didn't really matter which brakes you have if you never use the full capabilities.

The one exception would be carbon rims in the wet where discs are more consistent.

nycphotography

Incorrect.

Dan333SP

In a pack, yea, gradual braking is key. However, I'm sure the best descenders are approaching wheel-locking levels of braking force when braking into hairpin turns while flying down a mountain, solo.

Retoocs

Nope, nowhere near the maximum. You have to look at the kinematics involved in braking. As you decelerate, your high center of gravity will pivot about the front contact patch. As the weight transfers forward, your rear brakes lose its effectiveness as the normal force reaches zero in the friction equation. If you continue to increase the rate of deceleration your rear wheel will just come off the ground. That's the point where you reached maximum braking force when the rider is the limitation. On low grip surfaces, the front wheel will skid first.

If there is someone that brakes that hard, corner after corner, I would like to see a video of that.

maartendc

Probably this. The race was dry, so limited benefit to discs. The benefit of a quicker wheel change in a race with high likelihood of puncturing probably outweighs the benefits of the better braking. But as you can see, different riders make different choices (and most riders have the option of a rim and disc version of each bike).

Why is this such a touchy subject anyway? Disc brakes are great, but rim brakes definitely have their place as well.

maartendc

While this is certainly true for the brand of bike and wheels they use, you'd be surprised how much leeway the riders get in terms of setup. If you'd ever watch a GCN tech video with reviews of the pro bikes, you know what I mean:

- Often, some riders of a certain team for a certain race will be on disc brakes, while others are on rim brakes.
- Some will ride a mechanical groupset while others ride Etap or Di2. (Contador preferred mechanical)
- Some will ride 50mm deep wheels, others 30mm, etc.
- Obviously they get a choice of width of handlebars, length of stem, length of crankset, etc. etc.

And when it comes to personal fit choices, it goes even further: it is common for riders to ride a brand of saddle that is NOT their sponsor. In that case they will take off the logos. This is because the rider comfort goes above all else.

Clipped_in

^^^^Agreed!

nycphotography

Yes, absolutely at the maximum. That is exactly what racing is all about.

rubiksoval

Just no. So much no.

seau grateau

He didn't win. What is this thread even about?

Seattle Forrest

​​​​​​Most people (who aren't casual riders a few times a year) know the tires limit how much stopping power you have, not the brake system.

Hydraulic discs aren't about stopping power. They're about modulation, consistency in all weather, rim longevity for some people, lever force for some people, and just feel too for some people.

maartendc

Exactly. Oh, Alaphilippe won and used Disc brakes, Van Aert rode Rim brakes and was 3rd. If only Van Aert had had Disc brakes, he would have won!!

End this thread already.

TiHabanero

From a service perspective I love disc brakes. Flush and bleed at least every 2 years means more service business. Warped rotors mean more service business. Replacing cheap stock rotors with good rotors means more service business. Lost pads mean more service business. Seriously, they are better for the service department.

Marcus_Ti

You'll note that Strade Bianchi was bone dry this year...unlike years past.

maartendc

I'll let you in on a little secret, it never matters. All Worldtour teams use bikes that are very good.

TimothyH

...on gravel.


-Tim-

63rickert

You have one part of braking figured out. But rear wheel only lifts off ground if center of gravity is positioned so that this is possible. Under severe downhill braking anyone who is pushing hard has their butt way in back of saddle and may be wiping the rear tire with their shorts. Any who are braking downhill while still in saddle just aren't braking that hard. And of course it then makes no difference what brake system they are using.

Any who lift rear wheel on level ground are simply sitting too high and too forward. Standard configuration of a bicycle puts center of gravity where it is not possible to exit over handlebars. Were this not so bicycles would be too dangerous to use. Of course many will set up their bikes to make them dangerous.

You have it correct that limit on braking power is braking traction. Same for discs and rim brakes. Many simply prefer the feel of discs. Even if it is demonstrated to them that their wonderful super duper discs stop not one bit shorter than the guy next to them on rim brakes they still like the feel of discs.

sdmc530

Yup^^^ is the engine not the brakes on the bike...