Best Carbon Wheels

The Zipp 404 is the staple all-around wheelset for many cyclists as it simply adds an injection of speed in almost every road situation. It doesn't matter if you're going solo in a crit, keeping your position in the omnium during the time trial, or trading off pulls in a well working breakaway across rolling terrain, the Zipp 404 Firecrest Carbon Clincher Road Wheel provides versatility, a smooth ride, and wind-cheating aerodynamics. The 404 is one of the most iconic wheels in the Zipp lineup and we prefer it as it allows us to race a train on the same wheelset in this clincher format. Its Firecrest profiling features an aerodynamic 58mm rim depth and a wide, 25mm brake track that gives the tire a solid platform and reduces the instability caused by the side bulge effect found when tires are mounted to narrower rims. Zipp's testing shows that this design creates a more stable profile, provides greater radial compliance, and creates a comfortably controlled ride over rougher road surfaces. It also increases lateral stiffness for stable sprints and solid cornering and provides a smoother transition between tire and rim for improved aerodynamics. One issue always present that needs addressing with carbon rims, especially carbon clinchers, is overheating under prolonged braking, and Zipp quells this by incorporating a special heat-resistant resin in the carbon layup that increases heat dissipation and reduces the potential for rim failure. Zipp claims that since using this resin, it's received zero heat-related rim failures, providing some much-needed peace of mind as you hit those big mountain descents with confidence that these rims are extensively designed so safely reach the valley floor. Of course, we couldn't talk about the 404's without the mention of aerodynamics and a key element of the 404 Firecrest's ride is its ability to move quickly through a wide variety of wind conditions. Zipp's signature Aerodynamic Boundary Layer Control (ABLC) dimpling gets a slig...... [Read More]