Originally Posted by
achoo
Just wait until Shimano, SRAM, Campy, Mavic et al convince, err, ummm, bribe UCI into allowing disk brakes on road bikes. Then to ride a top-end race bike you need to pay for 11 speed, electronic shifting, hydraulic disks. And none of it will be compatible/swappable with not-so-high-end bikes. So you need to pay even more for your UCI-approved 11-speed, disk brake CF wheels - with 135mm rear axles.
Neither the pro riders nor their teams pay for their bikes or groups. These things are provided by their sponsors. If Shimano, et. al. "bribe" the UCI into allowing disc brakes then Shimano, et.al. will bear the cost of donating them to the riders. The upper level armature teams who do pay for their stuff will still have a choice as to what to buy.
BTW, this thread is now at 5 pages and growing. I believe the record for this forum is 8. Will we get there?