ZIPP WHEELS


2012 Zipp 808 Clincher Wheelset

  • Item: ZIP830
  • $2,500.00
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Every incarnation of Zipp wheelsets has amazing victories to its credit. The Zipp 808 Clincher Wheelset is no different, having been ridden to numerous Ironman podiums. For many years, tubulars were the name of the game in tri circles, but improvements in carbon clincher technology has some deep-dish fanatics making the switch. Perhaps the biggest impetus to use a clincher wheel setup is the ease of changing your tire flat mid-race. Being able to change a tire could be the difference between finishing the race and having to find a lift home. Easy tire swaps also mean that you can be much more flexible in your choice of tires from day to day, which could play an enormous role in your race performance if race day is rainy, or the road conditions are compromised in some other way. Choose the proper tire for the conditions and effortlessly make the change.

Once you install a pair of the Zipp 808 Clinchers, you ‘ve joined the aero wheel revolution, but that doesn’t mean you have to deal with some of the drawbacks of other full carbon wheels. Carbon braking surfaces still give us pause, especially when we’re screaming down a mountain pass and hoping we’re not overcooking the wheel. By giving the 404 Clinchers an aluminum braking surface, Zipp ensures that you won’t think worry about pulling the levers when coming down a sharp switchback. Zipp uses their M2CM (Multi-Material Co-Molding) technology that produces nearly-indestructible rims for even more peace of mind. The M2CM process permanently fuses a sub-200 gram aluminum rim to the ABLC dimpled carbon structure that forms the aero portion of the wheel.

Zipp added their ABLC dimpled technology to these wheels as well, so the somewhat bowed rim shape can be used to the fullest, forcing air into a higher energy state by pushing it over the dimpled surface. The dimples allow the air to remain attached to the surface of the rim, which is the best way to take ultimate advantage of the aero shape.

The 808s still ride like silk, since Zipp incorporates their Visco-Elastic Constrained Layer Control, or VCLC, into the layup. A visco-elastic material is sandwiched between layers of rigid carbon laminate in the rim, so when the wheel receives an impact from the road, some of the shock is absorbed by the VCLC system. Zipp quantifies this as a 10% reduction in vibration.

As with the other 808s in the Zipp series, the 88/188 hubset has been improved with a 7.5 mm wider bearing stance and a body shape canted out by 2 degrees for added stiffness and strength. The Zipp 808 Clincher Wheelset weighs in at 1662 grams and is available in Beyond Black and Falcon Grey. The front wheel has a 16 radial spoke count while the rear has 20 spokes laced radially on the driveside and cross on the non-drive.