Has anyone run Zipp 404s/808s in heavy rain? I’ve heard stories about water getting in the spoke holes. I have a lower priority TT coming up and am considering using non-aero wheels because of this.
thanks, Jens (the first Jens with a P3-SL)
Nope…never…
I’ve raced my 400’s in the rain. Never had any water in the spoke holes, but breaking is severly diminished.
I have IMLP…that was not rain really…shit, we were looking for Noah. I have had water enter ANY rim I have ever ridden in the rain from Shamal’s to Open 4’s - rims are not water tight and do have a hollow spot in them for water to collect. The Shamals do have a drain hole in them that a grain of sand can plug up. You will not have any issues that every other rider does not have in a rain situation. What you need to worry about more than water in the rim is stopping - I really like Mavic Ceramic rims for riding in the rain - good brake feel even when wet.
I understand that any wheel will get water in it. I’m just more concerned about my Zipp (and actually my Alps front, too), since it seems like it could get into the foamy core part and be there for a very long time.
– Jens
with 404’s, two years ago I rode WF long in heavy rain with no problems. Braking was not as bad as I thought it would be. I say go for it, race wheels need to be used!
Record10Carbon,
I feel your pain too. IMLP was a mess. As for the wheels I haven’t heard anything about the Zipps but the Heds (exception for the Hed3), because the spokes run through the carbon flaring, water has been reported to get trapped inside.
With reference to the foam core getting wet. Has anyone had issuses with water getting trapped in a Disc wheel and ruining it? On the Zipp Disc, at least, the foam is exposed right there at the valve opening.
Indeed, when it’s wet and raining you need to get on the brakes, lightly and early, to dry the rim off first.
Fleck