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TECH NEWS
Merida Scultura Disc - 5.jpgUpdated: UCI officially suspends disc brake testing
The UCI, cycle sport’s world governing body, has confirmed that it has formally suspended the use of disc brakes in road racing, and the WFSGI, a body representing much of the bike industry, has reacted to this move.
We told you last night that reports were coming out suggested this was the case and now the UCI has issued this statement:
The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) today announces that it has decided to suspend, with immediate effect, the trial of disc brakes currently being carried out in road races.
This decision follows a request to do so made by the Association Internationale des Groupes Cyclistes Professionnels (AIGCP) – which represents all professional cycling teams – following the injuries suffered by Movistar Team rider Francisco Ventoso at Sunday’s Paris-Roubaix Classic. This request is supported by the Cyclistes Professionnels Associés (CPA), which represents riders.
The first tests of disc brakes were carried out in August and September 2015. UCI WorldTeams were given the possibility to test bikes mounted with these brakes at two events of their choice. After in-depth discussions with stakeholders, the UCI then decided to authorise riders from all categories of professional road teams to use disc brakes in 2016, and to closely monitor their use during the year.
The UCI will now continue its extensive consultations on this subject by way of its Equipment Commission, which is made up of representatives of teams, riders, mechanics, fans, commissaires and the bicycle industry – via the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI) – all the while reaffirming that rider security has always been and will always remain its absolute priority.
The UCI has not put a timescale on how long this consultation process is likely to take or given any indication as to the precise content of these discussions.
We’ve been in contact with the WFSGI. That body, which represents many of the biggest brands in the bike industry as well as brands from the wider sports world, told us that it would release an official statement soon.
There’s no doubt that the big bike brands want to sell disc brake equipped road bikes and they clearly use the pro peloton as a shop window for their high-end race products.
On the other hand, it wouldn’t do them any good at all for riders to be seen to be injured as a result of using disc brakes, so it’ll be interesting to see how the WFSGI reacts. We’re expecting a review of the evidence and an examination of whether disc brakes can be made less likely to cause damage in the event of a crash.
Check out our article: Have disc brakes really led to injuries in peloton?
The reaction from the WFSGI has just come in. Again, we'll print the statement in full.
The WFSGI, as representative body of the bicycle industry, would like to make a statement on its position regarding the suspension of the trial of disc brakes in road racing.
Following the accident which happened to Spanish rider Francisco Ventoso from Team Movistar last Sunday at Paris-Roubaix, the UCI has decided to suspend the trial of disc brakes in road racing with immediate effect. The WFSGI would like to clearly state that the safety of riders has equally highest priority for the industry.
WFSGI Secretary General Robbert de Kock said: “The suspension was decided by the UCI for safety reasons and can be supported therefore. Nevertheless the WFSGI asks the UCI to immediately start the collaboration with all stakeholders on the future of disc brakes and safety in road racing.”
As a base for any future decisions, the WFSGI requests the UCI do a full investigation on the accident happened at Paris-Roubaix on Sunday. The WFSGI supports clear and proper investigations and analysis of such accidents and making important decisions for several stakeholders in road racing based on the results of them. The WFSGI already expressed its full support to the UCI for any collaboration which will appropriately manage the risks associated with all aspects in road racing.
The industry is confident that disc brakes continue to be one of the products of the future and will become an important part of road racing."
This one looks set to run and run.
Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.
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55 comments
I think disc brakes are a good thing. It is being pushed by the industry, in order to sell bikes. When they were introduced into the Pro Peleton I think the big complaint riders had was that they are the primary stakeholder, and yet they were never consulted.
Disc brakes were done 'to' the riders, not 'for' the riders
Serious injuries (and a death) almost every week caused by motorcycles running riders over - No action.
One injury caused by a disc break - Immediate suspension.
Ambivalent about disc breaks on road bikes but UCI really needs to tackle the real dangers in the peloton.
Can someone explain road bike to me?
Yer know, 700c wheels, skinny tyres, lightish, drop bars. That kind of thing.
What brakes does it have?
Shouldn't you be away reviewing ropey cycling kit instead of winding folk up on a competing bike forum?
I think they mean a "racer" or is that just my age showing?
No. I'm with you, hence why I trolled/provoked debate. That's the thing really, it's really easy to deal with this if we separate racing from road cycling. It removes a shed load of emotion for a start.
Oddjob's bowler hat?
Friend of mine weighs 100kg.... That's when discs earn their crust. Other than stopping a lot of body weight, can't say I would ever buy them. Look great on an MTB, pants on a road bike and yes, I am that fickle.
As one of those riders over 90Kg I would feel the benefit of discs. So if Dimention data are now looking for a good home for one of those P5/S6 I'm your man... well almost two men by wieght.
So it turned out not to be a good idea to put rotating notched razor sharp knives on bike wheels. Who could have guessed?
Thank goodness they dont put rotating discs with teeth on bikes eh!
Because someone who injured their left leg and didn't even notice at the time assumes it was a brake disc? Can you come up with a feasible way for the left leg to contact a brake disc on someone else's bike, when bikes and riders are both upright facing the same way?
I think I may just hold out for the report personally. Meanwhile I will keep using my disc brake bike in the wet, and caliper brakes in the dry.
What nonsense, the disks are in the middle of the wheel and partly behind the fork/frame, so will be hard to contact, you are more likely to get a gash from a sharp quick release thread end (did this during repairs), chain wheel teeth, cassette teeth or other thin edged extremity on a bicycle.
I upgraded years ago to XTR M970 (parallel-push) V-brakes, and much tougher Cross-ride Mavic wheels, on my old MTB because I got fed up with progressive angular alignment issues and fast rim wear causing squealing, I still notice some fade with heavy braking at speed or in rain, dirt or snow; road bicycle rims and rim brakes will probably be much worse! When I look for any kind of new bicycle, I will reject any with retarded rim brakes, which are alignment pains and stupidly weaken expensive wheel rims!
If you can desend down a 20 mile alpine road on carbon rims with 'traditional' brakes why does anyone need discs? Whoever said that it's the bike company's pushing discs then they're completely right! Absolute waste of time, (and they look crap!!)
They were doing it with cork pads on wood rims. Your point is ?
You can get everywhere by walking, luckily that didn't stop the progress of developing the bicycle.
Worse brakes are not better. Luckily the same nostalgia did not stop disc brakes being fitted to cars way back.
'There’s no doubt that the big bike brands want to sell disc brake equipped road bikes and they clearly use the pro peloton as a shop window for their high-end race products.'
Are people refusing to buy road bikes if they don't have disc brakes? Maybe it's the deciding factor if you are a MTBer thinking of trying a road bike. If you can't sell a MTBer a road bike then sell them a MTB.
How I long for the days of a good old flame war about helmets, life was so much simpler then.
What kind of patronising drivel is "Maybe it's the deciding factor if you are a MTBer thinking of trying a road bike."
Flatearth more likely.
The article just gives the impression that it's all about manufacturers wanting to sell something regardless of whether anyone wants it or not.
[/quote]
The article just gives the impression that it's all about manufacturers wanting to sell something regardless of whether anyone wants it or not.
[/quote]
I think you've just hit the nail on the head!! But didn't we know that already?
I did refuse. Now I have one with discs and I am happy.
Yes. I am.
I want a bike that stops well in the wet and can take my lunch and work papers. I want it to be reliable and reasonably light. I want to cycle on the road fairly fast so I want a road frame.
Yet most of the bikes on the market is divided between cheap "city" bikes which I'm sure put people off persisting with cycling, and silly ferrari-esque road bikes with design features taken from pelaton racing or hooning down mountains. It's absurd that the mass market products are mostly designed for niche users. Imagine if most cars were either off-roaders and roadsters, with saloons only available from niche manufacturers?
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