I have a set of 404s and 808’s but for races with less crosswind I was thinking about getting a deeper rear wheel. I have been leaning more towards the 1080 but I wanted to know what would be some advantages to having a disc?
Also whatever I would get would probably be clincher because I have not built up enough trust to go with tubulars without them flatting on the thorns around my city.
If you already have an 808 and 404 rear you’d be nuts to go with a 1080 ahead of a Disc.
Get a clincher disc, any clincher disc.
Slap a cover on your 808. There’s tons of posts on st saying a disc is almost always faster. You can always remove your cover if you think the crosswinds are to bad. But I would leave it on for everything besides kona or a very hilly course
I have a set of 404s and 808’s but for races with less crosswind I was thinking about getting a deeper rear wheel. I have been leaning more towards the 1080 but I wanted to know what would be some advantages to having a disc?
Also whatever I would get would probably be clincher because I have not built up enough trust to go with tubulars without them flatting on the thorns around my city.
Here is what I would do:
Sell your 808 Front and 404 Rear, buy, 1080 set and disc.
Windy conditions, 808 rear/404 front…actually more stable than just 404s and faster. If it is so windy you are afraid of this set up, ride non aero wheels.
Really varying conditions, or if you are traveling and can only take one wheelset, really hill courses, courses where disc is illegal…1080 rear/404 front. This is the most under used combo in the Zipp line up. It is stable, very fast, and probably the most versatile combo of two wheels that Zipp makes.
Low to no wind…disc/1080 front. About the fastest possible wheel combo you can buy. I would actually use this set up as often as possible. The last two years I have used this set up for every race, but I would classify myself as an above average bike handler, and I am a little over 200 lbs, so I don’t get pushed around as much as some people.
Disc/404 - I think this set up is actually really easy to use, but most of the time if it is windy enough I don’t want the 1080 front, I switch to the 1080 rear/404 front set up instead of using this.
That keeps you with the same number of wheels, even if they are a little different, and adds the disc. You would have a pretty complete wheel arsenal with that.
i would get the disc. a disc is ALWAYS faster if you can handle it in the wind. its physics. i ride a FP60 front and blackwell disc and consistently win the bike leg at most tris in the philly area.
if you have an 808, keep it if its really windy and youre not sure if you can stay up on a disc.
Get a disc (or slap a cover on the 808). Rear discs are faster than any other rear wheel, and are not a problem to handle (a 404 in the front creates a lot more handling issues than a rear disc).
…plus that disc rumble is worth at least 20sec. in motivation ;).
Since you already have the 404’s and 808’s, going with the disc would be MUCH WISER. Most races you will be able to use the Disc, and for those that you can’t I would use the 808 (like Hawaii or St. Croix) - most guys there don’t run a 1080, they run 808’s.
Wow,
Honestly I have been leaning towards getting the 1080, I think I like the way they look with a 808 front, but if i would be collecting too many wheels with not much difference in performance I should just go ahead and get a disc. Thanks for all of your help and opinions.
Now does anybody have a Zipp 900 slightly used they are looking to unload? 
1080’s would be awesome in addition to the Disc (in case of a windy day), but without the disc, it would be like selling a car with roll-down windows and heated/automatic reclining seats. I am not a car dealer, but usually the automatic windows come first, and are a greater selling point (except for someone like me who does not like the cold). Probably not the best analogy, but think of the disc as more bang for the buck at this point. If you wanna get 1080’s as well, that would be really awesome, just make sure your bank acct. and wifey or hubby are in tune with your goals. Or you could risk looking like a friend of mine who hides his incoming shipments of race wheels from his wife.
Chris
Haha thanks for the advice. Luckily I don’t have a wife or hubby so I am in the clear right now. I wish I could have an entire garage full of wheels but I think I am going to sell my rear 404 to offset some of the cost and then buy a 900 disc. But I will keep in mind an offshore bank account to fund triathlon items when I do get married!
Haha. Sounds like a great idea. Probably would never use that 404 rear anyway, with the like of what is in your arsenal. I am jealous 