Zipp Powertap 900 Clincher - DISCONTINUED?: Triathlon Forum: Slowtwitch Forums

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Zipp Powertap 900 Clincher - DISCONTINUED?

sarpin

May 4, 12 4:04

Post #1 of 6 (827 views)

Zipp Powertap 900 Clincher - DISCONTINUED?	Quote \| Reply

I was finally ready to commit to this wheel, so I had my LBS contact the Canadian Zipp distributor (Lambert).
In their catalog they stock all of the other Zipp Powertap disc varieties (900 tub, sub9 tub, Sup9 tub), but would need to special order in the 900 clincher.
It would be 4-6 weeks, and I was fine with that, so I gave the go ahead.

A week later I get a call from the LBS stating that there is no way that they (Lambert) can get that wheel, and that it has been discontinued, as have all the other Zipp Powertap discs.
Essentially they are saying that all discs out there are old stock (2011), and no new ones are being made.
I have found a few other places (in the US) that still show stock of that wheel.
However, I do not want to get stuck with a very expensive wheel that will not be supported (impossible/expensive to fix).

The LBS also gave the option of bringing in a tubular PT disc (still probably old stock pre-discontinuance), but I have a nice set of 808 tubulars that rarely/never see the road.
I can't rationalize carrying 2 flat kits/spares for tubular and clincher... so I'd rather go clincher and be free to use the disc whenever I felt like without worrying.

My questions are:

Has Zipp actually discontinued the 900 Powertap Clincher or is the distributor giving my LBS the run-around?

If the tubular option is still viable, would you go tubular if you wanted a rear wheel that you basically kept on the TT bike all the time (mostly training)?

Would you just forget the whole disc scene, and go with a more practical 808FC?
Hed Jet Stallion Clincher Disc PowerTap FR (long name there)?

Power13

May 4, 12 4:10

Post #2 of 6 (815 views)

Re: Zipp Powertap 900 Clincher - DISCONTINUED? [sarpin] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Since SRAM bought Quarq, it was probably only a matter of time before they discontinued the PT Zipps (although I think it could be viewed as shortsighted)

I wouldn't worry too much about an older product not being supported....lots of them out there that SRAM will be supporting for the foreseeable future.

I'd also have no problem going tubular....but they are my preference anyway b

But you could always go with an 808 and a wheel cover.
__________________________________________________
�I want to tell the world of cycling to please join me in telling Pat McQuaid to f##k off and resign." - Greg Lemond

deh20

May 4, 12 16:14

Post #3 of 6 (681 views)

Re: Zipp Powertap 900 Clincher - DISCONTINUED? [sarpin] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

I just picked up a nearly new 900 PT clincher on EBay for way less than new MSRP (like almost half off.) Couldn't be happier with it.

My solution was 808 PT for training / windy races and 900 PT for race. The difference between PT and non-PT Zipps was probably about the same as a used Quarq, so I might have chosen that if I had it to do over again. But, I'm not disappointed with the two PT wheel solutions.

grosso27

May 4, 12 16:32

Post #4 of 6 (657 views)

Re: Zipp Powertap 900 Clincher - DISCONTINUED? [Power13] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Not necessarily true, as far as ongoing support. To the OP, if Powertap Zipp discs have indeed been discontinued, I'd be damn sure to get the story, from Zipp themselves, about future support.

I have a PT Sub9, and getting the hub worked on is not as simple as calling Saris, as you would do for any other Powertap wheel. Saris doesn't have the capability/machines to work on disc PT hubs. The work has to be done by Zipp. Just a few weeks ago I had to send my wheel into Zipp for a new torque tube, as it was out of spec.

So if Zipp is discontinuing the manufacture of PT discs, there is indeed a chance they will at some point stop the support of them as well. Zipp has always been beyond amazing in my eyes, in terms of customer service, but who's to say how support of a discontinued product is handled? If Zipp isn't fixing them, and Saris can't, what are you gonna do?

matto

May 4, 12 16:41

Post #5 of 6 (641 views)

Re: Zipp Powertap 900 Clincher - DISCONTINUED? [sarpin] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

I heard the same thing, although similarly not directly from Zipp.

Simple solution: buy a hed disc. Wink

You can peel the stickers off if you think it looks silly.

(This post was edited by matto on May 4, 12 16:44)

sarpin

May 4, 12 17:11

Post #6 of 6 (623 views)

Re: Zipp Powertap 900 Clincher - DISCONTINUED? [matto] [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Funny thing is... I just ordered a Hed Jet Stallion Powertap Disc 20 minutes ago!
Went with the Big Black Hed decal, so we'll have reverse decals (I'll have white front/black back decals - last year 808FC front with white decal).

I'm more of a 'rideable weenie' than a 'weight weenie' so the extra grams don't bother me.
I could lose several wheel's worth of weight and still be big.
I also ride an Adamo TT (white). Will post pic once it gets here (2-3 weeks probably, I live in the boonies).