Originally Posted by
alpha_bravo
I've been tempted by 303's for a long time for some weird reason. From what I've learned, there was a very significant redesign of the wheels in 2009. The rim was deepened, widened, and incorporated a fully toroidal shape previous generations didn't have. The brake track and tire bed were also redesigned as well. The result is a more comfortable and durable wheel, not to mention faster since it's about 5mm deeper. Personally I wouldn't even look at anything earlier than a 2009 set of 303's, especially at that price.
you're actually only half right. Zipp 303's have gone through several redesigns - the most recent being 2009. I believe the 2004 is a non-dimpled 38mm profile wheel. They were not terribly stiff and rumors would have it that they were also no that durable. Some time around 2006 or 2007 the rim was redesigned to a 44mm deep dimpled rim that was lighter and much stronger due to an improved layup. In 2009 the rim was changed again after the 44mm deep version became a favorite cyclocross wheel amongst pros and armatures. Zipp saw the opportunity to make a carbon Classics wheel a reality and came up with the 45mm deep 26+mm wide rim currently in production. Some 2009 wheels have the older style hubs and some have the newer style as the full conversion to the new hub was not complete until 2010.
Long story short, I wouldn't be interested in a pre-dimpled 38mm version of the 303, but I go 185lbs most of the year and have several thousand miles on the 44mm deep version.