Another Op-Ed related to steel vs CF
02-12-24, 07:44 PM
#51
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And, in competition, considerably slower wheel swaps. Wout van Aert lost nearly a minute getting a wheel from a teammate at Clásica Jaén in Spain today and didn't succeed in the chase. Faster change with rim brakes and quick releases? We won't know but it a good bet. Faster wheel changes = more race placings = more money and = better sponsor advertising.
02-12-24, 07:51 PM
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The wheel change took 38 seconds, which is pretty slow, but it didn't look like van Aert was in a big hurry to get it done.
02-12-24, 07:56 PM
#53
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Forgot about that: idiotic thru-axle systems only required due to disc brakes, and the associated glacial wheel changes. With rim brakes and standard road width rims, you flip the QR lever and the wheel drops out. New wheel drops straight in - you don't have to spin or fiddle with anything. 5 seconds.
But with thru-axles (which to be clear are not actually axles) you have to spin a lever until the axle comes out, insert a wheel trying aiming at that 3mm gap between the disc pads, and then spin the axle back in. Of course the rotors will rub, requiring you to loosen the bolts on the calipers, re-align the calipers, retighten the bolts, and then pray. It is for this reason that pro teams just swap with the backup bikes on the team car.
Of course, there are 10 different thru-axle "standards" designed to fit different brands and dropout widths.
But with thru-axles (which to be clear are not actually axles) you have to spin a lever until the axle comes out, insert a wheel trying aiming at that 3mm gap between the disc pads, and then spin the axle back in. Of course the rotors will rub, requiring you to loosen the bolts on the calipers, re-align the calipers, retighten the bolts, and then pray. It is for this reason that pro teams just swap with the backup bikes on the team car.
Of course, there are 10 different thru-axle "standards" designed to fit different brands and dropout widths.
02-12-24, 08:18 PM
#54
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Forgot about that: idiotic thru-axle systems only required due to disc brakes, and the associated glacial wheel changes. With rim brakes and standard road width rims, you flip the QR lever and the wheel drops out. New wheel drops straight in - you don't have to spin or fiddle with anything. 5 seconds.
But with thru-axles (which to be clear are not actually axles) you have to spin a lever until the axle comes out, insert a wheel trying aiming at that 3mm gap between the disc pads, and then spin the axle back in. Of course the rotors will rub, requiring you to loosen the bolts on the calipers, re-align the calipers, retighten the bolts, and then pray. It is for this reason that pro teams just swap with the backup bikes on the team car.
Of course, there are 10 different thru-axle "standards" designed to fit different brands and dropout widths.
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02-12-24, 08:25 PM
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Forgot about that: idiotic thru-axle systems only required due to disc brakes, and the associated glacial wheel changes. With rim brakes and standard road width rims, you flip the QR lever and the wheel drops out. New wheel drops straight in - you don't have to spin or fiddle with anything. 5 seconds.
But with thru-axles (which to be clear are not actually axles) you have to spin a lever until the axle comes out, insert a wheel trying aiming at that 3mm gap between the disc pads, and then spin the axle back in. Of course the rotors will rub, requiring you to loosen the bolts on the calipers, re-align the calipers, retighten the bolts, and then pray. It is for this reason that pro teams just swap with the backup bikes on the team car.
Of course, there are 10 different thru-axle "standards" designed to fit different brands and dropout widths.
But with thru-axles (which to be clear are not actually axles) you have to spin a lever until the axle comes out, insert a wheel trying aiming at that 3mm gap between the disc pads, and then spin the axle back in. Of course the rotors will rub, requiring you to loosen the bolts on the calipers, re-align the calipers, retighten the bolts, and then pray. It is for this reason that pro teams just swap with the backup bikes on the team car.
Of course, there are 10 different thru-axle "standards" designed to fit different brands and dropout widths.
02-12-24, 08:46 PM
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And, in competition, considerably slower wheel swaps. Wout van Aert lost nearly a minute getting a wheel from a teammate at Clásica Jaén in Spain today and didn't succeed in the chase. Faster change with rim brakes and quick releases? We won't know but it a good bet. Faster wheel changes = more race placings = more money and = better sponsor advertising.
02-12-24, 08:50 PM
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Forgot about that: idiotic thru-axle systems only required due to disc brakes, and the associated glacial wheel changes. With rim brakes and standard road width rims, you flip the QR lever and the wheel drops out. New wheel drops straight in - you don't have to spin or fiddle with anything. 5 seconds.
And you do have to spin the QR if you have lawyer tabs.
02-12-24, 08:51 PM
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02-12-24, 08:56 PM
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As far as disc brakes on road bikes, maybe if you are doing bike camping in the rain, then I would recommend discs, but for a performance go-fast bike, discs are not worth the weight penalty. As with other nonsense such as tubeless and fat (>28mm tires) they are just an inappropriate port-over from mountain bikes, designed to appeal to new road riders who don’t know any better.
The disc penalty is not just about the weight of the rotors, hydraulic lines, heavier calipers etc., but the frame reinforcements required to withstand the braking forces of discs. As mentioned earlier, the forces from braking on discs travels from the ground to the fork ends and then to the frame, an inferior path than with rim brakes. So you have to reinforce the forks, leading to a stiffer less compliant ride. Plus you have to add more crossed spokes in disc wheels, again more weight at the worst possible place on a bike.
In addition to the weight penalty, manufacturers have to add $500 to the cost of each new bike with discs, regardless of the cost, for no other reason that they can.
And people who buy disc brake road bike just don't know any better? You know there are people who want discs, right? Are they just stupid?
If most buyers were like you discs never could have become so dominant.
02-12-24, 08:58 PM
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02-12-24, 09:00 PM
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02-12-24, 09:22 PM
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02-12-24, 09:23 PM
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To read this one might think the weight added is several kilos. You know there are disc brake bikes which are at the UCI minimum, right?
And people who buy disc brake road bike just don't know any better? You know there are people who want discs, right? Are they just stupid?
If most buyers were like you discs never could have become so dominant.
And people who buy disc brake road bike just don't know any better? You know there are people who want discs, right? Are they just stupid?
If most buyers were like you discs never could have become so dominant.
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"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."
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02-13-24, 01:33 AM
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02-13-24, 03:58 AM
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Yeah, that “platinum card” guy is not worth the effort replying to. He just pops up with exactly the same comedy routine, which was not even funny the first time. I honestly don’t think he is for real. But you never can tell 😂
02-13-24, 04:01 AM
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Agreed. Wheel changes are still quick and easy and I prefer the precision of thru axles. It’s a stupid, pointless argument.
02-13-24, 04:19 AM
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We have half a dozen bikes in the family with thru axles and I find that swapping wheels is trivially easy and quick on all of them. Maybe it really does take a few seconds longer, but certainly not enough to care.
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02-13-24, 04:28 AM
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02-13-24, 08:27 AM
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It's just a bike. Stop acting like a bunch of mean girls because someone didn't talk nice about yours.
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02-13-24, 08:31 AM
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This statement is a perfect example of what is wrong with Bikeforums. Some of you think that having opinions about how bikes work that you disagree with licenses you to act like awful human beings.
It's just a bike. Stop acting like a bunch of mean girls because someone didn't talk nice about yours.
It's just a bike. Stop acting like a bunch of mean girls because someone didn't talk nice about yours.
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02-13-24, 11:01 AM
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This statement is a perfect example of what is wrong with Bikeforums. Some of you think that having opinions about how bikes work that you disagree with licenses you to act like awful human beings.
It's just a bike. Stop acting like a bunch of mean girls because someone didn't talk nice about yours.
It's just a bike. Stop acting like a bunch of mean girls because someone didn't talk nice about yours.
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02-13-24, 11:46 AM
#72
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This statement is a perfect example of what is wrong with Bikeforums. Some of you think that having opinions about how bikes work that you disagree with licenses you to act like awful human beings.
It's just a bike. Stop acting like a bunch of mean girls because someone didn't talk nice about yours.
It's just a bike. Stop acting like a bunch of mean girls because someone didn't talk nice about yours.
02-13-24, 01:18 PM
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Folks who impede 'progress' and increased bike sales and profits are indeed awful human beings. The bike industry, as bad as shape as it is in right now needs spokespeople and influencers to dispel any contradictory opinions that newer isn't always better. Paid positions perhaps to monitor and steer the discussion on forums and social media towards the new and shinier! Change over the bike fleet ASAP!
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02-13-24, 02:32 PM
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Folks who impede 'progress' and increased bike sales and profits are indeed awful human beings. The bike industry, as bad as shape as it is in right now needs spokespeople and influencers to dispel any contradictory opinions that newer isn't always better. Paid positions perhaps to monitor and steer the discussion on forums and social media towards the new and shinier! Change over the bike fleet ASAP!
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"Don't take life so serious-it ain't nohow permanent."
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02-13-24, 05:47 PM
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You 10 second disc wheel changers help me out here. In the old days I would drop the chain to the smallest cog to make removing and reinserting a QR wheel easier.
If I do that on my disc brake bikes, it seems to make the wheel move left as I pull back the RD to let the wheel in, the top jockey wheel swings inboard -making the rotor scrape on the NDS chainstay. Bad. This is particularly on a GRX shadow mech. Not noticed it so much on 105.
Should I be intentionally leaving the chain further up the cassette? Makes it harder to clear the derailleur though.
If I do that on my disc brake bikes, it seems to make the wheel move left as I pull back the RD to let the wheel in, the top jockey wheel swings inboard -making the rotor scrape on the NDS chainstay. Bad. This is particularly on a GRX shadow mech. Not noticed it so much on 105.
Should I be intentionally leaving the chain further up the cassette? Makes it harder to clear the derailleur though.