WHEELS
2009 Zipp 202 Wheelset
Many folks consider the Zipp 202 to be a "climbing" wheelset. Looks can be deceiving, though. The 202's have a rim depth of 32mm which means the wheel rolls at lower drag down hills and along the flats, as well as shallow uphill grades. It is 4-6 watts more aerodynamically efficient than the ...read more
2009 Zipp 303 Wheelset
To choose is to live. We have to admit that we find ourselves splitting hairs when choosing between the Zipp 303 and the 404 as the ideal racing wheelset. They're both feathery light and extremely aero, with the 303 being a bit lighter and the 404 being a bit more aero. What should be the tipping ...read more
2009 Zipp 404 Wheelset
Weight isn't everything when it comes to wheels. Aerodynamics, especially Zipp-tuned aerodynamics can make a big difference. Their ABLC rim dimpling, as you know by now, reduces drag just like the dimpling of golf balls. And on the 404 you get a totally-redesigned rim profile. It's now fully ...read more
2009 Zipp 808 Wheelset
There was a time when a 35mm deep rim looked oddly deep. In that era, 19mm deep box-section rims were the norm. Nowadays, 35mm looks normal. And at 82mm deep, wheels like the Zipp 808 look deep. The tubular version of the 808's rim is only 460g, which is lighter than many box-section clinchers. ...read more
2009 Zipp 1080 Wheelset
We'd love to be a fly on the wall at a Zipp imagineering session. Like for this Zipp 1080 Tubular wheelset. Zipp started with a few knowns, like the fact that some people already can handle Tri-Spokes in crosswinds. They then used that info to figure out how they could make a wheel that's faster ...read more
2009 Zipp Team Issue Wheelset
The Zipp Team Issue Wheelset was known for many years as the "Team CSC Wheelset". It was Team CSC's go-to wheel for training and for the nastiness of Belgian pavé in the spring classics season. Money talks, though, and after a long spell of Zipp/CSC collaboration, Specialized backed up a Brinks ...read more
2008 Zipp Sub-9 Lenticular Disc Wheel
Our mind was blown when we heard that Zipp was about to debut a disc that produced negative drag. Aka lift. All our experience tells us that drag should go up as wind whooshes by a product. There are definitely ways to minimize drag. Maybe, maybe, there is a way to flatten drag. But turn it the ...read more
2009 Zipp 900 Clincher Disc Wheel/Power Tap 2.4 Wireless Hub
Even though this wheel comes with a full-blown Power Tap 2.4 wireless powermeter in the hub, it still offers all the aerodynamics of the standard 900 disc. It has only 19mm of frontal area, so it's nearly invisible to the wind. It has a dimpling pattern unique to the 900, which helps smooth the ...read more
2009 Zipp 900 Tubular Disc Wheel/Power Tap 2.4 Wireless Hub
An interesting observation for you: Zipp's 900/Power Tap 2.4 disc wheel is approximately 50g lighter than the Sub-9/Power Tap disc. According to Zipp's testing, it's also laterally stiffer than the Sub-9. And, amazingly enough, it's 10% less costly than the Sub-9 version. While the Sub-9 offers ...read more
2009 Zipp Sub-9 Disc/Power Tap 2.4 Wireless Hub
There are certain fundamental bike-related decisions we've all faced: Shimano or Campy; Fizik or Selle Italia; Continental or Vittoria? No decision, though, seems to cause the consternation of the power-training neophyte: Power Tap or SRM? There are a dozen arguments for choosing either brand. ...read more
