Cipollini adds Disc brakes to their new aero NK1K

They spelled “Campagnolo” wrong on the brakes and shifters

Nice and good Disk Frame Works from Cipo !!!

* please note that the oil used in the brakes on these bikes, comes directly from the coif of the self proclaimed ‘sexiest man in cycling’

In my completely anecdotal experience with my disc road bike, there’s a pretty hefty aero penalty that is dependent upon yaw angle. FWIW, I live in a fairly flat area, close to a major river where there is always wind. Always. Which is unfortunate for me, because my big weakness area is riding into headwinds. That being said, the first time I ever road the disc road bike for real I was rather shocked at the amount of wind drag and wheel deflection there was due to wind hitting the rotor. My disc road bike is built with custom H Plus Son 25mm wheels to centerlock hubs and I’ve always been really surprised at the amount of torque at the bar winds can generate. I contrast this to my non disc road bike, where I’m running deeper carbon clinchers and there is actually very little bar torque from wind. I don’t have a wind tunnel but I’ve ridden the same routes on the disc bike many times and this is just my anecdotal experience. Anyway, I like them both but the caliper bike is definitely lighter with similar spec and based on tons of subjective data like Strava, it’s also significantly faster over the same courses. It does not stop as well. I also am pretty light, don’t live in the high mountains nor ride in the rain much.

I don’t get why some people are so down on the idea of aero frame + disc brakes…

If the aero frame reduces drag and the discs increase drag, then surely that’s better than a non-aero frame increasing drag AND the disc brakes increasing drag.

No, it’s not going to be as slick as an aero frame with rim brakes, but everyone has different priorities when purchasing a bike.

Eric Hansen. So all those MotoGP manufactures are wasting time aero testing in wind tunnels? “purposefully not aero”, “don’t turn well” Eh? I’d love to see Rossi’s reaction to that one! Seems anything goes in the good ‘ole comment sections these days.

Torque from wind hitting your rotor? Riding bikes is hard.

So I lose a little aero, gain a pound of weight, make my other wheels non compatible, for what benefit…?

@chris, it is anecdotal, in fact the the 4th word I used in my post was “anecdotal” which means your mileage will vary. Yes, I have done back to back rides on the same day just for SAG. Frames are rather equivalent, small diameter metal frames. H Plus Son versus 303’s. The steering affect is most noticeable when the wind is a head wind coming in at the 9-11 o’clock position from the non drive side. The disc bike is always more affected. Now, riding the opposite direction, not so much (it’s an out and back dead flat 20 ft vert). I’m also less than 145 and by torque steer do not confuse this with the bar being violently jerked out of my hands. What I mean is that it can be noticeably felt, surprisingly so for a bike with shallow rims. Also doesn’t mean that the 303’s are not affected, the affect on them feels different. You feel the pressure at the bar but more uniform across the bike front to rear. Thanks for calling bullshit, maybe it’s just me…I’m batshit…crazy. Lastly, do not mistake my post for a bash on discs, it’s not and i actually plan on getting another in 2nd qtr 2016. Because Bikerumor and Specialized told me they were the future, I can’t do anything else but agree.

@Eric Hansen – Agreed it’s going to be nearly impossible for disc weight to equal caliper bike weight all else being equal because, well, rotors. Although honestly the weight thing isn’t a big issue. Spoke to Argonaut last week and all in with existing 785, I can get a complete ride with cages in under 16 without any exotics, I’m plenty happy with that. I’d really just like two things, a DA level disc caliper that has a DA level of visual refinement and finish because, vanity. And #2, take the existing 785 levers and reduce them by 100g per set, I understand that might be difficult, but still that’s my wishlist.

@pamountanbiker – Sorry dude, but what you’re feeling at the bars is probably from a misaligned frame of fork. The effect of crosswinds on rotors is negligible.

@Bob Dobbs, had not considered that actually and it’s certainly in the realm of possibility, I am replacing the bike with a custom disc road early next year so I’ll be able to compare my experiences.