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Zipp 303s....$380 worth it?

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Zipp 303s....$380 worth it?

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Old 03-19-09, 06:38 PM
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Zipp 303s....$380 worth it?

What do you guys think of the 303s? Are they worth it? Is it a good replacment for my DA 7850s? I know the DAs are very good rims but 303s for $380?
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Old 03-19-09, 06:40 PM
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Sounds like a good deal to me... Whats the condition?
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Old 03-19-09, 07:17 PM
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They are 2004s and seem to be in very good shape. My biggest concern are the 303 reliability. I've read reviews from owners of the wheels. It ranged from great to the 303s develop cracks in the carbon around the spokes
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Old 03-19-09, 07:18 PM
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Buy the wheels you hopeless Fred.
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Old 03-19-09, 07:23 PM
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I can't believe that Adama never tags that Specialist Dualla. I mean she is begging for it after that little "thing" with that young boy Billy.
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Old 03-19-09, 07:25 PM
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On second thought F buying 5 year old CF wheels.
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Old 03-19-09, 08:11 PM
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One benefit of getting them is if they get damaged, I can take them right over to Zipp and not worry about shipping and all that crap.

On second thought F buying 5 year old CF wheels.
This is why I ask. 5yr old CF wheels. The price is nice but is it worth it? I'll use the rims off my LG and put them on my older steel bike. I plan to redo the steel bike to make a nicer tourer or possible cat 5 bike. By the way what makes me a Fred? Because I ask a legitimate question?
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Old 03-19-09, 08:15 PM
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Originally Posted by invwnut
By the way what makes me a Fred? Because I ask a legitimate question?
99% of being a Fred is just showing up... at BF. The other 1% is genetic.
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Old 03-19-09, 08:17 PM
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Originally Posted by invwnut
. By the way what makes me a Fred?
The Whims of Pcad, that's what. Now that I have labeled you a Fred, the only BF Member who can rescind this is botto, who is currently banned, so you're screwed for the time being.

Hey I don't make the rules around here. Well, actually on the whole Fred vs. Road Nazi Trash Talk Protocol, I do, but whatever.
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Old 03-19-09, 08:20 PM
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As long as the carbon is okay, you should be fine. Braking surfaces often wear out first and those wheels have Al so you should be okay. They aren't as aero as newer Zipps (38 mm verus 42).
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Old 03-19-09, 08:22 PM
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I'd be wary of buying that old.
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Old 03-19-09, 08:27 PM
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Originally Posted by DrPete
I'd be wary of buying that old.
Yeah, that's what I came up with on second thought.
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Old 03-30-09, 02:48 PM
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Originally Posted by DrPete
I'd be wary of buying that old.
Based on the number of miles that are likely on 5 year old CF wheels, or solely based on age?
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Old 03-30-09, 02:51 PM
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also I believe that was before Zipps went to dimpled rims
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Old 03-30-09, 02:54 PM
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Buy the wheels...if they crack they were cheap to buy. If not....well you got good wheels for little money.
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Old 03-30-09, 03:10 PM
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I had Zipp 303 clinchers circa 2003. They aren't dimpled, and they aren't as deep as the current 303's.

Mine developed cracks around the spoke holes over time. (but I'm pushing the high end of a reasonable weight for these wheels)

They were past warranty, but because they were under 5 years old, I got a pair of new 303 tubulars for $800 as a "crash" replacement.

Overall I was happy with the service I got from them, and really like the new ones.

Based on my sample of one, I'd be a bit leary of buying 303's of that generation, and age. If you do, inspect the spoke holes carefully for any sign of cracking.
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Old 03-30-09, 03:48 PM
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Originally Posted by ijgoodwin
Based on the number of miles that are likely on 5 year old CF wheels, or solely based on age?
Both. If I'm buying fancy CF stuff it's coming home new and I'm taking care of maintaining it personally. Just my personal bias.
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Old 03-30-09, 04:23 PM
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One a side note: I rode this weekend with a shop warrior who purposefully bought a cracked 303 rim, spent a few weeks working on the crack with epoxy and sand paper and loves them. He had them out on Saturday and for a couple hundred other miles with no issues thus far. He figures if they crack again, he is not out much (rear wheel, of course). He paid $250 for his set with a known crack issue, btw.
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Old 03-30-09, 07:15 PM
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So what's worse? The fact that they're (apparently) crack prone or the fact that they're (definitely) not dimpled?

remembers a very long, lame infested thread about the efficacy of dimpling


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