anyone know who makes the rim for the tubular and clincher versions of the new ritchey carbon wheels? Just curious and first guess is zipp . . .
Correct Boy Wonder.
Zipp makes the rims, but they are not identical to the 404s. Ritchey uses a standard j-bend spoke and fewer of them resulting in a marginally more aero front wheel.
-SD
Ritchey uses a standard j-bend spoke and fewer of them resulting in a marginally more aero front wheel
Do they use the curved sidewall rim? If not, it likely won’t matter if they use fewer spokes. The zipp has tested better in the windtunnel than other deep rim wheels, and according to Cobb, it’s due to the curved sidewalls.
Scott
they use the “404” rim or the 345 or whatever it is called these days.
I think it was Cobb who said eating your meals with a fork is more aero than a eating with a spoon, I forget now where I heard that…
I think it was Cobb who said eating your meals with a fork is more aero than a eating with a spoon, I forget now where I heard that…
No, No, No, he said the size of food on the end of the fork is what determines the drag . . .
A couple guys here have the Ritchey Carbons and they are very, very nice.
NO NO Carbon forks are faster then carbon spoon If it’s mounted on the down tube of a no aero framed rider !!
I have also discovered the hubs on the ritchey wheels are joy-tech, or at least that is my impression. The older joy-tech hubs always got quite a knock for whatever reason. I have never used them myself (knowingly as least) and wonder if this would cause concern for anyone buying the ritchey wheels.
You can get them from any US and some European based Ritchey retailers. Tom Demerly is a Ritchey Retailer with access to those wheels. Where are you located? I can send you the 10 closest dealers with access to them. They are considerably less expensive that Zipps.
-SD
No, no no!!! It is a teardrop shaped donut with a bulging sidewall that is the most aerodynamic food.
Hey SuperDave,
If Zipp makes the rim why are they cheaper? If anything it would seem like they just added a middle man. BTW I’m sure you are right I just dont get it.
Thnx
Dan
I ain’t Super Dave, but here are my theories:
-
private label products are always cheaper (no advertising, bulk purchase, etc.)
-
Zipp quality is there, but some features that made it into Zipp’s latest top-tier rims is not (and this is NOT a knock on Zipp or Ritchey AT ALL). It also could be the case that everything IS there but the Zipp name.
-
This goes with #2, R&D is probably well paid off when it comes to the rim that Ritchey uses
-
Ritchey has relationships with hub manufacturers, which almost any hub (esp. private label) is going to be cheaper than the Zipp hub
When you don’t have to market your own product and just make a product to sell to another manufacturer, your cost goes down considerably. More than likely, Ritchey, not Zipp, is going to be responsible for the warranty of the product, which is a considerable cost-cutter.
SD,
How stiff are these bad boys relative to the Zipps?
Thx,
JA
Dan, Zipp is selling a different pair of wheels, but the same rim. The difference in price comes in part from the hubs and spokes, but also in the marketing/margin/brand image of the products. The EASTON (velomax) deep section carbon rims use Zipp 404 hoops as well. As for JohnA, and his question,"SD,
How stiff are these bad boys relative to the Zipps?
Thx,
JA "
I’ve found that they are stiffer laterally, but that may be only because of my size and use of the product. I’ve used a Zipp 404 laced with 20 Sapim aero spoked instead of the standard 18 for a couple years, this year I used a regular Ritchey 16 spoke front wheel and found that it was laterally stiffer. I’ve noticed that difference in criterium and track racing however, and I’m a svelte 205 pounds. If you are a 150 pound rider competing in out and back TTs I wouldn’t say there is any appreciable stiffness difference. The Zipps are slightly lighter than the Ritcheys.
-SD