Any suggestions on a Zipp 303-like wheel with a similar profile, perhaps a little more bomb proof (as I am 195 pounds) and cheaper? Thanks.
Try the Corima Aero (about $1230 US on RA) Its rounder than a Zipp - spin a Zipp and watch the slight deflections at the rim vs a Corima rim which will have none. The nipples (which are not aero) are inside the rim on a Corima not on the outside like a Zipp. The Corima has a bit more carbon in it (and a bit more weight) but having cracked two Zipps and zero Corimas, I can live with the extra grams.
Does it have to be carbon? Tubs?
If so, HED Stinger 50, but is more like a ZIPP 404.
If not, HED Bastogne? You can also order a Bastogne EX version for those who are “Gravitationally challenged”. 24 spokes front, 28 rear. HED recommends EX for riders over 190.
If been riding the regular Bastogne for over a year & it is still perfect. Last winter I did my very best to trash the wheels by aiming for pot holes, jumping sidewalks, etc. & no luck. I was 180 at the time.
How about a set of Mavic Cosmic Elite’s? 890g/1010g and about $450.
Take a look at the Flashpoints. They are handmade and handbuilt in the Zipp factory, and have virtually the same rim profile for aerodynamics. They are clinchers, therefore bombproof. And the price is about half of the comparable 303 or 404.
Looking for clinchers…carbon perhaps but not essential. Really just looking for a front wheel for those strong wind TT days (think a 404 may still be a little bit too much on those gusty days). I find my Hed 3’s just a tad bit racy for me in a 20+mph wind.
Try the Corima Aero (about $1230 US on RA) Its rounder than a Zipp - spin a Zipp and watch the slight deflections at the rim vs a Corima rim which will have none. The nipples (which are not aero) are inside the rim on a Corima not on the outside like a Zipp. The Corima has a bit more carbon in it (and a bit more weight) but having cracked two Zipps and zero Corimas, I can live with the extra grams.
I agree, V good wheels.
If your benchmark is the H3, then I would consider the 404, or even 808 depth rims, our 404 has only half the side force of a Hed3 in a similar wind, and the 808 still has nearly 30% less force compared to H3 for same wind, so I think you may be giving up a lot of free speed by going to a 303 depth rim instead of something different. Other than the Mavic IO the H3 is the highest side force per yaw angle wheel you can buy right now (except a disc) so you really probably need to just get something with moderately less side force, and depending on what you buy you can end up with a wheel that is still faster than what you have now, with much improved handling. As far as strength and durabilty, the zipp 303 and 404 clincher wheels share the all time record for impact fatigue on the DT swiss bump drum and have a huge following amongst 29" mtn bike guys, and have higher impact and heat tolerance than any carbon clinchers on the market currently, so fragility is really not an issue.
here is a white paper which includes graphs of side force on the wheels, the side force graphs represent the lateral force on the wheel taken during the wind tunnel runs shown earlier in the paper
http://www.zipp.com/RimShape/tabid/103/Default.aspx
Looking for clinchers…carbon perhaps but not essential. Really just looking for a front wheel for those strong wind TT days (think a 404 may still be a little bit too much on those gusty days). I find my Hed 3’s just a tad bit racy for me in a 20+mph wind.
I agree with Josh. The Hed 3 seems to be the outlier in terms of handling. I used a Hed Jet 90 for even windy races and I live in Oklahoma. We’ve got plenty of wind. I’m 155 pounds. Did an IM with 15-25 mph winds and the Hed Jet 90 without a problem. Another competitor said it the windy race they had ever done. No handling problems with the 90.
I recently found a set of Rolf Primas on ebay for $400. I don’t know if they’re as bomb proof as the Vector Pros they’re replacing, but I’d expect them to be stronger than the 303s (not for any particular reason, just that my Vector Pros were super bomb proof).
Did I read this correctly, are you making 29"s??
Did I read this correctly, are you making 29"s??
700c rims are “29"s”
Can we play a quick game of “Guess who’s the moron??” Sorry about that. Man I feel like an idiot.
LOL, no biggie… the mere mention of “29” causes some people to lose all rational thought 