Cycling / Market: An old dog doesn't learn new tricks? Are you kidding me? Are you serious when you say that! Cycling veteran Tom Boonen will be fully committed to disc brakes in his last season as an active professional, after many many years previously only on rim brakes. The decisive factor was the training sessions in winter on a bike with disc brakes.
After the more than chaotic disc brake test phase at the beginning of last season, the world association UCI is currently making a new attempt to give teams and professionals in the pro peloton the chance to switch to the new braking system and test it under real competition conditions. Many drivers are still skeptical, but experienced rider Tom Boonen is completely convinced of the advantages of hydraulic brakes. “It's the biggest improvement I've seen in my cycling career. I would be stupid not to use it,” said the 36-year-old Belgian on the sidelines of the Vuelta a San Juan in Argentina.
components: Shimano Dura Ace 2017: First test with disc brakes and new Di2 functions
Test: In France, shortly before the start of the Tour de France, Shimano presented its new evolution of the Dura Ace road bike spearhead last year. To date, however, only the purely mechanical variant is commercially available; in Spain we had the opportunity to test the electronic Di2 group with the new disc brakes for the first time. The public […]
Boonen's team, Quick-Step Floors, has been using Specialized bikes and Shimano components for many years - both manufacturers have had some experience with disc brakes and now have well-engineered products in their range. The final decision to change the braking system in his last season came during his winter training sessions, which he spent on the new S-Works Venge ViAS Disc. "They [the disc brakes, ed. Red.] work better, are easier to dose and the tires do not lock up as quickly as with classic brakes.”
[…] The disc brakes are back in the road bike peloton and Tom Boonen positions himself clearly: "It would be stupid not to use them". […]