Informal Reviews on Track Wheels
#26
Elitist
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Right now I have a Mavic Comete rear disk that I only got because I got a deal that I could not pass up. I know the front wheel is even more important. Currently if I were to race tomorrow, I'd have to run the Mavic Ellipse in the front. What would be an affordable best case option for an aero front wheel? Because there's no way I'm spending $3000 or whatever for an io (and I'm not fast enough to justify owning one, anyway). Or is the Ellipse front just fine for now? That's what I sort of suspect.
#28
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Personally haven't - but they get some good comments on the UK Time Trialling forum https://www.timetriallingforum.co.uk.
Look to be just generic rims and hubs at a good price. Though I don't believe they are the in vogue wider rim or toroidal rim shape.
I am thinking of buying the 250g 20mm carbon tubular rims (I have read these are the same supplier for FFWD), as I should be able to build a sub kg climbing wheelset with a light set of road hubs I have waiting to be used...
Look to be just generic rims and hubs at a good price. Though I don't believe they are the in vogue wider rim or toroidal rim shape.
I am thinking of buying the 250g 20mm carbon tubular rims (I have read these are the same supplier for FFWD), as I should be able to build a sub kg climbing wheelset with a light set of road hubs I have waiting to be used...
Last edited by Dalai; 05-14-12 at 07:04 PM.
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Update:
The 404s laced to Dura Ace hubs are very light. Dual 404s with Dura Ace hubs are 400g lighter than the Mavic IO/Comete set.
Great for mass start racing for sure.
The 404s laced to Dura Ace hubs are very light. Dual 404s with Dura Ace hubs are 400g lighter than the Mavic IO/Comete set.
Great for mass start racing for sure.
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I picked up a barely used Zipp 808 Zedtech front on ebay for a REALLY good price, it goes nicely with my Zipp 900 Disc.
Keep an eye out at the end of triathlon season and you can usually pick up something for a good price... they have usually been used for one race before the owner realizes that regardless of how much money you spend on gear, you still need the legs to push it.
JMR
Keep an eye out at the end of triathlon season and you can usually pick up something for a good price... they have usually been used for one race before the owner realizes that regardless of how much money you spend on gear, you still need the legs to push it.
JMR
#31
Brown Bear, Sqrl Hunter
I picked up a barely used Zipp 808 Zedtech front on ebay for a REALLY good price, it goes nicely with my Zipp 900 Disc.
Keep an eye out at the end of triathlon season and you can usually pick up something for a good price... they have usually been used for one race before the owner realizes that regardless of how much money you spend on gear, you still need the legs to push it.
JMR
Keep an eye out at the end of triathlon season and you can usually pick up something for a good price... they have usually been used for one race before the owner realizes that regardless of how much money you spend on gear, you still need the legs to push it.
JMR
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#33
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Sorry for digging up this old thread, but this is great to have such info in one place...
Would love to hear any updates on newer models of these wheelsets and/or others?
And how would custom ones like BladeX, PlanetX etc fare against these (saw quite a few of those in the races recently)? Considering the perfomance/$$$ value...
Would love to hear any updates on newer models of these wheelsets and/or others?
And how would custom ones like BladeX, PlanetX etc fare against these (saw quite a few of those in the races recently)? Considering the perfomance/$$$ value...
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Its a timeless thread I think
My race wheels are the zipp 900 combo (1080 front, flat dimpled disc in the rear). The wheel set is very light, and from the data I have seen the 1080 is nearly as fast as a disc, but not much faster than an 808.
I have a few chinese wheels built up, I think the build matters more than the rim itself. They are solid hoops, but I would rather buy the hoop and have a local builder lace them.
My race wheels are the zipp 900 combo (1080 front, flat dimpled disc in the rear). The wheel set is very light, and from the data I have seen the 1080 is nearly as fast as a disc, but not much faster than an 808.
I have a few chinese wheels built up, I think the build matters more than the rim itself. They are solid hoops, but I would rather buy the hoop and have a local builder lace them.
#35
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Sorry for digging up this old thread, but this is great to have such info in one place...
Would love to hear any updates on newer models of these wheelsets and/or others?
And how would custom ones like BladeX, PlanetX etc fare against these (saw quite a few of those in the races recently)? Considering the perfomance/$$$ value...
Would love to hear any updates on newer models of these wheelsets and/or others?
And how would custom ones like BladeX, PlanetX etc fare against these (saw quite a few of those in the races recently)? Considering the perfomance/$$$ value...
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I've heard pretty much nothing but good things about Wabi's wheelset, but only from people who use them on the street. On paper, they look like they'd be perfect starter wheels:
-Price (around the same, if not cheaper, than Deep V's to Formulas)
-Weight (supposedly lighter than Ellipse and Open Pro/Phils, according to Richard from Wabi)
Has anyone here ever used them on the track? Would these go up there with the Velocitys as a great starter set?
-Price (around the same, if not cheaper, than Deep V's to Formulas)
-Weight (supposedly lighter than Ellipse and Open Pro/Phils, according to Richard from Wabi)
Has anyone here ever used them on the track? Would these go up there with the Velocitys as a great starter set?
#37
Senior Member
^^^*shrug*^^^
At the cheap end of wheelsets, the bar isn't high. If it rolls and accepts a cog and tire.... it'll work.
At the cheap end of wheelsets, the bar isn't high. If it rolls and accepts a cog and tire.... it'll work.
__________________
Cat 2 Track, Cat 3 Road.
"If you’re new enough [to racing] that you would ask such question, then i would hazard a guess that if you just made up a workout that sounded hard to do, and did it, you’d probably get faster." --the tiniest sprinter
Cat 2 Track, Cat 3 Road.
"If you’re new enough [to racing] that you would ask such question, then i would hazard a guess that if you just made up a workout that sounded hard to do, and did it, you’d probably get faster." --the tiniest sprinter
#39
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This has probably been asked and answered elsewhere, but I can't seem to find it. How do Cometes compare aerodynamically to the bevy of Zipp discs?
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Zipp makes excellent disc wheels. The mavics are likely slightly better..
It would be up to the user to determine if the significant difference in price justified the marginal gains..
It would be up to the user to determine if the significant difference in price justified the marginal gains..
#42
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I've heard pretty much nothing but good things about Wabi's wheelset, but only from people who use them on the street. On paper, they look like they'd be perfect starter wheels:
-Price (around the same, if not cheaper, than Deep V's to Formulas)
-Weight (supposedly lighter than Ellipse and Open Pro/Phils, according to Richard from Wabi)
Has anyone here ever used them on the track? Would these go up there with the Velocitys as a great starter set?
-Price (around the same, if not cheaper, than Deep V's to Formulas)
-Weight (supposedly lighter than Ellipse and Open Pro/Phils, according to Richard from Wabi)
Has anyone here ever used them on the track? Would these go up there with the Velocitys as a great starter set?
#43
aka mattio
the reason that sprinters and most other top-tier riders use Cometes is because they're lenticular, and that makes them stiffer. modern Zipps have a reputation for being a big pliable under the weight and power of elite sprinters at speed on banking.
so, that's why the Comete, PRO, and FFWD discs are used at high levels.
enduros tend to be a bit less discriminating.
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I just switched from a brand new set of FFWD: Linticular disc rear/ 5 spoke front
to a used set of Zipps: 900 Disc rear/Spoked 808 front
there is zero perceivable difference in the stiffness of the rear disc-
but the Zipps weigh a lot less than the FFWD!!!
Carleton is right- the Pros ride what they get for free!!!
to a used set of Zipps: 900 Disc rear/Spoked 808 front
there is zero perceivable difference in the stiffness of the rear disc-
but the Zipps weigh a lot less than the FFWD!!!
Carleton is right- the Pros ride what they get for free!!!
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#46
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I just switched from a brand new set of FFWD: Linticular disc rear/ 5 spoke front
to a used set of Zipps: 900 Disc rear/Spoked 808 front
there is zero perceivable difference in the stiffness of the rear disc-
but the Zipps weigh a lot less than the FFWD!!!
Carleton is right- the Pros ride what they get for free!!!
to a used set of Zipps: 900 Disc rear/Spoked 808 front
there is zero perceivable difference in the stiffness of the rear disc-
but the Zipps weigh a lot less than the FFWD!!!
Carleton is right- the Pros ride what they get for free!!!
I've had the Zipp 900 (borrowed) and Mavic Comete (owned) at the same time and I didn't notice a difference in feel. And I'm pretty picky about how things feel. The sound was different, but that's because the Zipp is filled with a honeycomb pattern of filler with a carbon-ish outer layer. The Comete is hollow with a carbon shell.
The Comete sounds cooler I was told that it sounds like a freight train when I'm bearing down on someone as I approach to pass.
#47
Lapped 3x
Yeah, I agree.
I've had the Zipp 900 (borrowed) and Mavic Comete (owned) at the same time and I didn't notice a difference in feel. And I'm pretty picky about how things feel. The sound was different, but that's because the Zipp is filled with a honeycomb pattern of filler with a carbon-ish outer layer. The Comete is hollow with a carbon shell.
The Comete sounds cooler I was told that it sounds like a freight train when I'm bearing down on someone as I approach to pass.
I've had the Zipp 900 (borrowed) and Mavic Comete (owned) at the same time and I didn't notice a difference in feel. And I'm pretty picky about how things feel. The sound was different, but that's because the Zipp is filled with a honeycomb pattern of filler with a carbon-ish outer layer. The Comete is hollow with a carbon shell.
The Comete sounds cooler I was told that it sounds like a freight train when I'm bearing down on someone as I approach to pass.
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I recently got a set of Cane Creek volos track used.
Tubular, never street ridden/skids, and cheap!
I'm looking to replace the bearings (the rear hub bearings will need attention soon) but haven't had any luck.
Tubular, never street ridden/skids, and cheap!
I'm looking to replace the bearings (the rear hub bearings will need attention soon) but haven't had any luck.
#49
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If you want to do it yourself, maybe ask in Bicycle Mechanics. They will help sort you out on tools and part numbers.
#50
Lapped 3x
If they are cartridge bearings, hen they will bear a stamp designating the bearing type. You can use this stamp to source out replacement bearings yourself if you wish. A shop will know what to do when it comes to getting you replacements.