- News
- Reviews
- Bikes
- Accessories
- Accessories - misc
- Computer mounts
- Bags
- Bar ends
- Bike bags & cases
- Bottle cages
- Bottles
- Cameras
- Car racks
- Child seats
- Computers
- Glasses
- GPS units
- Helmets
- Lights - front
- Lights - rear
- Lights - sets
- Locks
- Mirrors
- Mudguards
- Racks
- Pumps & CO2 inflators
- Puncture kits
- Reflectives
- Smart watches
- Stands and racks
- Trailers
- Clothing
- Components
- Bar tape & grips
- Bottom brackets
- Brake & gear cables
- Brake & STI levers
- Brake pads & spares
- Brakes
- Cassettes & freewheels
- Chains
- Chainsets & chainrings
- Derailleurs - front
- Derailleurs - rear
- Forks
- Gear levers & shifters
- Groupsets
- Handlebars & extensions
- Headsets
- Hubs
- Inner tubes
- Pedals
- Quick releases & skewers
- Saddles
- Seatposts
- Stems
- Wheels
- Tyres
- Health, fitness and nutrition
- Tools and workshop
- Miscellaneous
- Buyers Guides
- Features
- Forum
- Recommends
- Podcast
TECH NEWS
Could Cannondale-Drapac be the first team to adopt disc brakes in 2017?
Will 2017 be remembered as the year the professional peloton makes the switch to disc brakes? Introducing such a radical new product to the peloton was never going to be a smooth process, but that it has caused emotions to run so high has been surprising.
The UCI has now reinstated its disc brake trial and we’re seeing more race bikes being launched with disc brakes, including more recently the Cannondale SuperSix Evo Disc. This new bike is currently being put through its paces by the Cannondale-Drapac, which has released this behind-the-scenes video of the team conducting training sessions aboard the new bike.
What’s remarkable about the video is how normal (to our eyes at least) the bikes look, and how at home the riders appear to be on the bikes. Of course, this is a reasonably slickly produced video designed to promote the team on disc brakes, but there does appear to be no cause for concern amongst the team.
- Review: Cannondale SuperSix Evo Disc Ultegra
We’ve ridden and reviewed the new SuperSix Evo Disc, and been really impressed. Best of all, it has identical geometry to the regular rim brake race bike, so replicating fit and position isn’t a problem and the performance on offer is the same as we’ve come to expect from the Evo over the years.
Getting the weight down with light wheels and other parts shouldn’t be a big issue: we’ve tested disc race bikes that skirt around the UCI’s 6.8kg minimum weight limit.
Everyone has a view on disc brakes, especially the pros. In a recent interview with road.cc, Welshman Geraint Thomas said he was open to disc brakes and is realistic to their advantages, but he also says there’s no rush until the safety considerations are taken into account.
“I think disc brakes are a big advantage now and help with braking especially when it’s wet on steep descents,” he said. “But there’s no point in rushing it into the peloton, some people are on it, some aren’t,” he said.
If 2017 is the year when disc brakes become a common sight in the peloton, where will they make their first appearance? The Santos Tour Down Under is the traditional curtain raiser on the 2017 race season, but with the logistics, for European teams to get all their riders, bikes and kits to the other side of the world, will they hold back the rollout until the first race closer to home? The other option, and it’s one we’re hearing a lot on the grapevine, is a debut at the spring classics, races like Paris-Roubaix and Tour of Flanders.
Watch this space, 2017 is going to be an interesting year.
David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes.
Latest Comments
- Rendel Harris 3 sec ago
On the other hand presumably those hoops are pretty sturdy so they could prove just the ticket for securing one's machine with a U-lock or chain...
- hawkinspeter 10 min 13 sec ago
Bloody surfers don't even pay their wave tax
- mdavidford 32 min 29 sec ago
The cars aren't just self-aware now - they're starting to breed.
- Rendel Harris 3 hours 12 min ago
Wasn't her quote something like "Any man who takes the bus after the age of twenty-five [maybe thirty?] is a failure?...
- andystow 6 hours 2 min ago
Based on my experience with the Hunt wheels, I might do a review on their durability in three or four years.
- Destroyer666 10 hours 29 min ago
"...the beeswax-based covering magically shuns off whatever might be lurking in the corners. Even after multiple rides, when the bars rattled about...
- David9694 11 hours 51 min ago
t-boned
- Rendel Harris 13 hours 12 min ago
I didn't know the blue RA saddle was a holy grail - I had a 1986 RA bought new in 1987 with a blue saddle that lasted me very well until 2002 when...
- newbankgyratory 13 hours 22 min ago
Solution: Put these up everywhere. Source: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/traffic-signs
- Rendel Harris 14 hours 19 min ago
Glad you like it - this week was the first proper commuting week since I got it, 250kms nice and warm but not boiled, indeed - and when the...
Add new comment
13 comments
Not recruiting ex dopers - just part owned by them - or is that no longer the case?
Being an ex doper should not be relevant unless one is an unreformed ex doper.
That is the problem with a sport so deeply tainted and one that others, notably Team Sky, has struggled with. How do you set up to be whiter than white when all around has been involved in the dirty game?
So we should focus on tight controls and going forward clean - not on the history of riders punished or otherwise.
All that said they have been a very disappointing team!
On discs, ugly and hate 'em. Sure I'll be on 'em in no time too...!
You should, if I may say so. You can brake much later & with more precision before entering the curve, so you're faster. Plus, braking won't ruin your expensive rims. A month or so ago I got myself this very bike and its ride characteristics are just phenomenal. Highly recommended.
Even with disc brakes, I'm sure Cannondale will still be the worst team in the pro peloton
...and you're still not good enough to be in it!
Well, at least they're not recruiting ex dopers.
Must not turn to the darkside. Must not turn......
There may come a time when you don't have a choice unless you go handbuilt!
keep in mind they have disappeared from the MTB scene "just" 15 years ago ...
Caliper brakes will be the vinyl of the cycling world in a few years.
mmm, but vinyl produces a better sound ... which squeal is better, shit caliper/rim combination or contaminated disc brakes?
Vinyl is cool but I'd rather download my music these days.
"What’s remarkable about the video is how normal (to our eyes at least) the bikes look, and how at home the riders appear to be on the bikes."
It is still a bike and it is still on round wheels so I struggle to see how it could possibly not look "normal". The presence of some slightly different brakes which have been around on bikes for many years make very little difference in terms of appearance and team training surely presents the perfect opportunity to try developments like this.
Cycling as a sport somehow always seems to manage to be cutting edge in terms of technology as well as being so incredibly reluctant to embrace change and disc brakes seem, unfortunately, to fit into the latter category.
This.