Lately on the UAE Tour, Lotto Dstny rider Thomas De Gendt hit the deck. However not like many run-of-the-mill crashes in professional biking, De Gendt’s crash ignited a firestorm of media consideration because of the trigger. Properly, because of the potential trigger as nobody can say for sure what induced the crash, however we do know that De Gendt was using hookless rims and tubeless tires with a tire insert.
In the course of the crash, the tire practically got here off the rim fully leaving the Vittoria tire liner flapping within the breeze. Since then there have been many questioning the compatibility of sure tires and hookless rims, together with the Cyclistes Professionnels Associés whose president, Adam Hansen, has voiced the CPA’s concern over hookless rims within the Peloton.
As a refresher, hookless rims get rid of the small hook on the rim which up to now has served to lock the tire bead in place. Hookless rims as an alternative depend on the form of tubeless tire beads to carry the tire in place with friction in opposition to a straight aspect wall. The benefit is supposedly a lighter rim with a decreased likelihood of pinch flats and impression injury to the rim whereas permitting the tire to fill out a extra rounded profile and run decrease pressures for higher grip.
From a producing standpoint, hookless rims appear to be simpler and less expensive to fabricate, which hypothetically ends in a extra reasonably priced product.
Nonetheless, hookless rims have particular necessities for tire kind, dimension, and strain – with most hookless rims required to run under 72.5 PSI.
UCI Weighs In
Should you’ve been following the drama, you knew this half was coming: the UCI is now investigating. Releasing a brief assertion at the moment, it’s clear that the UCI intends to rapidly determine whether or not hookless rims have a spot within the professional peloton.
In mild of a collection of latest incidents involving using hookless rims and tubeless tyres (a mixture generally known as hookless) in skilled street biking, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has determined to check the state of affairs as a matter of urgency with a view to taking a fast resolution within the curiosity of rider security.
These measures will likely be communicated as quickly as attainable.
The UCI shall proceed to work intently with the stakeholders of biking and gear producers to make sure that acceptable measures are taken each within the quick and long run. This evaluate and the selections that may comply with are a part of the UCI’s coverage to advertise rider security, one in all its main considerations.
-UCI
