What would pros use if they actually had a choice?

[Mark McM]

Originally Posted by MikeD

I think you should watch that video again. The issue presented is that QRs can provide a greater clamping force than a thru axle, and that's what's important, especially if you use one of those thru axles with a short handle or do up the thru axle with a short handled Allen key, like what comes with a multitool.

He did mention clamping force, but for some reason he seemed to go on and on about wheel stiffness. In any case, maybe QRs can provide more clamping force than thru axles, but thru axles provide more than enough clamping force. (By the way, did he even measure clamping force? No, he didn't.) It should be noted that with traditional axles, wheels were either attached with thru axles or with nutted axles. No one ever said that nutted axles didn't provide enough clamping force (indeed, they were often considered more secure than QRs). And yet, axle nuts had a coarser thread than some thru axles, which means less clamping force. So if nutted axles are adequate, there's no reason to think thru axles aren't adequate. So again - the video blathers on about nothing.

[MikeD]

Originally Posted by Mark McM

He did mention clamping force, but for some reason he seemed to go on and on about wheel stiffness. In any case, maybe QRs can provide more clamping force than thru axles, but thru axles provide more than enough clamping force. (By the way, did he even measure clamping force? No, he didn't.) It should be noted that with traditional axles, wheels were either attached with thru axles or with nutted axles. No one ever said that nutted axles didn't provide enough clamping force (indeed, they were often considered more secure than QRs). And yet, axle nuts had a coarser thread than some thru axles, which means less clamping force. So if nutted axles are adequate, there's no reason to think thru axles aren't adequate. So again - the video blathers on about nothing.

He made another video where he used a strain gage setup to measure clamping force.

[Fivethumbs]

If anyone's interested in the Tom Boonen custom aluminum Specialized story, here's an old article on it: http://belgiumkneewarmers.blogspot.c...ses-mouth.html

[ldamelio]

Originally Posted by Fivethumbs

If anyone's interested in the Tom Boonen custom aluminum Specialized story, here's an old article on it: http://belgiumkneewarmers.blogspot.c...ses-mouth.html

That's the Specialized version of the story. It leaves out the part about about the him riding a rebadged Pegoretti Marcello, including to two TdF stage wins and a green jersey that year. That's the 'aluminum prototype' quickly glossed over in the Specialized copy.

[Fivethumbs]

I never heard the story about him riding a steel bike. But not surprising because I'm sure no modern manufacturer wants anyone to know you can win a major race on a steel bike!

[jet sanchez]

Originally Posted by ldamelio

That's the Specialized version of the story. It leaves out the part about about the him riding a rebadged Pegoretti Marcello, including to two TdF stage wins and a green jersey that year. That's the 'aluminum prototype' quickly glossed over in the Specialized copy.

Any more info on this?

I'd heard that he rode a Peg during one of his Paris Roubaix appearances but figured it was just a rumour...

[KonaSS]

Lot of speculation and misinformation going on here.

If you look at the aluminum bike from the spring of 2007 - it looks very much like a Specialized E5 aluminum bike. Very much believable that this was a custom frame that Specialized built for him. https://www.flickr.com/photos/21450081@N04/2084041227/

It looks nothing like any Pegoretti I have ever seen. By June he had his custom carbon Specialized, which he won the green jersey on. http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/tech/...ized_tarmacsl2