Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site varian.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxn!ihnp4!houxm!mtuxo!mtunh!mtung!mtunf!ariel!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!tektronix!hplabs!intelca!qantel!vlsvax1!zehntel!varian!fred From: fred@varian.UUCP (Fred Klink) Newsgroups: net.bicycle Subject: RE:Aerodynamic Wheels Message-ID: <338@varian.UUCP> Date: Mon, 8-Jul-85 14:48:14 EDT Article-I.D.: varian.338 Posted: Mon Jul 8 14:48:14 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 13-Jul-85 14:53:28 EDT References: <975@mhuxt.UUCP> Organization: Varian, Walnut Creek, CA Lines: 13 The aero wheels used in competition have discs *instead of* spokes, not discs fastened over conventional wheels. This is a clever way of skirting the UCI rule that a competition bike can have no component that is solely to improve aerodynamics of the bike or rider. Point is, you probably won't find "bolt-on" discs for serious cycling in the near future. The improvement from disks is only seen on reasonably flat courses without serious crosswinds. Phil Anderson used a conventional bike for the first half of Saturday's Tour de France time trial (which was uphill), because he felt the extra weight of the disc wheels would be a disadvantage on the climb. He switched to a disc-wheel bike for the flat portion. Unless you plan to have a follow car, I question if discs would give an overall advantage for sport/touring rides.