So I received my DIY disc wheel kit, and I’m about to put it on. BTW Paul Patterson makes a great kit, highly recommended. I’m already feeling like once I get it on there, I’m really not wanting to take it off.
My first thought was to get a separate wheel so I could just swap out wheels when I race. In the mean time, is there any reason I can’t just leave the disc on all the time? The bike it pretty stable(steel framed Allez) and I weigh 170, so hopefully I’ll have enough weight to keep it on the ground.
Handling in winds will never be an issue. Ridicule from other cyclists may be an issue. Wear and tear on the cover will probably be an issue. One example, depending on how it is attached, is the inner holes may bang around as you go over bumps and such and eventually start to crack.
It also becomes harder to pump up your tire, change flats etc, as valve length effects whether you can get a pump head on there etc.
I’ve had mine on for two years. No problems whatsoever and I live where it’s really windy. Cover might break apart in a couple more years, but it’s only 80 something bucks. Makes the bike look cool, which gets me out to train, so the money’s well worth it.
A disc cover is far from cool looking. Really it is more about function/performance than aesthetics. I’m not sure I could take someone seriously if they rolled up next to me with a disc cover on a bike trail or road.
A disc cover is far from cool looking. Really it is more about function/performance than aesthetics. I’m not sure I could take someone seriously if they rolled up next to me with a disc cover on a bike trail or road.
As someone who keeps his wheel cover on the entire year, I’m pretty sure I don’t give a rat’s ass if anyone takes me seriously. Not even sure what it means to be taken seriously by a cyclist I roll up to on the road. Perhaps you can explain what you mean by “take someone seriously”?
A disc cover is far from cool looking. Really it is more about function/performance than aesthetics. I’m not sure I could take someone seriously if they rolled up next to me with a disc cover on a bike trail or road.
As someone who keeps his wheel cover on the entire year, I’m pretty sure I don’t give a rat’s ass if anyone takes me seriously. Not even sure what it means to be taken seriously by a cyclist I roll up to on the road. Perhaps you can explain what you mean by “take someone seriously”?
+1 Now that I look at the first post I dont think he asked if he would be taken seriously. Love how every one has to give there opinion on the cool factor of everything. Put It on ride it if you want if there is no issues with it on the bike use the hell out of that thing.
I’m not sure I could take someone seriously if they rolled up next to me with a disc cover on a bike trail or road.
Wouldn’t they then be coming up on you and therefore most likely passing you?
You know who I take seriously (and probably a little competitively)? The person passing me…
Don’t run a disk or cover yet but will be this season. The main reason it won’t be on all the time is put my bike on the roof too much so it won’t work. Second is the same reason I swim in big baggy shorts and do hard rides on my road bike is they force me to work harder and therefore see better gains. I’m not looking to save watts on a training ride.
We apart from the part about someone riding around with a wheel cover looking totally ridiculous, there really is no reason to keep it on. You are likely to wear it out and as others have said risk having it crack from the constant jarring it receives. Wheelbuilder.com specifically states that they shouldn’t be left on all the time do to potential damage. Especially onsidering it takes all of 10 minutes (on a slow day) to put it on or take off.
So care to share your brilliant insights as to why you would keep it on all the time? What benefits does it bring? Do you use it on the trainer to make you faster as well?
Handling in winds will never be an issue. Ridicule from other cyclists may be an issue. Wear and tear on the cover will probably be an issue. One example, depending on how it is attached, is the inner holes may bang around as you go over bumps and such and eventually start to crack.
It also becomes harder to pump up your tire, change flats etc, as valve length effects whether you can get a pump head on there etc.
I ride a wheel cover all the time with zero issues (past 18 months). Even on the trainer. Anybody that ridicules you (meaning not take seriously) has their own self-confidence issues and mental instability issues. I wouldn’t worry about them. If it’s a roadie snubbing you, just invite them for a run after biking.
I run a disc cover, and don’t believe it to be designed for daily wear and tear. Of course, I use a powertap wheel, so removal and installation is ridiculously easy. As someone mentioned, this is Wheelbuilder preferred practice. How often do you race TT/Tris? Putting on the cover is part of the pre-race ritual for me.
I run a disc cover, and don’t believe it to be designed for daily wear and tear. Of course, I use a powertap wheel, so removal and installation is ridiculously easy. As someone mentioned, this is Wheelbuilder preferred practice. How often do you race TT/Tris? Putting on the cover is part of the pre-race ritual for me.
I gather you don’t put electrical tape around the wheel/cover interface, or tape the inside of the disk to the spokes.
You really remove and re-install your cassette before every race? And what is it about a PT wheel that makes it so ridiculously easy, compared to some other wheel?
I think I’m on my fifth or so year with my PT wheel and wheel cover.
It is easy to not be taken seriously when u are fast as you Ken. Most times the serious cyclist can’t tell you have a disc on your going by them so fast. ;0)
I use the included screws and tape the outside edges. Have not tried taping the inside drive side yet. What is your preferred method for this?
As for PT…free hub body simply pops off without need of cassette removal. It goes back on just as easily. I’ve had the fairing of a HED wheel punctured by a pebble ricochet. Granted, the HED fairing is much weaker than a cover, but why take a chance when it’s so easy to remove
And what is it about a PT wheel that makes it so ridiculously easy, compared to some other wheel?
I know of no other rear hub where the cassette and free hub body can be removed with a little pull. Not having to pull out the chain whip, wrench, and locking tool to remove the cassette definitely make the PT unique IMO.
I ride a wheel cover all the time with zero issues (past 18 months). Even on the trainer. Anybody that ridicules you (meaning not take seriously) has their own self-confidence issues and mental instability issues. I wouldn’t worry about them. If it’s a roadie snubbing you, just invite them for a run after biking.
Does that wheel cover make you faster on the trainer? Again if there is a purpose for using it, great. But I highly doubt you can come up with a justifiable reason (other than laziness) as why one should leave a cover on all the time.
And yes I even told a commuter riding a full disc w/o a powertap on a bike with fenders and a 1080 front that it was ridiculous and terribly unsafe (he didn’t have great bike skills, lots of swerving in the high winds and rain) as he almost hit me the other day on a run…
I ride a wheel cover all the time with zero issues (past 18 months). Even on the trainer. Anybody that ridicules you (meaning not take seriously) has their own self-confidence issues and mental instability issues. I wouldn’t worry about them. If it’s a roadie snubbing you, just invite them for a run after biking.
Does that wheel cover make you faster on the trainer? Again if there is a purpose for using it, great. But I highly doubt you can come up with a justifiable reason (other than laziness) as why one should leave a cover on all the time.
And yes I even told a commuter riding a full disc w/o a powertap on a bike with fenders and a 1080 front that it was ridiculous and terribly unsafe (he didn’t have great bike skills, lots of swerving in the high winds and rain) as he almost hit me the other day on a run…
I see no reason to take it off. Don’t care if you call it laziness. As for you actual calling somebody’s rig “ridiculous” well that speaks to the type of person you are. Maybe when you mature into a grown adult you’ll be less judgemental of other people. Maybe.
I ride a wheel cover all the time with zero issues (past 18 months). Even on the trainer. Anybody that ridicules you (meaning not take seriously) has their own self-confidence issues and mental instability issues. I wouldn’t worry about them. If it’s a roadie snubbing you, just invite them for a run after biking.
Does that wheel cover make you faster on the trainer? Again if there is a purpose for using it, great. But I highly doubt you can come up with a justifiable reason (other than laziness) as why one should leave a cover on all the time.
And yes I even told a commuter riding a full disc w/o a powertap on a bike with fenders and a 1080 front that it was ridiculous and terribly unsafe (he didn’t have great bike skills, lots of swerving in the high winds and rain) as he almost hit me the other day on a run…
I see no reason to take it off. Don’t care if you call it laziness. As for you actual calling somebody’s rig “ridiculous” well that speaks to the type of person you are. Maybe when you mature into a grown adult you’ll be less judgemental of other people. Maybe.
So calling someone riding rig that caused them to almost cause injury to myself and potentially others (in the case of the 1080/disc on a commuter bike) ridiculous because they couldn’t control it makes me immature?
You still haven’t provided a justifiable reason to have it on…
There are a number of simple reasons to not have it on:
-It looks ridiculous to ride around with a disc cover on outside of a race
-harder to change tires/tubes
-harder to pump tire if pressure is low (which could prove unsafe and cause pinch flats)
-no way to tell if there are loose spokes on your wheel (again could cause unsafe wheel issues)
-takes all of about 5-10 minutes to remove/put on
-doesn’t risk wear on disc cover
