OK, so Zipp udated their web page and my current thought process for race wheels have now been altered…
Right now I’m thinking, the best possible race wheel setup for individuals who can only afford 1 set is…
Zipp 606 Tubular (808 in the rear, 404 in the front)
Why not a rear disc?
I just started selling Zipps and would have to agree. RR, TT, Crit, Windy race, Kona.
Is there anything this 606 wheelset doesn’t do? I love selling a product I’m firmly in line with. These are sweet.
-SD
Non-disc events… real windy day…
I was leaning towards a disc, but when I saw the 606 setup I’ve fallin in love…
Right now I’m thinking, the best possible race wheel setup for individuals who can only afford 1 set is…
Zipp 606 Tubular (808 in the rear, 404 in the front)
Zipp 606 looks great. But if you can afford ‘only’ a Zipp 606 you can also afford a Renn Madeira disc AND for example a HED Alps or H3 wheelset (or even more).
Felix
What about Reynolds? Does anybody have any experience with them? I can see they are light and pretty costly, but can’t imagine the extra $$ will amount to more than a few seconds over the new Zipps.
If ZIPP has the aerodynamics correct with their rim shapes, there is NOTHING to recommend the Reynolds wheels. Zipp makes wheels which are as light or lighter than similar Reynolds wheels…and they (if their testing is correct) are more aero. I, for one, believe that the Zipps are more aero. So even though the Reynolds cost more $, I believe you will LOSE time relative to the Zipps.
<< But if you can afford ‘only’ a Zipp 606 you can also afford a Renn Madeira disc AND for example a HED Alps or H3 wheelset (or even more). >>
Agreed. BTW, what does a Zipp 606 set “only” go for???
I’m prolly gonna get some used Hed’s someplace, they’ll be heavier and slower, but then again, so will I with my much fatter wallet. ; )
$ (almost) no object, those 606’s look sweeeeeeeeeeeeeet.
Just found this on the internet: http://www.sbrshop.com/wheels.htm
Don’t know how realistic/high/low these prices are, but it’s the only thing I could find. Hope that helps!
Read ‘Only’ as “Right now”. 2006 will be another year and additional funds… For that disc…
Yes,
Ok, so it seems like everybody is pretty much set on having a 404 up front and then either a disk or 808 in the back. Why is that? If it is supposed to be a race specific setup, why not go with the 808 up front and then either 808 or disk in the back. Or would that be to sensitive to crosswinds? The 808 seems superior to the 404 in aerodynamics, so it would be only logical to choose it!?!?!?
Some of the answers to these questions are posted in the new tech section on our website. Particularly questions regarding rim shape and aerodynamics can be found in the white paper entitled “A note on rim width” found here: http://www.zipp.com/tech/aero.shtml
As a roadie, I’m loving the 606 right now, I’ve been on prototypes for about 6 months, and won’t give up that 81mm deep rear, technically the 606 gives up only 10-12 seconds per 40k to a 909 wheelset (assuming 8mph crosswind), but is UCI and Kona legal, and makes a killer road racing wheel with its 1340gm weight. The main bonus is handling to complement the speed, one of the benefits of the new shapes and dimples are the reduced side forces on the 2005 rims, the new 404 shape makes less than half the side force of a 3 spoke while being 2-4 seconds faster per 40k, while the 808 rim makes less than 2/3 the side force of a 3 spoke, while being 14-16 seconds faster per 40k than the 3 spoke.
For all out Kona legal performance the 808 is the way to go with computer modelling showing 18-20 seconds per 40k faster than any other wheelset, and for everything else, the 999 will be 8-10 seconds faster per 40k than a new 909 and 14-16 seconds faster than a disc/3 spoke setup but with added cross-wind stability (a reduction of about 2 lbs on the front wheel).
Check out those white papers, we’ve really opened the books up on our R&D testing programs and tried to answer some common questions such as effect of spoke count and spoke shape as well. And if you have any questions please feel free to post them.
thanks
Hey, thanks for the info on the new Zipps. I currently use a 404 front and a borrowed 900 series disk but was wondering what exactly is the difference in the 606 and 404 wheels? I couldn’t quite pin it down on the internet. I might be looking for a new rear wheel soon…
there is NOTHING to recommend the Reynolds wheels
except for the fact that reynolds makes a much stronger and much more durable wheel.
.
Tai,
The 606 is an 808 (81mm deep) rear wheel with a 404 (58mm deep) front wheel. Sorry for the lack of true tech specifics on the site, we are working furiously to get it all in place here. For reference all data based on computer models of 275 watts rider output with 8mph crosswind:
404 weight: 1290gm, aero advantage 2-4 seconds per 40k over last years 404, 2-6 seconds over popular 3 spoke
606 weight: 1345gm, aero advantage 10-12 seconds per 40k over new 404
808 weight: 1395gm, aero advantage 12-14 seconds per 40k over 606
909 weight: 1535gm, aero advantage: 0-2 seconds over 808, but 4-6 seconds faster in 16mph cross wind
999 weight: 1585gm, aero advantage: 14-16 seconds per 40k over 606
**HOLY SHIT – LOOK AT THOSE TIME GAINS!!! **Whew doggie, and in a perfect wind tunnel condition. Wonder what happens outside???
Seriously, maybe this is why TH was able to win by 20 seconds and he really wasn’t doping…
Hi Josh,
When will the 999’s be available?
Interesting claimed speed of these noe zipp wheels. If it is in fact true they make you go this fast?!? you will surely end up slower overall with the life time of these wheels from Zipp, unless to 2005 wheels correct one inportant factor. How the spokes come out of the carbon rims.
In the past all Zipps spokes have come out of the rims at an angle. Just look closely and you can see how clear this is. This puts great stress on the spokes, no matter what type of spokes they are, and expically conering, Zipps are sucepetable to breaking spokes.
I have experienced many pro athletes and top age group athletes suffer broken spokes in races.
This is a fatal flaw in Zipp technology. The niples inside the carbon rims need continual maitenance IE. oiling so they dont seize up, and corrode (espically trithletes with salty water and sweat dripping off their bodies) and become weake also contributing to spokes breaking.
Zipps are light, and pretty aero. but you have to be aweare that they take a lot moe maitence than any other weel, and I wouldnt drop that kind of money on some wheels with such a technology flaw such as their sopke angle.
SPend you money on some cheaper wheels, which are questionably as aero, have less maitence, and wont break spokes on you.
I would think that an 808 depth in the front with a 404 in the rear would be a faster combo then the other way around.
If history is any indicator, tack an extra $100-200 on everything from last years price tage.