Zip wheels and Flex ?
Discussion
Ive been offered a pair of Zipp 303 Firecrest Carbon Clinchers and a price I'm going to struggle to turn down ... Im attracted to this deal as I'm after a pair of Carbon Clinchers that 'do it all' everything from Crits / Road Races & riding up 2hr mountain accents.
However I've always been put off Zipp from hearing about them flexing and this would truly grate me .. Its one of my biggest hates on the bike . For the last couple of years I've raced and trained on Shimano Dura-Ace C24's and never once ever seen anything remotely like a brake block rub on the rim. (huge fan of Shimano wheels)
Can anyone add to the Flex issue, or is it as i want to believe just urban myth that circles the RR scene .
The joys of pulling the trigger and using 11speed .... Now have redundant wheels !
PS: Anyone know how to Edit the Title .. Cant believe i made such a simple typo .
However I've always been put off Zipp from hearing about them flexing and this would truly grate me .. Its one of my biggest hates on the bike . For the last couple of years I've raced and trained on Shimano Dura-Ace C24's and never once ever seen anything remotely like a brake block rub on the rim. (huge fan of Shimano wheels)
Can anyone add to the Flex issue, or is it as i want to believe just urban myth that circles the RR scene .
The joys of pulling the trigger and using 11speed .... Now have redundant wheels !
PS: Anyone know how to Edit the Title .. Cant believe i made such a simple typo .
Edited by Sandersports on Tuesday 10th February 19:51
808 here, some flex in wheel but if they never flexed they would shatter and kill you.
Unless pushing 23+ mph don't bother. All being well i see 1mph gain over standard box sections and they corner great, even with taped on TUB's
If blocks rubbing is an issue simply open the gap, job done.
All good.
Unless pushing 23+ mph don't bother. All being well i see 1mph gain over standard box sections and they corner great, even with taped on TUB's
If blocks rubbing is an issue simply open the gap, job done.
All good.
Edited by superkartracer on Tuesday 10th February 20:48
I have a set of 2013 303 Firecrest's - I find them a really great 'do it all wheel', really enjoy riding them and would recommend them to anyone in a heartbeat.
There is a small amount of flex but no different from any other carbon wheel I have ever ridden including Shimano's, Mavics and ENVE's. However, the cones on the hubs do require a 'fettle' every couple of weeks - it is a 2 mins job and keeps everything in the hubs nice and tight. If you don't keep the cones adjusted then the rim will touch the pads under hard climbing or acceleration, I suspect this is what people refer to when they are talking about 'flex' in the 303's - it's not flex as such, just a lack of housekeeping on the riders part!
It might be worth adding I am 68 kgs.
There is a small amount of flex but no different from any other carbon wheel I have ever ridden including Shimano's, Mavics and ENVE's. However, the cones on the hubs do require a 'fettle' every couple of weeks - it is a 2 mins job and keeps everything in the hubs nice and tight. If you don't keep the cones adjusted then the rim will touch the pads under hard climbing or acceleration, I suspect this is what people refer to when they are talking about 'flex' in the 303's - it's not flex as such, just a lack of housekeeping on the riders part!
It might be worth adding I am 68 kgs.
Sandersports said:
Cav's wheels he races wont even be close to like anything that rolls out the Zipp factory
I wouldn't be so sure. He doesn't put out huge power and isn't all that heavy, I doubt they're vastly different. The big lads solder their spokes sometimes, but even still I don't think its a case of him getting a totally different wheel..
And thanks
One thing I'd be wary of with the 303s is the rear hub version?
As they revised it a year or so ago from the original radial drive side spoke lacing to a virtual 3 cross.
There was some issues with the earlier version pulling flanges off the hubs due to the lacing pattern.
Dura Ace hubs are lovely, I just sold my C50s, lovely wheels but a little dated on the aero side of things now which is where Zipp triumph.
As they revised it a year or so ago from the original radial drive side spoke lacing to a virtual 3 cross.
There was some issues with the earlier version pulling flanges off the hubs due to the lacing pattern.
Dura Ace hubs are lovely, I just sold my C50s, lovely wheels but a little dated on the aero side of things now which is where Zipp triumph.
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