Disc Wheels vs. Disc Wheel Covers: Which is better for Cruzbike?

If you race your Cruzbike, a disc wheel can provide significant aero gains.  Jim and I have raced using rear disc wheels and Cruzbike has sold them.  

The problem with real disc wheels is that they are engineered for the smooth surfaces of an indoor track, not the chip-seal and cracks we actually ride. Their narrow internal rim widths run best on skinny tires at high pressure, which makes for a harsh, rattly ride on the open road—and on a long time trial or ultra event, that harshness costs you comfort, control, and eventually watts. 

Matthew Lefthand, a Cruzbike racer, learned about EZ Gains Wheel covers which solve this by letting you build a disc around a modern wheel you'd actually want to ride. Snap the cover onto a good hub with a wide internal rim, and you get true disc aerodynamics without giving up the ride quality of a contemporary wheelset.

Here’s Matthew Lefthand's review of the EZ Gains Wheel Cover:

"What I like most is that you can use a modern wheel—wide internal with a good hub—and have a disc wheel that performs excellently on the road. Most disc wheels built for a Cruzbike are made for the track, and their internal width is harsher on outdoor roads. The cover is relatively easy to install—it takes some time and precision to get it right—and it's worked well in all conditions. I was worried about rain and wet performance, but at one 12-hour race it held up perfectly well in the rain. If you're willing to spend the time to put this on your wheel, it's an excellent way to get a quality rear disc on your Cruzbike."

For Cruzbike racers, the EZ Gains cover is an upgrade that adds aero gains without a compromise. There may be other disc covers that work with your wheels, but we have not tried them. The EZ Gains holds up in the wet and over long hours. Installation takes patience and precision—EZ Gains has plenty of videos walking through the process—but the payoff is a genuine, road-worthy rear disc on your Cruzbike.