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PRO issues a statement on Team Sky's broken wheels

The company cite their extensive testing and will investigate further

Yesterday's Tirreno Adriatico team time trial was marred by a crash caused by a dramatic wheel failure. The crash left Gianni Moscon, of Team Sky, with road rash and also ended Geraint Thomas' hopes of GC contention.

 

The broken wheels affected 3 Team Sky riders, but Gianni Moscon was the worst affected, with his front tri-spoke wheel completely disintergrating and causing him to crash quite heavily. 

According to Geraint Thomas, Diego Rosa's wheel also broke, as did another rider's. The failures seem to have been caused by a pothole which was hit at high speed prior to the video footage. BMC, also riding the PRO tri-spoke wheel suffered no such problems, so the failures seem to be isolated.

The video footage above shows Moscon's crash. It's not clear whether the tubular tyre was flat before the crash, nor if it rolled off the rim before or durning the wheel's collapse. 

Sky mechanics can then be seen collecting pieces of rim, which they then analysed with representatives from Shimano after the race.

PRO, the Shimano's component brand, have issued a statement confirming their ongoing investigation into yesterday's wheel failures.

The pros and cons of carbon wheels

The statement reads:

"PRO is continuing its investigation into the issue we saw with Team Sky at the team time trial of Tirreno-Adriatico. We are continuing to look closely into all factors that could cause the incident.

During production the three-spoke wheel passed PRO's extremely high internal quality control and ISO/UCI standards. PRO's three-spoke wheel was introduced in 2014 and has a flawless record, achieving countless time trial victories since, including BMC's team time trial win in the same stage.

In the meantime we wish Gianni Moscon the best of luck in the remaining stages of Tirreno-Adriatico."

Ryan Mullen's double disc SuperSlice TT bike turns heads

Thomas, and his Sky teammates lost 1minute 42seconds to winners BMC, so they will likely turn their attention to stage wins. 

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20 comments

Avatar
matthewn5 | 7 years ago
0 likes

Quote:

a flawless record

They won't be able to say that anymore, will they.

Avatar
Paul__M | 7 years ago
1 like

This reminds me of a carbon wheel failure 500cc champion Freddy Spencer had testing his Honda. It gave him a mind worm from which his career never recovered.

Avatar
matthewn5 replied to Paul__M | 7 years ago
0 likes

Paul__M wrote:

This reminds me of a carbon wheel failure 500cc champion Freddy Spencer had testing his Honda. It gave him a mind worm from which his career never recovered.

My mind worm on downhills is someone backing out of a driveway. Still love them though.

Avatar
700c | 7 years ago
1 like

Lol furious spinning from PR/ marketing

".. a flawless record, achieving countless time trial victories since, including BMC's team time trial win in the same stage"

..er OK but one still broke catastrophically ?

I don't know who Shimano get to make their wheels currently but maybe campagnolo, (who do make their own wheels), could offer to do it, under another brand name, alongside 'Fulcrum', which would meet the quality requirements of team Sky et al?  3

Avatar
tritecommentbot | 7 years ago
0 likes

These aren't my wheels. And yes, it is definitely Shimano being dodgy, they've been caught out and are changing specs where they can now.

 

Catch up here:

 

http://weightweenies.starbike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=143554&start=60

Avatar
Jackson | 7 years ago
3 likes

Did any pros tweet about the use of tri-spoke wheels? Given the choice between a cut from a disc brake or going teeth-first into the road at 60km/hr I know which I'd rather chance. 

Avatar
a1white | 7 years ago
1 like

What the hell is the point of that awful 'music' on the YouTube clip?

Avatar
PaulBox | 7 years ago
3 likes

I have a head-worm re wheel issues on fast downhills that I'm struggling to get over. Last summer my front tyre came off the rim, I managed to stay upright (through luck rather than skill) but it still comes to the fore every time I'm 25mph+.

Seeing this footage yesterday hasn't helped...

Avatar
SingleSpeed replied to PaulBox | 7 years ago
0 likes

PaulBox wrote:

I have a head-worm re wheel issues on fast downhills that I'm struggling to get over. Last summer my front tyre came off the rim, I managed to stay upright (through luck rather than skill) but it still comes to the fore every time I'm 25mph+.

Seeing this footage yesterday hasn't helped...

 

When you're cruising along the flats at 25mph and you get a panic on just do some deeper breathing, or if you're riding on the hoods typically at that speed maybe go to the drops for a little reassurance, or form some kind of mantra to practice. Ok so that's not much use at 50mph+ going downhill, if you get a head issue at that speed just sit up and wait for it to pass.

 

Avatar
PaulBox replied to SingleSpeed | 7 years ago
0 likes

SingleSpeed wrote:

PaulBox wrote:

I have a head-worm re wheel issues on fast downhills that I'm struggling to get over. Last summer my front tyre came off the rim, I managed to stay upright (through luck rather than skill) but it still comes to the fore every time I'm 25mph+.

Seeing this footage yesterday hasn't helped...

When you're cruising along the flats at 25mph and you get a panic on just do some deeper breathing, or if you're riding on the hoods typically at that speed maybe go to the drops for a little reassurance, or form some kind of mantra to practice. Ok so that's not much use at 50mph+ going downhill, if you get a head issue at that speed just sit up and wait for it to pass.

I don't have a problem on the flat (i.e. <25mph), only on downhills where my speed exceeds 25mph. And yes, sitting up and braking is what tends to happen...  2

It passes as the terrain flattens and I slow down.

Avatar
tritecommentbot | 7 years ago
6 likes

While they're putting out statements about wheels, maybe their 'rents could explain why they're selling the new  C40's with an advertised depth of 37mm, yet actually measure:

 

//i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt66/hatcha23/C40/20170113_213215.jpg)

 

Dodgy as.

 

 

Avatar
khisanth replied to tritecommentbot | 7 years ago
0 likes

Maybe they are measuring the widest part of the rim by the spoke nipple?

 

unconstituted wrote:

While they're putting out statements about wheels, maybe their 'rents could explain why they're selling the new  C40's with an advertised depth of 37mm, yet actually measure:

 

//i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt66/hatcha23/C40/20170113_213215.jpg)

 

Dodgy as.

 

 

Avatar
SingleSpeed replied to khisanth | 7 years ago
2 likes

unconstituted wrote:

Dodgy as.

 

Out +/- 0.3215% over the diameter of your wheel....how very fucking dare they! send them back not fit for purpose I'd write to my MP about that.

Grrrr Angry Face.

Down with this sort of thing.

 

Avatar
PaulBox replied to SingleSpeed | 7 years ago
3 likes

SingleSpeed wrote:

unconstituted wrote:

Dodgy as.

Out +/- 0.3215% over the diameter of your wheel....how very fucking dare they! send them back not fit for purpose I'd write to my MP about that.

Grrrr Angry Face.

Down with this sort of thing.

 

Missing 4mm of 37mm is -10.8% isn't it?

Avatar
SingleSpeed replied to PaulBox | 7 years ago
0 likes

PaulBox wrote:

SingleSpeed wrote:

unconstituted wrote:

Dodgy as.

Out +/- 0.3215% over the diameter of your wheel....how very fucking dare they! send them back not fit for purpose I'd write to my MP about that.

Grrrr Angry Face.

Down with this sort of thing.

 

Missing 4mm of 37mm is -10.8% isn't it?

 

You've read the Very Nears wrong  1 

Anyway I did it as a percentage of the 622mm diameter of a 700c wheel (tongue in cheek like)

Avatar
check12 replied to tritecommentbot | 7 years ago
4 likes

Old c35s rebadged? You should have bought the rs81 c35 ! How's the internal rim width?

unconstituted wrote:

While they're putting out statements about wheels, maybe their 'rents could explain why they're selling the new  C40's with an advertised depth of 37mm, yet actually measure:

 

//i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt66/hatcha23/C40/20170113_213215.jpg)

 

Dodgy as.

 

 

Avatar
tritecommentbot replied to check12 | 7 years ago
3 likes

check12 wrote:

Old c35s rebadged? You should have bought the rs81 c35 ! How's the internal rim width?

unconstituted wrote:

While they're putting out statements about wheels, maybe their 'rents could explain why they're selling the new  C40's with an advertised depth of 37mm, yet actually measure:

 

*snip*

Dodgy as.

 

 

 

Yeah exactly! These measure c35 depth which is why this is so dodgy. Width should be 24mm but is actually, you guessed it - 20.8mm, same as the c35s.

Like you said, looks exactly like C35's rebadged. Scandalous.

Anyone buying this crap needs to check.

Avatar
Eapea replied to tritecommentbot | 7 years ago
1 like

unconstituted wrote:

check12 wrote:

Old c35s rebadged? You should have bought the rs81 c35 ! How's the internal rim width?

unconstituted wrote:

While they're putting out statements about wheels, maybe their 'rents could explain why they're selling the new  C40's with an advertised depth of 37mm, yet actually measure:

 

*snip*

Dodgy as.

 

 

 

Yeah exactly! These measure c35 depth which is why this is so dodgy. Width should be 24mm but is actually, you guessed it - 20.8mm, same as the c35s.

Like you said, looks exactly like C35's rebadged. Scandalous.

Anyone buying this crap needs to check.

WH-R9100-C40-CL-R should according to spec have 35mm depth and 20,8mm width.

Avatar
Jamminatrix replied to tritecommentbot | 7 years ago
0 likes
unconstituted wrote:

While they're putting out statements about wheels, maybe their 'rents could explain why they're selling the new  C40's with an advertised depth of 37mm, yet actually measure:

Where are you getting your "advertised" specs?

Certainly not from Shimano.... http://bike.shimano.com/content/sac-bike/en/home/road/wheels---hubs/whee...

Sounds like the retailer is at fault, not Shimano...

Avatar
check12 replied to tritecommentbot | 7 years ago
0 likes

Can you post a link to what you bought? 

 

unconstituted wrote:

While they're putting out statements about wheels, maybe their 'rents could explain why they're selling the new  C40's with an advertised depth of 37mm, yet actually measure:

 

//i598.photobucket.com/albums/tt66/hatcha23/C40/20170113_213215.jpg)

 

Dodgy as.

 

 

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