UAE On Rim Brakes
 

UAE chose rim brake bikes for today’s stage in the Tour. One of the descents is the one that Sagan crashed on in 2018. A very technical drop, which makes their choice interesting. The team must feel the slightly lighter bike outweighs the advantage discs have over rims in braking. My next frame is going to be a rim brake only because it is a warranty replacement and Trek won’t replace it with the disc frame. Of course, all those guys descend better than I do so it is probably less critical.

Wouldn't you have to then buy a new groupset for disc brakes if they gave you a disc frame?

No. Levers and rotors

If there's a big difference in feel/performance between the two, I would think going back and between systems would be more of a concern than using one or the other. I guess it's not a problem.

Got a screen cap?

A more general question: when pro teams run rim brakes, do they pair them with wheels that have aluminum rim tracks?

The UCI weight min of 6.8kg on bikes means that there is no weight penalty at the pro level. You can easily get disc bikes below that limit...

Thanks. Looks like the answer to my question is "no"

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4f5a3ae7e.jpeg

I wonder if it's different in the rain.

I have two disc brake frames with Campy 160mm rotors and Juin-Tech GT four piston calipers that are operated by rim brake force axs levers. Works great.

Are you sure about that?
Examples of such bikes?
Also Pro's use fairly regular components for reliability and sponsorship reasons. So they are not weight weenie builds.

The UCI has a minimum weight cap. Bikes can’t be lighter than a certain weight.

Several of the bikes here qualify.

My guess is that the team felt this was a critical stage and wanted to be able to have the riders be able to give Pogacar a wheel if needed. It is much faster with quick release wheels than disc wheels.

Here is an off the shelf Trek that is under the UCI limit...

https://www.trekbikes.com/nlelectra/...e=bluedark_red

The top spec Tarmac SL 7 is about the same weight too although Specialized (annoyingly) doesn’t publish their bike weights.

And I would say that most pro bikes absolutely qualify as weight weenie builds within the parameters set by the UCI…

What a super light weight bike allows a team to do is add weight without it being a penalty. For example, adding a power meter or deeper section wheels.

Might have been the quicker wheel swap factor already mentioned.

Froome has continued to be somewhat critical of disc brakes on his team bike, midway through the TdF, mostly due to the overheating and noise problem on longer descents. Apparently the Israel Start-Up Nation team mechanic is trying other disc units, rather than swapping to bikes with rim brakes.

In my experience, one bike with 105 disc, another with 105 rim, theres no noticeable difference. I would not be upgrading a road bike to get better braking performance from disc brakes, I would understand upgrading to disc plus carbon rims, plus thru axle, mostly as its more future proof.

I remember when some tennis pros were against the change from white to yellow balls.

Not sure what this means.

The advertised weight does not include pedals, bottle cages or computer. That adds 300 grams to my bike.

You are half right...

​​​​​​Official UCI Rule:
ARTICLE 1.3.019
“The weight of the bicycle cannot be less than 6.8 kilograms.”
The minimum weight of the bicycle (in working order) is 6.800 kg, considered without on-board accessories in place, that is to say those items that may be removed during the event. The bottles,
on-board computers and GPS systems must be removed during the weight check. However, the bottle cages, fixture systems and clipped-on extensions are part of the bicycle and stay in place during the weighing.

Everyone knows that yellow balls are more bouncy

Canyon Ultimate Evo Disc at 6 kg even.

You can add your pedals and bottle cages and still need to add weight to meet the UCI limit.

2015 Trek Emonda SLR Project One with Zipp 303 wheels, Look pedals, (2) bottle cages and Garmin mount.

It's easy to get under the UCI minimum on a ready to ride bike.

https://www.glenn-ring.com/emonda/scale.jpg

weight as pictured.
https://www.glenn-ring.com/emonda/Emonda_SLR.jpg

Especially as it relates to this thread. UAE had their reasons, whatever they were.