Reasoning behind this? Why would this be dangerous? Breaking?
no…but braking might be a problem
.
Could be due to Lateral Wind? Seemed to be freaking windy there, the ‘‘train’’ wasn’t straight all the time.
They said it was rainy but not very windy. Seems T-Mobile doesn’t seem to want to use rear disks for whatever reason.
"Seems T-Mobile doesn’t seem to want to use rear disks for whatever reason. "
If so, then mark my words - that will cost them big time. Sounds like their manager needs to spend some time on the internet researching bicycle aero sites. Never seen anything yet that doesn’t say a rear disc is always faster and more stable.
I don’t think it had anything to do with the rain. If you look at the Prologue - Jan wasn’t using a disc either. He was on the Corima 4-spoke… Interesting…
but almost all of t mobils extra bikes on the car roofs had discs on them.
Exactly!
The team seemed to purposely not use disks. Riders decision ? Team Manager?
Just curious what the reasoning could be. Normally you would see some guys riding it, some won’t.
Maybe the spoked wheels have some “magic” ? 
B.T.W.: Everybody bashing T-Mobile for their performance: I think they rode well.
I am glad somebody else picked up on the lack of any discs ridden by the T-Mobile team during the TdF TTT. Probably cost them a minute plus, dumb, dumb, dumb. I think T-Mobile has some great riders, but its management is horrible. They left Cadel Evans at home in favour of aging sprinter Zabel and a helper for him. If they had to keep Zabel, at least let him fend for himself and bring another great all-arounder like Evans or similar.
The wheels are made by the swiss or austrian wheelbuilder Xentis.
regards
Martin
It does appear that they have left Zabel to his own devices. I noticed Tuesday that as the teams were lining up near the finish, there was one pink jersey in the mix: Zabel. He took second, but used another team as a leadout. Apparently, T-Mobile surrounded Ullrich back in the peloton while Zabel fended for himself up front. And I think he did quite well all thing considered.
RP
I would think that even though they may not be the best bike handlers, they are professional bike riders at the highest level of the sport. They ought to be able to handle a disc in the rain. For whatever reason Ullrich has decided not to use a disc, and his decision apparently carried over to the rest of the team. Discs are faster – everybody knows that. So why wouldn’t he want to use one? That may come back to hurt him later in the race.
Another thing: Since Ullrich is riding his Walser, would he not be using Walser’s rear wheel?
RP
Jan’s biggest problem is their team manager. Jan brought him over and the guy is less than brilliant.
Just took a guess there. I figured 4-straight spoke, must be a Corima - shows how out of touch I’ve become…
Ha! Good one. I’m closing on my first house soon, so I have been saving all the nickles and dimes for my down payment. It HAS been a while since I’ve seen the inside of a bike shop…
Xentis is Austrian, xentis is great. Think that Ullrich saw me riding them … They are truly great! Fast, durable and absolutely stiff. www.xentis.at - but I doubt they are faster than a disc. I use them as race wheels all the time - but I am a MOPer, so it doesnt really matter.