So... the rhetoric and emotion around this issue seems to have subsided marginally, and while not intentionally wanting to spark another flame, I see an opportunity to make some points without unnecessary controversy. Most of the disagreement seems to revolve around the acceptance of disc brakes in road racing at the highest levels. On that issue I have made some bold predictions of my own, which I will continue to stand behind, but only time will tell if they are accurate or not. Predictions are not assertions, and contemptible is not an applicable adjective when discussing one. I would point to the title of this thread as a reminder of context for the observations to follow.
As a much younger man, I was involved in the alpine ski business at reasonably high levels of World Cup racing and brand development. I worked for a binding manufacturer that made a bold product leap into the sport of cycling with a new idea, and a controversial product. For more than twenty five years after that I worked for several influential manufacturers in both industries, and I have a few experience based observations on product development, market penetration and demographic change.
If you were a serious (sportive) skier in the 90's, you were undoubtedly skiing on a model ski that was represented, by model and graphic, on athletes at the World Cup level. (think Trek Madone) While the racer's product was different, the influence in design was "trickle down", and the brand marketing inextricably linked to racing. Ten to fifteen years ago a demographic shift began to change that marketing relationship. Ski racers finding greater strength and mass, started to look more like middle linebackers, and found improving results. Ski development for these fitter and more demanding athletes became more exacting. Those skis, while performing admirably when one could muster the energy and technique, began to leave more and more skiers wanting something a little less demanding and more usable.
Today racing skis from Atomic. Rossignol, Fischer, Head, Dynastar... (companies that spend many millions on racing at the highest level) have become a small single digit percentage of their overall retail ski sales. Almost no ski shop stocks them for sale... they are a special need, special order item (think Time Trial bike). The net result is; the most popular skis actually being sold today, are some of the best performing, most well rounded skis ever produced. The customer base, while no less demanding, has universally accepted that racing skis are purpose built to a narrow performance spectrum that does not meet their consumer needs. The demands of their skiing are more diverse than what a racing ski can provide.
I mention this because I see a parallel to product development at the highest levels of cycling. Pro level race bikes are getting well beyond the means of even the most serious and committed road cyclists. A $10K very close replica of your favorite pros mount can still be found at your LBS, but fewer of them are being sold, and so fewer are being produced. Look at any brands catalog and you will see a steady migration of emphasis away from racing in favor of the "everyman's" performance ride; the endurance bike, the century bike, the Fondo bike... Why?... because the consumer is speaking with his credit card, and the manufacturer's are listening. Because if you have purchased a pro caliber race bike in the five years or so, you absolutely don't need a new one. If you want one, great... go get it. But fewer and fewer of us are. My five year old Madone 6.9 is just fine thanks... and will probably be my last serious race bike. I recently acquired an "endurance" bike; 15.5 lb carbon fiber, hydraulic disc, Di2... and I can tell you that pretty much all my other bikes are getting dusty hanging in the garage.
Product development moves with consumer demand. It is a mercurial thing. Time tested products never disappear, they simply gain or loose emphasis based on trends. I have seen many comments on this thread about component suppliers "forcing" disc technology as a means to increase sales. It doesn't really work that way. The market chases bold new ideas, and the manufacturer's try to keep up, and the competition between them forges the next new idea. The consumer ultimately wins. What aspect of your current ride is not a serious improvement over your previous one?
If you have ridden a hydraulic disc road brake, you have an understanding of something over those who have not. If you are a component manufacturer sponsoring pro teams, you have a marketing tool at your disposal to make that understanding more universally known. None of them will miss the opportunity to do so. Is their motivation altruistic?... No. Is it obvious?... Yes. Is road cycling poised to move into a new braking technology paradigm? Like every other aspect of technology in our chosen sport, and in our busy lives, I am afraid so.
http://www.fullspeedahead.com/road-bike-disc-brakes-coming/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdWsSB9QGkY
As a much younger man, I was involved in the alpine ski business at reasonably high levels of World Cup racing and brand development. I worked for a binding manufacturer that made a bold product leap into the sport of cycling with a new idea, and a controversial product. For more than twenty five years after that I worked for several influential manufacturers in both industries, and I have a few experience based observations on product development, market penetration and demographic change.
If you were a serious (sportive) skier in the 90's, you were undoubtedly skiing on a model ski that was represented, by model and graphic, on athletes at the World Cup level. (think Trek Madone) While the racer's product was different, the influence in design was "trickle down", and the brand marketing inextricably linked to racing. Ten to fifteen years ago a demographic shift began to change that marketing relationship. Ski racers finding greater strength and mass, started to look more like middle linebackers, and found improving results. Ski development for these fitter and more demanding athletes became more exacting. Those skis, while performing admirably when one could muster the energy and technique, began to leave more and more skiers wanting something a little less demanding and more usable.
Today racing skis from Atomic. Rossignol, Fischer, Head, Dynastar... (companies that spend many millions on racing at the highest level) have become a small single digit percentage of their overall retail ski sales. Almost no ski shop stocks them for sale... they are a special need, special order item (think Time Trial bike). The net result is; the most popular skis actually being sold today, are some of the best performing, most well rounded skis ever produced. The customer base, while no less demanding, has universally accepted that racing skis are purpose built to a narrow performance spectrum that does not meet their consumer needs. The demands of their skiing are more diverse than what a racing ski can provide.
I mention this because I see a parallel to product development at the highest levels of cycling. Pro level race bikes are getting well beyond the means of even the most serious and committed road cyclists. A $10K very close replica of your favorite pros mount can still be found at your LBS, but fewer of them are being sold, and so fewer are being produced. Look at any brands catalog and you will see a steady migration of emphasis away from racing in favor of the "everyman's" performance ride; the endurance bike, the century bike, the Fondo bike... Why?... because the consumer is speaking with his credit card, and the manufacturer's are listening. Because if you have purchased a pro caliber race bike in the five years or so, you absolutely don't need a new one. If you want one, great... go get it. But fewer and fewer of us are. My five year old Madone 6.9 is just fine thanks... and will probably be my last serious race bike. I recently acquired an "endurance" bike; 15.5 lb carbon fiber, hydraulic disc, Di2... and I can tell you that pretty much all my other bikes are getting dusty hanging in the garage.
Product development moves with consumer demand. It is a mercurial thing. Time tested products never disappear, they simply gain or loose emphasis based on trends. I have seen many comments on this thread about component suppliers "forcing" disc technology as a means to increase sales. It doesn't really work that way. The market chases bold new ideas, and the manufacturer's try to keep up, and the competition between them forges the next new idea. The consumer ultimately wins. What aspect of your current ride is not a serious improvement over your previous one?
If you have ridden a hydraulic disc road brake, you have an understanding of something over those who have not. If you are a component manufacturer sponsoring pro teams, you have a marketing tool at your disposal to make that understanding more universally known. None of them will miss the opportunity to do so. Is their motivation altruistic?... No. Is it obvious?... Yes. Is road cycling poised to move into a new braking technology paradigm? Like every other aspect of technology in our chosen sport, and in our busy lives, I am afraid so.
http://www.fullspeedahead.com/road-bike-disc-brakes-coming/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdWsSB9QGkY
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