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4 May 2006

2006 Zipp 303 Clinchers

The 2006 Zipp 303s are the versatile carbon offering from the Indiana-based company that is famous for producing fast and aero wheels.

When the big Zipp box arrived at the headquarters it was a day of delight. Pulling the 303 wheelset out of the box, the first thing that caught my eye was the gleaming hubs. The polished silver alloy gleamed under the daylight, leading my eyes to the bladed spokes. Following the radial lacing until it reached the Zipp technical masterpiece: the dimpled aero rim. Natural black carbon, dimpled and labeled "Zipp 303" ... these were the real deal.

Very Smooth

The Zipp rims may look simple, but there are years of research that have been poured into their development. The smarts have been extracted to produce a range of rims, varying in profile and intended use. For 2006, the 303 model has been redesigned to take advantage of Zipp's patented dimpling technology. The golf ball-like dimples, which were previously only available on Zipp's other models, have been added to the 303 version. The dimpling technology helps reduce drag at different wind angles, making for a faster and easier ride, or less watts to produce the same speed.

The 303s, which BiciRace.com requested in clinchers (to add practicality to what was already a versatile set of wheels), were mounted, and even with rain clouds gathering my excitement forced me out the door to try the Zipp wheels. On that short run I was immediately impressed with the smoothness, acceleration and stiffness of the Zipp 303s. I felt like I was gliding over the pavement: easing off the pedal strokes to find that I was coasting like never before. This ease of motion pushed me faster, and I noticed myself a little scared on descents that I could normally take blind. The smoothness of the Zipp bearings, combined with the 40mm rim profile, allowed me to enjoy my riding with less resistance.

303 Versatility

The versatility of Zipp 303s allowed me to tackle the colle (hills) with lightness and still have the stiffness for la volata (sprint). Out of the saddle climbing on small to medium rises was comparatively effortless thanks to the light 303 rim weight, and again, aerodynamics. In my region there are many small rises, like those often found in most road races, which made having the Zipp 303s on my steed very beneficial to my overall health. At the end of the day I was less fatigued than normal, and if I wanted to, I could push it faster to drop my riding companions. Good stuff!

But it all boils down to one thing: the city limit sprint. The Zipp 303s, even with their light attributes, are stiff enough to deliver your complete power input. Zipp's use of straight-pull, radial-laced spokes makes for a wheelset that is responsive under acceleration. The overall design of the 303 wheelset results in no power-loss on a Bettini-like jump out of the saddle... The wheels are light and responsive.

Going to the Zipp 303s from my winter wheels felt just as, or even more, comfortable. Bunny-hopping, the pavé, bad Italian roads... . These obstacles were all handled with comfort by the Zipp 303 wheels.

Zipp Comfort

You might think that if the wheelset is laced radially, with straight-pull spokes, every ride would be like a Sunday in Hell, but this is not the case. The dampening ability of the Zipp carbon rims make up for any rough ride, giving a comfort level normally only found in box rims that are 3X-laced with 32 spokes, which is what I spent all winter using. Going to the Zipp 303s from my winter wheels felt just as, or even more, comfortable. Bunny-hopping, the pavé, bad Italian roads... . These obstacles were all handled with comfort by the Zipp 303 wheels.

The Sapim CX-Ray spokes, 20 up front and 24 in the rear, are flat and aero. The lacing is radial, except for the drive-side on the rear, where Zipp smartly uses a 2X lacing. The spokes nicely fit into standard nipples, so that truing can be performed at the end of a hard season, or when needed.

The 82/182 hubs are a work of beauty, and should be since they have been meticulously redone for 2006 by the Zipp engineers. The ease in freewheeling that I noted on my first outing was thanks to the use of Phynox. This material is a cobalt-chromium-nickel alloy that Zipp employs to produce the springs that engage their freewheel pawls. The Phynox springs give a lighter action and reduced ratcheting noise, but are even stronger than previous versions.

"This spring is essentially immune to aging. Hubs with this new drive system and Phynox spring have surpassed 1 hour of freewheeling at 5,000 rpm without a component failure in testing; that is the equivalent of more than 400 miles of coasting at an average speed of over 400mph!" - Zipp on the 303 hub set

The 2006 Zipp 303 wheels make for an excellent set of wheels that are effective under varying conditions. Selecting the 303 in the clincher model even added to our usage options: racing, training or pleasure, these wheels are benissimo!

More photos:
Clincher View, photo: BiciRace.com
Freehub, photo: BiciRace.com

Details:
•  Wheel weight: front 735g, rear 842g (without rim tape or skewers)
•  Freehub weight: 60g
•  Easily changeable freehub for Shimano or Campagnolo
•  Spoke count: 20 front, 24 rear
•  Skewers not included
•  Valve extenders included
•  Price: about $1,750 USD

Visit the Zipp Speed Weaponry website to learn more about the 303 wheels and the rest of their innovative products.