Pre-carbon wheel discs

Jonny69 · Apr 12, 2011

What did folk use for wheel discs in the days before solid carbon disc wheels?

I ask because I've been slobbering over pictures of the Bianchi C4 and it looks to my eye like it has covers stretched over the spokes:

Was this what they used to do? I guess my next question is what were they made of, how were they attached and are they still available?

Jonny69 · Apr 12, 2011

Looks like they're called aero disc covers or aero wheel covers

latman · Apr 12, 2011

Those are top of the range Ghibli discs

http://velobase.com/ViewComponent.aspx? ... 1&AbsPos=1

and i guess they are solid composites not just fairings over spokes , in the same "fluid dynamic" era was scirocco (4 holes)

http://velobase.com/ViewComponent.aspx? ... 1&AbsPos=5

and the cheaper Khamsin disc

http://velobase.com/ViewComponent.aspx? ... 1&AbsPos=4

which I have for my Steel Merckx .It is contructed with woven glass over foam core (each side) and the graphics are printed onto a big white sticker which leads me to guess the Khamsin is more expensive kevlar over foam core.

1duck · Apr 13, 2011

wow that bianchi is beautiful...*wishes it was his*

latman · Apr 13, 2011

1duck":1wgg4f2e said:
wow that bianchi is beautiful...*wishes it was his*

agreed there , but that up curved top tube wouldn't give much jewel clearance !

Jonny69 · Apr 13, 2011

latman":1x3rfdww said:
Those are top of the range Ghibli discs

http://velobase.com/ViewComponent.aspx? ... 1&AbsPos=1

and i guess they are solid composites not just fairings over spokes , in the same "fluid dynamic" era was scirocco (4 holes)

http://velobase.com/ViewComponent.aspx? ... 1&AbsPos=5

and the cheaper Khamsin disc

http://velobase.com/ViewComponent.aspx? ... 1&AbsPos=4

which I have for my Steel Merckx .It is contructed with woven glass over foam core (each side) and the graphics are printed onto a big white sticker which leads me to guess the Khamsin is more expensive kevlar over foam core.

Wow, they must be worth a fortune then!

pete_mcc · Apr 15, 2011

There were options such as plastic or fabric 'skins' over a standard wheel, or full aluminium disc wheels like mavic challenger ones:

orbeas · Apr 15, 2011

wheel covers

In the mid 80's you could buy wheel covers that you glued to a tubular rim to make a disc wheel, dont forget that Francesco Moser broke the hour record with a weighted rear wheel that acted as a flywheel, so that when he got going the wheel kept going at the same speed so helped him keep the same speed . As it was covered up nobdy could see the weights inside, so it was legal.

monty dog · Apr 15, 2011

There was also the J Disc which was a regular wheel with a polyester film glued to the rim and heat shrunk in place - it was tight like a drumskin, unlike the Aerodisc cover which was a sheet of plastic. I still have a pre-carbon disc wheel which is a sheet of phenolic honeycomb with a 2 piece hub screwed to the middle and a tub glue on the outside. Weighs a ton but feels fast when rolling.

latman · Apr 16, 2011

i have some nicer Moser hour record photos for those that may have never seen them . looks like i have to go 1 photo at a time sorry

Pre-carbon wheel discs

Jonny69

Senior Retro Guru

Jonny69

Senior Retro Guru

latman

Senior Retro Guru

1duck

Senior Retro Guru

latman

Senior Retro Guru

Jonny69

Senior Retro Guru

pete_mcc

orbeas

Retro Guru

monty dog

Senior Retro Guru

latman

Senior Retro Guru

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