Lots of good stuff on this thread!
Brian, how mechanically inclined does one need to be to pack the Premier? I can do low level stuff like change wheels and chains and cassettes. I have the largest P5d, so I assume it would need to come apart more than a smaller bike.
Wheel cover sounds like a garbage can lid on every bump in the road.
Weird - not mine. I use both the screws and electrical tape where it meets the wheel. Mine is just on a basic Forte Titan.
When I used one mine was pretty good.
I never used the screws, I taped the drive side to the spokes then taped the edge to the rim. I then just taped the edge of the non-drive side to the rim.
I used a 650C Jet 90
I love my disc.
We have one course where I am that is around 20km, an out and back, with the turnaround around ~150m lower than the start. One year on the way out we had a 30km/h headwind.
Keeping the 90mm front pointed down was hard, just a struggle. the wind was already blowing pre-race, and quite a few people (including at least one official) did ask me was I reconsidering the choose of the disc. Reality, I should have gone with a shallower front. But the disc was good on the way down.
This is a course I also ride in training, I think I have gone ~2mins faster on the outward section on a road bike than I did that race. ( and a bit faster again on the TT rig.)
The way back was eye opening on why a disc is better in the wind. 3 mins negative split, and ~6mins faster than my next fastest time on the return segment. (which had a 40km tailwind that previous attempt) The bike just felt planted, and it just flew uphill, perfectly stable. There were not many people who managed a negative split that day, but all had discs. (and from the profile, you should be able to understand why it is less likely to negative split.)
And as others have said, the whoosh whoosh sound gives a mental thumbs up 
Disc cover. NO whoosh whoosh but still as fast
Lots of good stuff on this thread!
Brian, how mechanically inclined does one need to be to pack the Premier? I can do low level stuff like change wheels and chains and cassettes. I have the largest P5d, so I assume it would need to come apart more than a smaller bike.
I can pack the Plasma, 3 wheels, all my race stuff and some training stuff in about 30 minutes. The easiest parts are the wheels and frame. It’s super easy to put in the case. The hardest part is packing the helmet, shoes, wetsuit so it doesn’t shift around too much. With the base bar area in the top of the frame I found a helmet fits and a wetsuit or running shoes (can’t remember) fit well and tend to lock each other into place.
I’ve owned & used a ton of different cases over the decades. The Premier bike case is by far my favorite case.
That case looks very similar to my scicon aerotech evolution. How do you manage to fit 3 wheels inside?
it’s got 3 specific built in wheel areas. 2 on one side of the case, 1 on the other side. Then you put foam over the wheels and the frame locks down over that.
When I go back to NC and am testing and/or racing and will be there for a bit I usually put the disc, front HEd and rear training wheel in the case + a lot of training/racing gear. Use shipbikes.com and send it off. Then I have a single wheel box that I put my training front wheel in, load that with stuff and ship that off or just use that as my bag and fly w/it.
Can usually just travel with a carry on for a 10d trip if I ship the case & wheel box.
Now granted I have a lot of stuff that I need at my Dad’s house in NC like a helmet, spare tubes/tire, some tools like allen wrenches, some regular clothes etc. That’s makes it a bit easier if I’m going to be there for an extended time, just less to bring.
Now deep rear wheels outnumber discs 15-1. I’ve been the only one on my row at 70.3 races with a disc wheel. 40-50 other bikes and no else with a disc wheel. I mean it’s kinda nice knowing everyone is giving up watts to me right off the bat. I’ve been to 200 person local races where <3% of the entire field rode a disc wheel.
Why is this happening?
Disc Wheels are expensive and people are cheap.
Disc Wheels are expensive and people are cheap.
That was my initial thought too, but disc wheels are currently far cheaper compared to median income, I’d guess. Certainly disc wheels aren’t becoming more expensive at a faster rate than income growth over the last 20 years??
Above, and people are afraid of disc in any kind of breeze.
That case looks very similar to my scicon aerotech evolution. How do you manage to fit 3 wheels inside?
it’s got 3 specific built in wheel areas. 2 on one side of the case, 1 on the other side. Then you put foam over the wheels and the frame locks down over that.
When I go back to NC and am testing and/or racing and will be there for a bit I usually put the disc, front HEd and rear training wheel in the case + a lot of training/racing gear. Use shipbikes.com and send it off. Then I have a single wheel box that I put my training front wheel in, load that with stuff and ship that off or just use that as my bag and fly w/it.
Can usually just travel with a carry on for a 10d trip if I ship the case & wheel box.
Now granted I have a lot of stuff that I need at my Dad’s house in NC like a helmet, spare tubes/tire, some tools like allen wrenches, some regular clothes etc. That’s makes it a bit easier if I’m going to be there for an extended time, just less to bring.
I ended up buying the PT case on cyber monday. I haven’t had a chance to travel with it yet, but not removing the basebar from my speed concept and the ability to carry a disc and my regular wheelset is a no brainer.
Now deep rear wheels outnumber discs 15-1. I’ve been the only one on my row at 70.3 races with a disc wheel. 40-50 other bikes and no else with a disc wheel. I mean it’s kinda nice knowing everyone is giving up watts to me right off the bat. I’ve been to 200 person local races where <3% of the entire field rode a disc wheel.
Why is this happening?
It’s multipronged.
a lot of bikes are being spec’d with 404’s or 808’s type wheels at the higher price points. You get a set of race wheels w/your purchase. If you just spent $8k for your bike and got a set of 80mm wheels are you spending 25% of that just for a disc wheel?
a lot of people will say you can’t use a disc in Kona or IM Cozumel. Yet out of all the people I know who have used the Kona line, 95% are not a threat to KQ.
People think disc wheels are inherently less stable than a rear deep wheel. It’s an old wives tale that if you ride a disc on windy days you’ll go slower, it’ll be harder to handle.
Disc wheels new are pretty pricey. You can buy a set of 80-90mm wheels for $xxxx. A front of the same depth and a disc is often $xxxx + 35% You can’t use the back wheel in Kona should you somehow knock off 2:20 from your IM time and KQ. (not you specifically, the people in example #2 hahaha)
It’s a rare use wheel/ race use only wheel. If they average person races 6x season that’s a lot of money to tie up in a wheel. You can train on a set of 80-90mm wheels. You ride on a disc and you look weird. Although there is a dude here in Tucson who I see occasionally disc wheel, deep front aero helmet. There is a guy in Raleigh who shows up with a deep front & disc now and then as well.
On the flip side of this coin if you had a disc from the 90’s and could run it today you’re not giving up much, if anything, off today’s disc wheels.
I’m sure other’s have some other points I didn’t think of.
I want to complain about the lack of discs, and I don’t want anyone in the M50-54 buying a disc, but I can’t think of a race in the last 10yrs where I don’t ponder where are the disc wheels. On the other hand when racing local I look for them and figure those people are going to be the main competition for the overall and/or my AG.
Now deep rear wheels outnumber discs 15-1. I’ve been the only one on my row at 70.3 races with a disc wheel. 40-50 other bikes and no else with a disc wheel. I mean it’s kinda nice knowing everyone is giving up watts to me right off the bat. I’ve been to 200 person local races where <3% of the entire field rode a disc wheel.
Why is this happening?
It’s multipronged.
a lot of bikes are being spec’d with 404’s or 808’s type wheels at the higher price points. You get a set of race wheels w/your purchase. If you just spent $8k for your bike and got a set of 80mm wheels are you spending 25% of that just for a disc wheel?
a lot of people will say you can’t use a disc in Kona or IM Cozumel. Yet out of all the people I know who have used the Kona line, 95% are not a threat to KQ.
People think disc wheels are inherently less stable than a rear deep wheel. It’s an old wives tale that if you ride a disc on windy days you’ll go slower, it’ll be harder to handle.
Disc wheels new are pretty pricey. You can buy a set of 80-90mm wheels for $xxxx. A front of the same depth and a disc is often $xxxx + 35% You can’t use the back wheel in Kona should you somehow knock off 2:20 from your IM time and KQ. (not you specifically, the people in example #2 hahaha)
It’s a rare use wheel/ race use only wheel. If they average person races 6x season that’s a lot of money to tie up in a wheel. You can train on a set of 80-90mm wheels. You ride on a disc and you look weird. Although there is a dude here in Tucson who I see occasionally disc wheel, deep front aero helmet. There is a guy in Raleigh who shows up with a deep front & disc now and then as well.
On the flip side of this coin if you had a disc from the 90’s and could run it today you’re not giving up much, if anything, off today’s disc wheels.
I’m sure other’s have some other points I didn’t think of.
I want to complain about the lack of discs, and I don’t want anyone in the M50-54 buying a disc, but I can’t think of a race in the last 10yrs where I don’t ponder where are the disc wheels. On the other hand when racing local I look for them and figure those people are going to be the main competition for the overall and/or my AG.
Got it. That makes good sense. My wife is officially weird. She might be that “guy” you see in Tucson lately riding with her disc wheel, 808 front, and aero helmet.
Asking the next question with much due respect: is there a reason that I am overlooking, to NOT train in full aero kit (wheels, attire, helmet, position, etc), as you would race, or very close to full race setup? (other than being that guy/gal that Brian Stover notices in Tucson and Raleigh… both places we’ve frequented in the last 2 yrs haha)
when racing local I look for them and figure those people are going to be the main competition for the overall and/or my AG.
i think this is part the problem - riding a disc is very elite and not many are confident enough to put themselves out there like that. its circular as until they become more common, nobody other than the absolute top are going to ride them. around here just showing up with deep rims makes you stand out, letalone a disc
for me, i might consider getting a disc but most of what you said applies and also:
i am currently on a rim brake bike but it is clear that as and when i replace that, it will be a disc brake bike. given that disc wheels are an expensive investment, justifable only as a long-term thing, i don’t think it would be sensible to consider at the moment. when i do buy a new bike, i probably won’t be able to afford a disc as well.because they are so rare to use/own, they are incredibly rare to purchase so it would be quite a hassle. again, circular.
on a side note, this disc brake/disc wheel terminology is a pain - trying a search on classifieds out of interest is hopeless! the only ones i found were both tubular, one track specific.
Got it. That makes good sense. My wife is officially weird. She might be that “guy” you see in Tucson lately riding with her disc wheel, 808 front, and aero helmet.
Asking the next question with much due respect: is there a reason that I am overlooking, to NOT train in full aero kit (wheels, attire, helmet, position, etc), as you would race, or very close to full race setup? (other than being that guy/gal that Brian Stover notices in Tucson and Raleigh… both places we’ve frequented in the last 2 yrs haha)
well if you guys ever want to go for a ride, I typically roll out after 1000 no matter which place I’m at. Got to let it warm up a bit so I can work on my cycling tan lines.
No real reasons. Some may prefer the swapping of wheels, adjusting brake width, pulling the race helmet out as part of the pre race routine. Some prefer to get the aero benefit from all that instead of training all the time w/it. Others may not want to swap out tires/tubes for a race then turn around 20-180k later and swap them back. Some may not want to put on/take off the race specific chain or cassette (which makes cleaning these parts easier vs using all the time).
Some people only have 1 set of wheels which means they train and race on the same wheels all the time
One thing I would keep in mind is that deeper front wheels are harder to handle in rapidly changing wind conditions. Lets say a vehicle passes. You may get some twitching during training from that if they pass at a high rate of speed/push a lot of air into your path.
Good point re: race-specific chain. Hadn’t thought of that because we haven’t gone to that length yet. Eventually.
We’re definitely the folks with the 808s on all the time, traffic, wind, climbing mt. lemmon, you name it.
Michelle and I both appreciate your late start time. 
I’ll PM you.
when racing local I look for them and figure those people are going to be the main competition for the overall and/or my AG.
i think this is part the problem - riding a disc is very elite and not many are confident enough to put themselves out there like that. its circular as until they become more common, nobody other than the absolute top are going to ride them. around here just showing up with deep rims makes you stand out, letalone a disc
for me, i might consider getting a disc but most of what you said applies and also:
i am currently on a rim brake bike but it is clear that as and when i replace that, it will be a disc brake bike. given that disc wheels are an expensive investment, justifable only as a long-term thing, i don’t think it would be sensible to consider at the moment. when i do buy a new bike, i probably won’t be able to afford a disc as well.because they are so rare to use/own, they are incredibly rare to purchase so it would be quite a hassle. again, circular.
on a side note, this disc brake/disc wheel terminology is a pain - trying a search on classifieds out of interest is hopeless! the only ones i found were both tubular, one track specific.
Do people really look at what other people are riding?
In 40 years I don’t think I have bothered to look around at bikes more than a handful of times back in the 80’s.
And definitely bit enough to notice what wheels people use
I look all the time.