WHEELS

Right or wrong, we've developed preferences and perhaps even prejudices. Our overviews of wheels tend to read as if we categorize manufacturers as making authentic timed race wheels, versus those manufacturers we might term "other." To the degree we're guilty of this, Zipp is not an "other" wheel. It belongs. It is a bona-fide race wheel.

The less-well-known truth of the matter is that Zipp and Hed are joint patent-holders of the ability to make a wheel with an oval shape (see graphic of a Zipp rim shape at left). All other companies must make deep-dish rims with a teardrop shape. There are ramifications to this when considering all the angles in which the wind might strike a wheel.

Additionally, Zipp has been around since the '80s, as has Hed, and it has therefore endured the slings and arrows of the fickle, low-rent bike market. It's hard to make a living in this business. Zipp has survived—which means it has survived its competitors, and survived its own inevitable "zig-when-it-should've-zagged" strategic errors (errors that all companies make—the ability to survive one's own errors is what allows a company to survive long-term). Zipp is battle-tested as a company, and after more than a dozen years of Ironman-style bumps and bruises it's wheels are battle tested as well.

ZIPP 404 TUBULAR

May as well get right to it. These wheels are the ones most people want, if it's a Zipp wheel you're looking for. The rim is exceptionally light at 360g (700c). I rode a set of these just last week on a high-end tri-specific bike, and they acted just as I thought they should, that is, I felt a lot faster than I should've, the wheels were straight and true, durable, laterally stiff, and caused me no problems.

What was not so light (just after the turn of the millenium) was the entire wheel, due to Zipp's decision to step back from making ridiculously light hubs in favor of those that actually function. This is a conscious decision made by Zipp's president Andy Ording, who was formerly Zipp's marketing man for many years. But when he bought the company four years ago, he decided that he was tired of his company's constant pushing of the envelope on weight. He wanted ultimate durability and reliability, and he was willing to sacrifice 25 or 50 grams here and there in order to get it. The result was a product lineup that contained extremely light and durable rims, but with hubs that might not be as light as Zipp hubs of the past—but also without the failures of some Zipp hubs of the past. Nowadays, however, their flagship, U.S.-built hubs are lightweight again. Weights are now 202g for the rear and 84g front. These hubs are made in-house, and result in wheelsets about 100g lighter for the paid than those made three years ago.

These hubs are also easily interchangeable from Campy to Shimano. Used to be this didn't really matter, but with more and more end-users considering Campy drivetrains for their tri bikes, it's nice to know you don't have to spit-can your expensive race wheels if you decide to go Italian.

The 404 has a composite braking surface, which allows it to rival or beat the lightest of the lightweight carbon rims, assuming you're comparing it to rims of similar depth. The 404 has a very deep rim section at 58mm. You've got to go all the way to a Hed Deep (90mm) to get a deeper rim.

Therefore, the 404 is a nice amalgum of depth and lightness of weight. It is a bit on the pricey side, at better than a grand a pair. It comes in either 650c or 700c.

Let us back up for a moment, though. The braking surface on Zipp's 404 is not precisely the same as other all-carbon rims. The brakes actually stop against a silica-ceramic surface bonded to the rim during the molding process.

ZIPP 404 CLINCHER

Same price as the tubular set, but slightly heavier because of the aluminum bead and braking surface needed to accommodate clincher tires. This year no fewer than five companies are promising an all-carbon clincher rim. Zipp is again showing its tack toward conservatism by joining Hed in saying, "Whoa, there, that's where we draw the line—only aluminum bead areas for our clincher rims."

ZIPP 303

The 303 is the shallower version, and we frankly don't like this wheel as much. Not because it's a bad wheel, or badly priced, but because it's built around the Zipp 280 rim. It's undeniably light—incredibly light—but at 38mm and without an oval section, hey, if you're going to get race wheels then, by God, get race wheels! If it wasn't for the 404, we'd probably be kinder to this wheel. But it's just that the 404 is deeper, and deeper is just about always better.

Like the 404, the 303's rim is all-carbon in the tubular variety. The clincher model is like the 404, in that it has an aluminum braking surface built over a carbon rim section.

ZIPP DISC

This is a flat disc, as opposed to Hed's lenticular disc. Lenticular means that the disc surfaces more or less follow the angular pattern that spokes follow, making a shape that––when viewed head-on––resembles a very tall, thin diamond. What is better, flat or lenticular? We haven't a clue. Most probably neither is measurabely superior.

Zipp does not make a disc for clincher tires, only for tubulars. Like Corima and Hed, the wheel can be purchased in either a Campy or Shimano configuration. It is quite light––in the low to mid 900-grams range. At around $1200 it is on the pricey side of reasonable, which is to say it is a hundred and a half more than Corima's disk––but then Zipp's disc is 60g lighter. Yes, it does cost, but it is nowhere near the top range of what one can pay for carbon wheels. Hed's disc is only $600, but as opposed to Zipp and Corima Hed's discs––both clincher and tubular versions––have aluminum braking surfaces, which add weight. The Hed is about 150g heavier than the Zipp. Therefore, Zipp has again managed to cut a niche for itself.