In Reply To:
Yet, based on my observations watching virtually every Ironman shown on OLN, 50% or fewer pro's ride a disk. You have to ask yourself which is the case:
1. Pro's know disks are significanlty faster (4 minutes per Ironman claimed) but don't care that they are giving up this "free" time.
2. Pro's haven't figured out this "secret" yet...they don't read enough slowtwitch experts.
If it were really as simple as "A is always better than B" then everyone would have A. Otherwise, pick from above. Don't forget to include various TdF pro's, including world time trial champions, in the group of pro's that haven't figured the secret out yet.
Having a pro license card does not give one a monopoly on good sense (last I checked, there was no IQ test in the application package). Guys riding without discs are giving up time or energy or both, plain and simple. Even if you're going to sit in a train of guys at the front of an IM, having a disc means you're cycling at less power than the guys around you. It's really a no-brainer.
Our sport (and cycling) are rife with "lore" that has no basis in fact, and you'll see people doing all sorts of odd things and still winning.
And -- it's no "secret" for cripesakes. It's just that some people don't believe it because they've been told it's not true. Or, they've been told that the weight penalty isn't worth it. On all but the steepest courses (say, point to point with an uphill net), it's better to give up a little weight in order to be more aero.