azwhelan

I'm curious how much return you get on Zipps($2100) versus their cheaper Flashpoint($1300) wheels. Anybody ridden them both and did they notice a big difference?

MIN 

Flashpoints are made by Zipps but with less pieces of carbon layers which increases weight and reduces resilience.

Dubbayoo

If you want aero wheels to train or do centuries on I think they'd be a good buy.

digitoast

3 - three whole grams weight of difference per rim...

In any case, I built mine up with 24/28 lacing to White hubs and train & group/charity ride on. They can't really be beat for the cost. With MSRP at $350 per rim, you can have them built up with Ultegra hubs for $850 give or take. I spent a bit extra to get white hubs & sapim cxray spokes and ended up with a set lighter than proper zipp 404s for roughly MSRP on flashpoints.

Dubbayoo

I have Zipps with Ultegra hubs.

MIN 

Too bad they don't do tubs.

Psimet2001 

Never bought them, but a coworker has. He had the Zipp rep tell him they are the same except the flashpoints don't have the dimples (true?) and use a different layup (weight). He strongly encouraged him to get the Flashpoints.

BTW - he took them back and got the Zipps later. Couldn't stand thinking he wasn't riding on something that could be better.

yellowjeep

agreed

BHBiker

Think Toyota (Flashpoints) and Lexus (Zipps)

Same quality and some difference in performance (or lack thereof for some), the former has the price advantage and the latter has the badge, bells and whistles and bling factor....

marqueemoon

That sounds like a sweet setup. Do you have to have them built by an "authorized" party to be eligible for warranty coverage?

531Aussie

I tried a friend's FP60s, and they felt flexier and didn't seem to roll as good as my 32-spoke DT RR1.2s, but I'm ~185lbs

I guess all the tests show that 60mm rims have to be reasonably aero, but I'm not convinced they're worth the money, even at that price. Maybe for tri's or TTs. i was happy to get back on my 'stiff as bricks' 30mm alu rims

No dimples

azwhelan

Everyone I know refers to their Zipps as race wheels. Is there an issue with daily use or are they just worried about damaging them while training?

neurocycler

I had a cat once. Well actually I didn't, but you can imagine what it would have been like if I did!

kudude

....waiting for pcad.


They're expensive. Why ruin on the freeze/thaw rodes in the middle of nowhere if you want to have them for the race.

digitoast

Well, I have a set of the Ritchey Tubulars as well as my custom Flashpoints. My Flashpoints actually feel more stiff than the Ritchey Tubulars - which are rebranded 404 rims. I believe that the Ritchey wheels share the same construction as the 404s vs having less carbon layers (a la Flashpoint). I'm willing to bet that people who say FPs are flexy are riding stock built wheels.

And... while my tubulars are my "race wheels," the clinchers see weekend rides and an occasional training ride simply because I paid $$$ for mine and I'll be damned if they end up sitting around as wall-art for guests to see. There should be no issue with daily use if you're not intentionally riding in a way that would trash any other wheel. I even see people riding CX on their dimpled 404s. Crash replacement is where the FP really shines. At MSRP of $350 and minus a hefty percent for crash replacement (that most stores offer), having to replace a FP rim is much easier on the wallet than a 404 rim.

Mitro

That's a great point that I haven't considered. I, like the original poster, was debated throwing down for some 404s or just getting the FPs - I think this sold me on the latter. Thanks for that input.