Disc brakes have gotten very bad press, but this mechanic was determined to prove they are perfectly safe, putting both hands on the line.
Never has a new piece of kit received such bad press as disc brakes in recent months.
Introduced on a trial basis for WorldTour teams by the UCI, the brakes were withdrawn after a rider suffered a horror wound in Paris-Roubaix and pointed to the brakes as his attacker.
Movistar rider Francisco Ventoso explained that he did not actually crash during the race but was forced to unclip about 130km into it on a section of pavé to avoid others who had fallen and were blocking his way.
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And while he says his leg only touched the bike of the rider next to him before he quickly continued on his way, when he looked down at his leg a little further up the road he could see to the bone.
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And the photos he shared of the wound after it was patched up really were horrific.
But now a Shimano mechanic has set out to prove the brakes are perfectly safe. In the clip below, he first tests the discs on an inner tube – probably from a motorbike judging by its size.
And then just to prove his point he sticks his hand in to slow the wheel while it’s moving quickly with the disc brake whipping around with it.
Would you put your hands here?
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