Originally Posted by
merlinextraligh
It totally takes longer to switch a disc brake wheel with thru axle. Even with a lever built in, unscrewing it pulling it out, getting the wheel seated with disc, getting the thru axle started back in the threads. I can swap a Qr wheel in a couple of seconds. Everything goes right with a disc wheel it’s going to take twice as long. Any hiccups, ie the axle doesn’t want line up and thread or the disc doesn’t want to seat and it’s more than a minute and this doesn’t even raise the issue of the disc spacing being a mm off on a neutral support wheel.
and who fixes a flat in a race? I don’t think I have ever done a road race without a wheel truck.
Lucky you. Most of the races here don't offer wheel support. So, if you don't fix your flat, you don't even get a good training ride in. Even in the races that offer neutral support, the time to remove and install a wheel is minor compared to the time it takes to actually get the wheel.
as for the 200 grams, let’s see a direct apple to apples same dollars comparison of weight. It’s getting harder because many bikes are no longer offered with rim brakes, but last time I checked, it was typically a pound or two comparing the same bike.
I checked it when I built my last race bike. The frame was a few grams heavier and the bare wheels were the same. The total difference was basically a bit more than the weight of the rotors.