Zipp 808 Firecrest Carbon Wheelset – Shimano
If you are looking for high quality and a superior performance, the Zipp Firecrest series should be your first stop. They have a great deal to offer in terms of selection, with plenty of spec variety available. Of course, this is as long as you have the cash to burn. Read full review
Zipp Firecrest Review
There is no denying that if you don’t mind spending some of your hard earned cash, that Zipp Firecrest has something for you in return. While they can vary in weight and some function, they stand as being one of the best performing and most durable wheelsets around. So, why is this?
One of the reasons is that Zipp has managed to focus its attention on the front wheel as well as the rear wheel. Specifically, it is has taken steps to improve the aerodynamic abilities of both wheels. This means that the airflow is smoother with the front and the back wheel when the bike is in motion.
They also great when it comes to stability, especially when you hit bad patches of weather. This has been done by imperceptibly changing the shape of the rim. By doing so, Zipp was able to do two important things. First, it increased the stability, especially in crosswinds. At the same time, it cut down on the aerodynamics drag. This means you will not have to deal with any swerving or interruption during your ride. This is especially useful during races.
Since you are spending a pretty penny on any one of these wheelsets, you really do want them to last you a while. Fortunately, the Firecrest series does just that. This is largely due to the wider rims that ensure you can take on any type of terrain. What’s more it works hard to keep you comfortable as you do so.
+Pros:
- Lightweight
- Strong
- Stable
- Great aerodynamic features
-Cons:
- Expensive
The Verdict
Overall, there are nothing but good things to say about the Zipp Firecrest series. It continues to be some of the finest clincher wheelsets around.
For the price that you have to pay, you certainly get a lot in return for these wheelsets.
Zipp 808 Firecrest Carbon Road Wheelset When speed junkies and engineers work together to design a wheelset, nobody would have expected the result to be as successful as Zipp’s 808 Firecrest clinchers. Featuring ultra-deep 82mm carbon rims, these wheels use their sharp aerodynamic profile and low weight to build speed at an astounding rate. Plus, with Zipp’s ABLC Sawtooth technology in the rim surface, these wheels have an added stability that ensures maximum performance even in tough crosswinds.Excellent Hubset DurabilityThis wheelset comes complete with Zipp’s 77/177 hubset, which has been designed to optimise spoke tension and provide excellent bearing protection, meaning increased durability and a stronger power transfer.Features: Hubs: 77/177 Rim Material: Carbon Rim Width Internal: 17mm Rim Width Outer: 26mm Rim Depth: 82mm Type: Clincher Max Tyre Pressure: 125 psi Dimple Surface: ABLC Sawtooth Technology Brake Interface: Rim Brake Spoke Count: 18 (front),24 (rear) Spoke Type: Sapim CX-Ray Spoke Lacing Pattern: 2-Cross Nipples: Sapim Secure-Lock Weight: 830g (front), 1kg (rear)Technology: Hexfin Aerodynamic Boundary Layer Control (ABLC): The Sawtooth dimple design consists of 12 nodes that are specifically clocked to start aerodynamic shearing at a rate of 50hz at a rider speed of 20mph. Sawtooth accomplishes this by inducing small sheet vortices that shed at a low magnitude, but at a higher natural frequency, thus decreasing the laminar bubble effect on the aerodynamically shielded side of the rim’s profile to further reduce high yaw drag and improve crosswind stability. Carbon Clincher: Two years of intensive prototyping and testing has resulted in a clincher that utilises elements of motorsports brake systems to maximise heat management. Their investment has paid off in spades, with all Zipp Carbon Clinchers now passing the rigorous safety standards of CEN. Visco-Elastic Constrained Layer Control (VCLC): Using a vibration absorbing material that is compressed between layers of solid carbon laminate on the rim surface. This technology means that when the rim received an impact from the road, a lot of the shock is absorbed by the VCLC system, resulting in a 10% reduction in road vibration. Showstopper: Showstopper is a complimenting pairing of a directional, moulded-in, texture with silicon carbide particles suspended in the surface resin. The current media blast process applied to all Zipp rims increases the surface roughness of the brake track providing the rider with consistent and responsive braking. In order to improve this for the wettest of rides, Zipp has introduced a moulded-in groove specifically tuned for the Zipp Tangente Platinum Pro EVO Brake Pad. The grooves have been optimized to interact with leading edge (relative to the rotation of the wheel) of the brake pad and the four cooling channels. The leading edge of the pad and first two channels efficiently wipe water and debris outward, cleaning and drying the braking surface, while the second two cooling channels have maximum interference with the grooves allowing greater braking force than a smooth rim. The cleaning effects of the groove and pad interaction improve brake feel and consistency even in dry conditions.Buy Zipp Wheels & Tyres from Chain Reaction Cycles, the World’s Largest Online Bike Store.
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