Zipp 101 or alternative
 

I'm looking for new wheelset, I was wondering if Zipp 101 are worth it or can you recommend something else. I want an everyday wheels and would be a great advantage to a solo rider.

I haven't ridden them. However, lots of $ for shallow aluminum clinchers. Lots of good alternatives out there at or below that price. Boyd, Reynolds, Soul, DT Swiss, Easton, Mavic, Fulcrum, ... Try the search function if you don't get many replies.

Boyd, Soul, FLO. All cheaper and offer similar products.

Pacenti SL23 handbuilts.

The 101s have a wide, shallow rim. Rims with a similar profile would include: HED Belgiums, H+Son Archetype, Velocity A23, among others - it's generally accepted that the HEDs are good quality rims, while you may find differing opinions on some of the others (I have Archetypes and am very happy with them, not as fond of the A23s). You can get these as pre-builts or you can get just the rims and have a wheel builder spec hubs and spokes suitable for your use.

I used to be a pre-built, brand name wheel guy and then I built my first pair of custom wheels for training and I'm never going back. You can build a pair of wheels for close to the same price of the 101's that will be far more durable, will probably weigh less and provide a nicer rice IMHO than 101's.

I just built a pair of HED Belgiums 24/28 2x to Chris King R45's with DT Swiss Revolution spokes and they weigh 1550 and are BOMB PROOF. If i could go back I would do 28/28 with a bit heavier of a spoke to add some stiffness at not much more weight penalty. I have my Dura Ace C24's if I want something a bit lighter for fast group rides or races but man, I always put my hand builts back on as soon as I can.

I know a lot of people's eyes glaze over when they get recommended to do hand-builts over pre-builts, but trust me once you find a good wheel builder who can recommend you what you need you'll get a better wheel for YOUR needs at a better value in most cases.

As far as the 101's went, I demo'd them when they first came out, was not impressed.

Zipps are nice but you pay a premium for the name and the cost of their advertizing. I seem to recall that Excel sports in Boulder offered some nice strong hand build wheels for much less money.

Agree you're paying a lot for the Zipp decals on aluminum rims. The new Neuvation 22mm wide rim wheels are pretty nice, Sapim CXray spokes, 1440gm, under $500.

I'd be looking at Boyd, November, Soul.

Rolf wheels too.

Like everyone else posted: Zipp 101s are shallow AL-rim wheels. There are lots of cheaper and almost certainly lighter alternatives.

As fauxto nick pointed out you can always start building your own, too. That's not much if any cheaper unless you're really good at scrounging parts, but it is fun.

Psimet

The Flo 30's are awesome, I've really enjoyed riding with them - they are just hard to get a hold of now with their batch ordering and waiting. I would choose them without question over the zipp 101's

Just to throw a curveball in there, I believe the Zipp 101's are built with CX Rays and their regular hubs just like their other rims, so I'm not saying that the quality isn't there. They're a very high quality wheel, I just they're a pretty low spoke count wheel with pretty high performance parts for just an alu training wheel. I know that my Hed Belg/King R45 would have retailed built for less than the 101's.

Totally worth it. You should get two sets.

Easy for me to say, it's your money.

He won't bother to answer the OP's inquiry though.

Don't know what his response time is now, but I got a set of wheels from him earlier this years in less time than he projected.

November Rail.

Thanks for replies, I guess I'm going for custom built wheels then. What really caught my eye on the Zipp 101 because it's aerodynamic property, but yah I guess I have a lot of choices

Smart move, the HED Belgium rim shape is very similar to the 101's and it's not a very heavy rim. If you're having trouble finding a knowledgeable local wheel builder I'd contact wheelbuilder.com as they have been full of great information every time I've spoken to them.

Like I said before I'm very happy with my Chris King R45's, so I can't recommend those enough.

Wheelbuilder set me up with a great deal on Zipp 101's. Turnkey, with DT Swiss 240 hubs, 16 front, 20 rear bladed spokes.

I have nearly 2K miles on them, one minor tune on the truing stand. I would definitely buy them again.

Get the Zipps. I absolutely love mine. They have a wider rim profile, which makes them more aero and you can run lower pressure. I bought them to replace a pair of 2quik carbon38 mm rims I didn't like, the zipps are much faster. Saying zipp 101's are " just a shallow aluminum rim wheel" is like saying a 911 is "just a car". Only other thing I'd even consider is the american classic tubeless wheels seen at the Tour.

Sorry, not bad wheels but they are just a shallower aluminum rim with good hubs, CX Rays and a quality build. There's other options that are as good if not better and make more sense for daily riding.

You are, of course, entitled to your opinion. As I am to mine, which is what I believe the OP asked for. This is an opinion by someone who owns and rides 101's. They aren't just shallower(than what?) aluminum rims. They are wide(23mm) which does make a difference. And absolutely rideable as every day rims.

Sorry, I just blew coffee all over my iphone. Did you just say that Zipp 88/188 hubs were good and say that Zipp factory build is a quality build?

lol, well I try not to shell companies on here, I think the CX Ray is a decent spoke but personally would take a DT Swiss Aerolite over it. The Zipp hubs are definitely not the most robust hubs but I think they're a decent design and if well maintained outshine plenty of competitors; are they a Chris King or Dura Ace, no.

Overall I think Zipp does good work, I don't think they do a "cheap" job, I just feel the nature of their designs are more fragile than other brands.