TobinHatesYou wrote:sawyer wrote:53x12 wrote:TobinHatesYou wrote:Discs will probably be on almost all flat-stage pro bikes in 2 years.
We heard that 3 years ago. Still waiting.
Indeed, there isn't a whole of braking done on flat stages ... so why pay an aero penalty for something you don't need?
Smooth rim profiles actually improve aerodynamics, so the aero penalty of discs rotors only comes when strong winds are coming in at large yaw angles. Also braking is incredibly important in the peloton even on flat stages in tight corners where the accordion effect occurs...and of course when fighting wet conditions.
And of course the wild card is this would allow a safe switch to tubeless clincher wheels.
Nope - discs are net negative aerodynamic in most cycling conditions. It's not a huge effect admittedly, but you'd need some benefits to outweigh this.
Substantially more braking power than rim brakes is not required on flat stages.
Clincher wheels will on average cost you more time if you flat than tubs. From a racing perspective they only make any sense in time trials, which are far shorter, thereby reducing the chances of a flat, and of course a support car is right there. Even then I notice that GC guys aren't generally using clinchers for TTs ... OTOH if your race is the TT (Tony Martin) then it makes sense
Anyway, while we can debate this, the main proof point remains that teams whose livelihoods, indeed existence, depends on success have chosen not to do what you're suggesting.