The new Zipp 303 has won races across the world from the brutal cobbles of the the Paris Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders to the bright lights of the Tour De France. There is no single reason for this; strength, weight and aerodynamics all play major roles. The revised versions feature improved hubs and braking surface and a whopping chunk off the price tag!
Firstly the strength; as the first carbon wheel to win the Paris Roubaix the 303 had to be incredibly resiliant to even the most brutal impact. This is largely down to the shape of the rim; the rounding, or what Zipp term their 'toroidal' profile helps to dissipate the impact by vertically compressing the rim rather than stressing the spokes and thereby breaking them. The new Firecrest platform builds on this strength; a wider rim further dissipates impact and the walls of the rims are absolutely solid, something that we found immediately obvious and deeply impressive upon picking them up for the first time. They are strong enough in fact that Zipp suggest they are useable for cyclocross. The rim is laced onto Zipp's superb new 77/177 hubs which use the finest Swiss stainless steel bearings to make them buttery smooth and a joy to ride with.
The wider profile further improves the aerodynamics. Apart from a superior interaction with the frame a wider wheel will spread the tyre more effectively and mean that it does not bulge over the side to create an immediate ridge that ruins the airflow before it even hits the rim. On top of this Zipp continue the use of their trademark dimpled surface which creates a smooth surface of air for the wind to pass over, much like a golf ball.
On top of this the wheel is light; around 1498g for a set of carbon clinchers and 1198g for tubulars is light enough to be competitive in the hills without any aerodynamic disadvantage.
These wheels would feature highly on our shortlist if we were looking for one do-it-all racing and training wheelset; a beautiful ride and impressive durability.
ZIPP 303 Firecrest Carbon Clincher Rear Wheel with 24 hole 177 hub - 10/11 Speed Campagnolo Cassette Body : Black Decal
If perfection is the standard, then the 303 Firecrest wheelset delivers everything you could ask for, including a heritage forged in the Spring Classics. At the center of the 303 Firecrest Carbon Clincher is the 77/177 hubset, an innovation that results in improved stiffness, durability, simplicity and versatility.
Zipp’s original 303 Tubular made history by becoming the first carbon wheelset to win cycling’s two most famous Cobbled Classics, Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders. Its wider rim provided extra durability, and improved aerodynamics. That wider rim also led to the development of the revolutionary Firecrest® platform, and now the revolution continues with the inclusion of the 77/177 hubset – best-in-class durability and improved bearing protection with no pre-load adjustment needed.
- Optimized flange geometry and spoke hole attachment pattern with Sapim® CX Sprint spokes to optimize torsional and lateral stiffness and robustness.
- Includes newly designed quick-release skewers with a wider more ergonomic handle to provide more leverage for opening and closing. When closed, lever contours neatly with the frame.
- New robust hub platform with distinctive graphics.
- For those looking for a wider gear range, or tackling especially extreme terrain, a XD driver body for 177 is sold separately and easily installed to allow for more cassette options including a 10-42. The hubset is designed to swap driver bodies without re-dishing wheel.
Zipp’s Carbon Clincher technology preserves the aerodynamic advantages of the 303 Firecrest’s tubular brother, while adding the convenience of a clincher tire. And at just 1,645g, it’s light enough to climb up the steepest gradients with ease as a go-to all-around wheelset.
The Firecrest shaping optimizes the aerodynamic profile of both the front half and the back half of the wheel. In addition, Firecrest moves the center of pressure of the wheel backwards, giving the 45 mm-deep rim the crosswind stability a box-section rim. At the same time, the 26.4 mm-wide brake track (at center) allows the clincher tire to take on a wider, more stable shape without compromising rolling resistance. It’s faster, simpler, and more stable.
The new wheels retain all the small details that make Zipp wheels what they are. Exposed spoke nipples sit in the aerodynamic shadow of the rims, keeping serviceability simple without compromising speed. Signature ABLC™ rim dimples squeeze every last second of performance possible.
Available in two decal options, the stealthy Matte Black or the distinctive Matte White decals. Each 303 Firecrest Carbon Clincher wheel comes with Tangente Platinum Pro Evo brake pads, Zipp Integrated Valve Extender with valve-core wrench, rim tape and quick release.