Hi,
I’m looking to buy my first set of aero wheels, but I’m hesitating about whether I should get a rear disc or a rear 90mm profile wheel (I’m looking at the FLO 90 and FLO Disc). From what I’ve been reading, discs are the way to go…but are not always allowed. I’ve been trying to find a list of events that don’t allow them, but can’t find one.
So, my question is…which events don’t allow disc wheels?
Thanks!
Jon
Kona. Drafting-legal races.
Hi,
I’m looking to buy my first set of aero wheels, but I’m hesitating about whether I should get a rear disc or a rear 90mm profile wheel (I’m looking at the FLO 90 and FLO Disc). From what I’ve been reading, discs are the way to go…but are not always allowed. I’ve been trying to find a list of events that don’t allow them, but can’t find one.
So, my question is…which events don’t allow disc wheels?
Thanks!
Jon
There is another IM too, maybe Cozumel?
Hawaii 70.3 (Honu).
Yes, banned at cozumel
.
Lanzarote too?
I have to wonder why. It isn’t a handling issue on the rear.
I have to wonder why. It isn’t a handling issue on the rear.
Agreed. If anything, it probably is better than a shallower aero wheel in back on a windy day.
Kona, Honu, Cozumel off the top of my head. Not too many really.
I wonder why they are banned. I have a Flo 60/90 setup on my bike and I’ve ridden in gusty side winds. I can REALLY feel it with the front 60 but I don’t seem to feel it from the rear at all. What I feel is the front wheel getting pushing around. Now, I haven’t taken the front wheel off and tried the 90 on the rear and the normal wheel on the front but based upon how it feels, I don’t think the 90 would do much. Which, to me, says that I wouldn’t feel much from a disk on the back.
I have to wonder why. It isn’t a handling issue on the rear.I know of people who have complained rear discs have thrown them around in the wind. Guess it depends on the disc/bike/person. Anyway, I dont think discs are banned in many races. The vast majority (95%+) allow rear discs.
I have a good amount of experience with a deep front and a disc in gusty winds. When a gust hits a disc it tends to lean you, but it isn’t hard to control. On a deep front though, if the wind hits just right it’s like the bike has a mind of its own.
I think the no disc rule is in place in certain races not because of the disc per se but to protect people from themselves when it comes to the front wheel.
???
Kona, Coz
.
Last year at IM Sweden there were some discussions regarding allowing disc-wheels or not, the wind was pretty strong and was coming from the south which ment cross wind over the bridge. The less stronger cyclists were recommended to not use them.
/CE
Did Cozumel twice, discs were illegal. Would have ridden one - if allowed - both times. Nevertheless, no problem to ride it with another wheel, I don’t buy the argument, that the handling gets worse with say a SRAM 60 (which I use).
???
Let me elaborate. The disc actually helps to stabilize the bike in windy conditions. So there’s basically no scientific reason to ban discs. So why do they ban discs at certain races then? It’s either a belief in urban legends and old wives’ tales that discs are hard to handle in the wind (despite science saying otherwise) or it’s something else. IMO, WTC partly believes the urban legend and partly believes people will run a way too deep front wheel with the already way too hard to handle disc wheel. So part of the ban is their incorrect scientific belief and part of the ban is to protect us from ourselves.
IMO, something like a 90/90 is much harder to handle than a 60-90 front + Disc. I’ve ridden a ton of different wheel combinations and the only combination that scared the shit out of me was a 90/90.
So you are saying they ban rear discs to keep people from running a too-deep front wheel? Not only does that not work, it’s absurd. It’s easy enough to ban deep fronts if they are really worried about it.
Basically, yes. I agree it’s absurd. I think it’s easier for them to say no discs than it is to regulate the plethora of front wheels.