- 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
- Tubeless valves
- Buyers Guides
- Features
- Forum
- Recommends
- Podcast
tom boonen Tom Boonen Omloop Het Nieuwsblad9.jpgTom Boonen says he can stop a disc brake rotor at 60kph with his hand - so Belgian newspaper puts the theory to the test
When Tom Boonen, the most high-profile advocate of disc brakes in the peloton, said that he could stop a wheel spinning at 60 kilometres an hour by grabbing the rotor with his hand, Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad decided to put his theory to the test.
The controversial technology has been back in the news this past week after Team Sky’s Owain Doull claimed that his shoe had been sliced open by the disc brake rotor on the bike of Marcel Kittel when the pair crashed on the opening stage of the Abu Dhabi Tour last week, although it’s far from clear that is what damaged the shoe.
> Kittel ditches the disc brakes after Doull controversy
Speaking ahead of the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday, Boonen said: “I maintain that they are not dangerous. I’ve dared to stop a wheel at 60 kilometres an hour with my hand.
“It’s absurd,” he continued. “Disc brakes seem at the moment to be the biggest problem in the world.”
> Pro Bike: Tom Boonen's custom Specialized Venge ViAS Disc for Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
Boonen added: “I can’t understand the fuss. A crash involving 30 riders with broken legs and arms isn’t news. But one abrasion, allegedly caused by a disc brake, is worldwide news.”
Het Nieuwsblad put Boonen’s theory to the test at the race it sponsors.
Prior to the start, a reporter visited the bus of Belgian UCI Professional Continental team Veranda’s Willems Crelan, also using disc brakes this weekend on its Felt bikes.
A video on the newspaper’s website shows the team’s mechanic, Tim Dejonghe, stopping the wheel at full speed with no injury to his hand.
Concerns remain about the safety of the technology and as we reported yesterday, Lotto-Soudal’s Adam Hansen has accused Specialized – the bike sponsor of Quick Step Floors – of trying to rush it into the peloton.
> Lotto-Soudal’s Hansen says Specialized is trying to force disc brakes on peloton
He also noted claimed that Boonen, who rides his final race at Paris-Roubaix in April, had changed his tune over disc brakes.
Hansen said: “Tom Boonen was against disc brakes last year, now he’s retiring this year and loves them.”
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
Latest Comments
- Dnnnnnn 1 hour 15 min ago
The CUK members' own stories about their travels in the mag make me wonder whether road.cc could built up a bank of readers' favourite routes? It...
- mjc2669 1 hour 31 min ago
Boardman is brilliant at getting the point over. It's all about presentation and showing the benefits to all.
- wtjs 2 hours 42 min ago
Or, alternatively, get the Aldi front and rear for £15. The rear doesn't flash like the previous models, but does have the braking function. The...
- Hirsute 3 hours 34 min ago
There is no way on that terrain the wheels would clog up.
- TempleOrion 4 hours 40 min ago
No. But do you think Trump is? 🤡💩🤣
- chrisonabike 6 hours 48 sec ago
Was a stocking-filler type thing but always handy - reflective spoke straws. (They're not reflecting as I turned the flash off.)
- hawkinspeter 10 hours 2 min ago
Dont forget Linford Christie
- Secret_squirrel 11 hours 15 min ago
I'm confused. What base layer isn't damp after a warm effort - it's the purpose of their entire existence. Wringing wet I might agree with. ...
- pockstone 14 hours 13 min ago
To add to the comedic potential, I really hope said chef was dressed in whites, including a toque blanche, and armed with a whisk and cleaver.
- mark1a 1 day 15 min ago
Don't open at Edinburgh Fringe with that one.
Add new comment
47 comments
Interesting that so many people think Campagnolo are somehow out of the race towards disc brakes. Campagnolo were making disc brakes for motorcycles as long as 50 years ago.
Campag are notoriously a little slower to change.
If you look at the evolution of road discs it is pretty much 'Road Disc V2.0' until last year they were still essentially a mountain bike part hastily cobbled togoether onto some fantastically ugly hoods.
You can guarantee that in 5 years or so there will be some truly road specific road developed rotors and calipers maybe even some 120mm hidden rotors or something who knows but Flat Mount is just the start of the evolution...
So please everyone buy Disc Brake Road bikes because in about 6 years when I want to upgrade my current summer bike all of the research carried out by you the consumer
Him and Chuck
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdwC4vhc594
1. Enough videos out there now showing that disc rotors do not cut through flesh.
2. Disc rotors can cut through shoes, but only if pushed hard onto rotor while that rotor is still being powered hard by a rider and for a few seconds (not likely in crash, as in such a scenario things are bouncing around and certainly not still being powered by the rider).
3. FAR MORE DANGEROUS is getting something caught between the spokes of the disc rotor or spokes of the wheel and the bike frame (I know this from experience having nearly sliced ends of fingers off due to my own stupidity/carelessness).
4. There is reasonable evidance showing that the weight and very small aero disadvantage is outweighed by the performance advantage, and rim development without a braking surface will nullify and surpass the aero issue in a year or two anyway.
5. There are plenty of crap disc brakes out there, so please don't make a judgement on disc brakes without trying a properly set-up Shimano hydraulic or TRP Spyre cable equiped bike (preferably the former).
6. STOP COMPARING RUBBISH DISC SET-UPS WITH HIGH END CALIPER SET-UPS. I'm getting sick of people saying that their **enter low end single sided cable brake here** aren't as good as their dura ace rim bikes ... of course they aren't. That's like comparing Shimano Claris with Dura Ace.
7. If after everything you still don't want discs, that's fine, each to their own. Just like with frame material, you don't always choose on overall performance. And just cause the pros do or don't ride or have an opionion on whatever equipment they are being give/paid to use, it doesn't mean we have to go out and buy it.
Rant over.
Unless there is some sort of electric motor involved
Well, he's being paid to support Specializzzed who are trying to flog discs to the pro peleton.
So he would say that, wouldn't he.
and Quintana has been paid by campag to rubbish them (cos campag are years behind everyone else)
and Chris Froome and most other pro riders are under campag pay as well are they?!
Lol
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/chris-froome-disc-brake-debate-shows-rid...
A number of big companies are attempting to push disks on everyone else in order to sell more bikes, whether they are better or not.
Euhm, Yes he is paid for saying it in, as Pinarello is against disc-brakes (is what they say), but in my opinion they are just to old fashioned and don't know how to add them!
Breaking news for you! Pinarello do disc versions of the F8 & K8 this year!
Old news: Froome is riding the "rim brake only" F10
I'm 100% against disks on my bike. I don't want any more things holding my data
Well played!
Of course
just as likely as the first claim, what the pros ride makes no difference to whetehr people will buy another bike.
to date the pros are not riding disc brakes, and yet sales of disc braked road bikes are rising,
AND retiring at the end of the season, so why should he care? For him now is the time to be lining his wallet just before exiting the sport. If Specialized sponsored me I'd id say the same.
Woah, Tom, you're in grave danger of muddling this argument with fact.
Pages