Triathlon - How much faster do your Zipps make you?

I have a chance to pick up some 404's for a good price and am wondering how much faster they are. I've heard rumors of 1-2 mph faster...has anyone actually experienced this?

Cheers.
-CJ

CJ-
See this article- http://www.zipp.com/portals/0/technology/documents/aerowheelcomparison.pdf

Chris

Are you going tubular or clincher? (Just curious)

Tubular

Clincher is for wussy :)

Thanks for the link Chris!!!

id hate to experience a cross wind ridin zipps...

id hate to experience a cross wind ridin zipps...

Is this based on experience or hearsay? The OP is talking about 404's not 808's...


I race regardless of wind conditions with the disc on the back and aero wheel on the front. I am 75kg race weight and have never had a problem!

I wouldn't worry about crosswinds... unless you are a real light weight and/or have poor bike handling skills..

I'm about 143lbs. and ride deeper wheels than Zipp 404's (Real Design 60's plus disc in most races) and I have never been pushed around by crosswind to a point where I felt unstable or had to slow down...

And yes, the wheels will make you ride faster... is it really that the wheel is faster or is it placebo effect? Who knows and does it matter why?! :)

Hed Wheels seems to suggest that about 1:00 to 1:30 gain over 40k for aero wheels like the 404s, and 1:30 to 2:00 for a disc and really deep front like an 808 or stinger 90.

me referring to the crosswind was jus a joke... :D

2 gears higher

I did a totally un-scientific experiment the other week.
I have a hill nearby it averages about 8% max 10% over half a mile.
The wind direction was a cross wind so it was the worst scenario for the Zipps.

I have a 606 set build round Tune hubs.
I rode the hill 5 times each on my Kysiriums and the Zipps then compared the speeds on the descent.
I took the first speed at over 20MPH and the last speed at 15mph and worked out the average. The Zipps top speed was 3 mph faster and held the speed longer. They where 15 seconds faster on the descent plus some freewheeling.

Thanks jbaussie & Ironman Dave...that's more along the lines of what I was looking for. I think both answers would add up to more than 1:00 or 1:30 over 40K but I'm sure it's a YMMV. Thanks again.

I have a set of 404's, as well as front tri spoke, and a disc.

I would say the 404's are worth about 1/4 to 1/2mph over a pretty good conventional wheel.

The study cied above, showing 68 seconds over a 40k tt for Zipp 808's (which are much deeper rims) compared to a kyserium SL would tend to indicate, the low side of my range for the 404's.


And by the way, if you're doing relatively flat tris, the clinchers may well be faster than the tubulars due to reduced rolling resistence.