I have two very interesting vintage 650c wheels (from mid/late '90s) that compare very well to what’s on the market today. I also have a 2004 Zipp 303 rear for sale.
See pics below.
**650c **Falcon Sports Accel Disc wheel 590g Tensioned Kevlar. Fast!- $450 shipped
Unique tensioned Kevlar technology gives this wheel both light weight and stiffness that compare very well to other discs. Morevover, UCI cycling data published on the web shows the Falcon Accel 650 was the most aero disc tested even including smaller 24 inch discs. This wheel had a lot of success on the track, and Jeannie Longo used it to set the 1996 hour record that stands today. When you hold this wheel in your hands, it’s obvious that there’s something different about it. It’s very light, the walls are tensioned so it sounds like a drum when you tap on it, and it is translucent when the sun is behind it, so you can see the shadow of the rider’s far leg.
This wheel has a freewheel which is not included in the published weight of 590g, but even with it, it is lighter than a Zipp disc with cassette. With an alloy freewheel, you’d have more than a 200g weight savings over the Zipp. Since this wheel has a freewheel, you would have to run it with an 8 or 9 speed drivetrain for indexed shifting. Otherwise, you’d have to use friction. I believe it could be converted to track use fairly easily by changing the axel/spacers.
The data and results for this wheel suggest that it’s faster than what is on the market today.
58mm Torayca Carbon Fiber 650c wheel- $225 shipped
I’m not sure of the manufacturer for this rim. If anyone knows, PM me. I do know however, that it is made out of aerospace grade Torayca Carbon fiber which has the highest strength to weight ratio of any carbon fiber. It is the only fiber which meets the specs for some Boeing 747 parts. The rim is indeed very light, and even matched with a more durable hub it is as light as a Zipp 404 wheel. The hub is marked Vicki G. and has external sealed bearings which is usually a low maintenance design. This wheel could only have been used a few times. It looks like it did when new.
Zipp 303 Tubular Rear Wheel with Conti competition tire - $375 shipped
Excellent condition.
