Recently Chris Froome He made a video in which he presents his new bike, also talking about disc brakes. It's no secret that until last year the British champion used bikes with traditional brakes, while for the new season his Factor will have the discs. Froome highlighted the advantages and disadvantages of this new (for him) braking system. We also talked about this aspect with Claudio Cozzi, sporting director of the Israel Start Up Nation, Froome's new team.
Froome's doubts
Change of team and change of bike for Froome, who will try to win his fifth Tour de France riding the Factor Ostro VAMThe British rider said he was very satisfied with the bike, especially in terms of responsiveness and power transfer, but he expressed some doubts about the disc brakes.
«I'm not 100% convinced yet – says Froome – I have been using them for a couple of months and from the point of view of performances are fantasticYou always stop when you have to stop. They do their job in both dry and wet conditions."
And so far the advantages have been highlighted, but then Froome continues.
«The disadvantage of disc brakes – he says – is the constant rubbing, overheating, the risk of deform them when you tackle long descents of 5 or 10 minutes – and then he adds – I don't think this technology is where it should be for road cycling».
Learn to use them
In general Froome complains about the small distance between the brake pads and the discs, which create a rubbing that is certainly annoying for any cyclist. Finally, he underlines how the cycling industry is now moving in this direction and you have to adapt and learn to use them best.
Indeed the four-time winner of the Tour de France he has never been a supporter of disc brakesIn an interview with Cycling Weekly in May 2019, he stated: "For safety reasons, I say that disc brakes should be used by everyone or by no one. Having different braking systems in the group would increase the dangers».
Make improvements
To better understand Froome's words, we contacted his new sports director, Claudio Cozzi.
«I can say that from last year to today we have made some improvements – he explains – there are systems that have increased ventilation and therefore cooling of the discs».
Cozzi highlights that It's normal for the braking system to be under stress on long descents: «On the other hand, even with cars when you go down a long descent the brakes start to squeal, it's normal».
Just at the beginning
One point that the sporting director of the Israel Start-Up Nation focuses on is the following.
"We're in our second year with disc brakes," he says, "and Factor has worked to make the bike as light as possible. It's normal that not everything is perfect yet, it's still a technology in its infancy. There may be some problems in case of sharp braking, there's the risk that the disc will become a little oval and maybe the pads will touch. But I don't think there's any going back and the materials will improve."
Cozzi gives a series of examples of recent technical innovations Such as electronic groupsets, fully internal cable routing, tubeless systems, and wider rims. All technologies that have brought about changes both in maintenance and in riders' riding styles, but which inevitably continue to exist, like disc brakes.
«There is an evolution in everything and we must adapt – comments Cozzi – there will be improvements over time. But the guys tell me that with disc brakes, a there has been a big step forward in terms of security»
