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Everyone knows that Bjarne Riis is a demanding directeur sportif. He wants double maximum performance from every rider and from every part on their bikes. In a culture where graft and shady under-the-table briefcase exchanges are part of the lore (paging Manolo Saiz), Riis is the odd man out: He's so committed to giving his riders the best technology that he doesn't ask for money from equipment sponsors. He merely wants the best possible components and a commitment from them to improving on the best.

Not surprisingly, you can see that influence in Zipp's CSC Wheelset. The wheels reflect both Riis' and Zipp's commitment to bringing out the best. Even to aluminum-rimmed clincher wheels, which Zipp never included in their product line until CSC demanded a wheel for training and for the nastiness of Belgian pavé. These are high tech wheels that would be ProTour race ready for any circumstance if it weren't for the aerodynamics of the spoke count.

The hubs are Zipp's 108/208 set; 108g front hub and 208g rear, which are among the lightest around. The "traditional" flanged hubs run on Swiss steel bearings that are round to one ten millionth of an inch, something the Zipp tech heads obsessed over. The balls run on Teflon-impregnated radial-contact retainers. It's alotta work to think all this up, test it, and build it into hubs, but it saves 1 watt of drag. The cassette bodies, both Campagnolo and Shimano/SRAM are available, also use the EDM cut ratchet ring and pawls found on all other Zipp wheelsets. Smoothness, durability, longevity -- what else can you ask for out of a hubset?

The spokes are DT Swiss Aerolite that are ovalized 16 gauge with the strength of double-butted spokes. The aluminum alloy rims use single eyelets to save 25g over traditional double-eyelets while still retaining enough strength to eliminate stress fractures. The braking surfaces are machined for consistent braking. There is a rim wear indicator built into the braking surface; when it's gone, the rim walls are getting thin.

The Zipp CSC wheelset has 28 two-cross spokes in the front wheel and 32 three-cross spokes in the rear. The bearings can be upgraded to ceramic. The maximum tire pressure considered safe with the rims is 125psi. The front wheel weighs 704g, the rear 794g, for a total wheel weight of 1498g. Skewers are not included.