TriDaveO wrote:
How much faster is the 808 FC vs the 1080? Is it significant?
I also see the 1080 is about 100g heavier.
zipp marketing literature claims, on average, the 808FC pair saves 96 seconds over 40k. the 1080 pair saves 90 seconds for the same distance.
i've read that the front wheel represents about 2/3 (general terms) of the aero savings of a wheelset, so if that is true then the rear 808FC accounts for only 2 of the 6 second difference.
EDIT: Somehow I missed the bit about tubular (duh...). You're right about the ~100g difference. Only you can decide whether the minor speed gain is significant.
if it were me, i'd go with the 808FC because (a) it's a current model, (b) it weighs less than the 1080, and (c) as a full carbon wheel, it might ride a little more comfortably than the 1080 (deeper=a little more punishing). the only reason coming to mind right now for why one might not go with the 808FC over the 1080 could be that the 808FC probably costs more.
what will you ride as your front wheel?
disclosure: i've been riding the 404 carbon clinchers as everyday wheels and i have a set of 808 tubulars for races.
i'm sure the 808 and 1080 both rock and you'll probably find little difference.