Cyclocross Bikes and Disc Brakes... The UCI changes the rules... finally

Submitted by NW_Tri_and_Bike on

This is one UCI rule change that will affect bike commuters who like to ride cx bikes due to their versatility. It looks like going forward we will be seeing a change to disc brakes on these bikes (you can get some already but many companies didn't want to risk building 'illegal' bikes)... The other change I see is the max tire width will now be 33mm so expect some models to be 33 instead of 34 or 35 as well.

http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/uci-allows-disc-brakes-for-cyclocr...

Comments

Love my Opus

Submitted by sherryrunswest on

I have the Opus Sentiero which is a cx bike with disc brakes and also the braze-ons for racks. I use it for commuting purposes only. I liked the fact that it had disc brakes. That was one of the main selling points for me plus the comfort of drop bars. It is an overall more comfortable riding/shifting position, especially being a daily commuter - comfort is everything - to me anyway...

Great News

Submitted by BCDon on

That's great news. I'll likely wait till 2012 so that there is enough time to get manufacturers to get product out there but this is what I've wanted in a commute bike.

I love my Jake but the brakes are anemic on it compared to my Madone. A Cross bike with disc brakes would be perfect. Although I'd still want them to build it with enough clearance for studded winter tires.

Maybe have one bike as a rain bike with fenders and the other a nice weather (and winter when it is too cold for anything to get wet) bike. Hmmmmm, think of the possibilities. N+1.

no need for discs on cross bikes

Submitted by critninja on

i think its a dumb idea to allow disc brakes on cross bikes used in competition - whats next, suspension? cross courses with knarly drops?

to be clear, discs make sense for some commuters - i get that.

but for cross racing - whats the point? cross is all about sketchy conditions on equipment (brakes/tires) that are barely able to handle them. thats where riders with great bike handling skills come to the fore and thats what makes racing those bike so much fun!

whether manufacturers will make more "disc equipped cross bikes" is hard to say. most major bike brands already have bikes that fit this description.

www.bikebike.ca

Same Reason as

Submitted by BCDon on

Nascar, Motorbike Racing, Bicycle racing etc. etc. etc., all the equipment is regulated. For pro cyclists it includes the minimum bike weight, the overall shape of the bike and other components. With Cyclocross they have similarly done the same thing. I haven't read all the rules because I don't plan to race BUT, one of the things they originally did was to not allow disc brakes but they have since recinded that which means we'll see more CX bikes with disc brakes which I personally like because I find those brakes SOOOOOO much better.

(Over?) Regulation

Submitted by gyrospanner on

I can give you another example or two where there are really fun sports that get really serious when you go competitive.

I used to race go-karts as a kid. You weren't allowed to polish intake manifolds, shave heads, bore cylinders etc. (Although we id figure out a way to "minimize" our butterfly valve.). We also had weight minimums & maximums which resulted in me having to add weight to my cart, two big lead rings about 5 inches in diameter.

America's Cup! Still in litigation, but the last formula I heard of was likely going to result in 100 ft+
catamarans. Now what will be a test of the sailors' skills!

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