Zipp Limited Edition Wheels

NEW ‘Special Edition’ 404 Wheel Set from ZIPP (made in Indianapolis, USA)

ZIPP has been making light weight, carbon wheels for decades working with Professional Cycling Teams and Tri Athletes alike.  They spend millions of dollars on R&D, wind tunnel design (not only wind tunnel testing) and build the foundation of their business on superior quality products.

ZIPP holds the patent for a ‘structural toroidal rim’ and this ‘toroidal’ rim shape makes ZIPP wheels more aerodynamic than any of its competitors at the same rim depth.  In other words if you have any other wheel with the same rim depth the ZIPP wheels will always be more aerodynamic (at normal racing speeds of 15km/h to 65km/h).  ZIPP wheels also have a dimpled effect on their rims to give them better aerodynamic qualities.  ZIPP recently launched NEW hubs (88/188) for their 2010 range which has given them the opportunity to bring the ‘Special Edition’ wheels to market at a fraction of the price of the 2010 wheels.

The ‘Special Edition’ 404 wheel set is probably the best value for money carbon deep section wheel set out there (R14250 recommended retail price).  Although the rims doesn’t have dimples it uses the same ‘toroidal’ rim shape which is the most important aerodynamic feature.  They build these 404 tubby and clincher rims on the their 2009 (82/182) hubs using the same Sapim CX Ray bladed spokes.

The Special Edition wheels are aimed at the cycling enthusiast and competitive rider who is looking for performance wheels at a more affordable price.  The wheels are imported and distributed by Bicycle Matrix (011 466 9974) who have been the agents for ZIPP for the past 6 years and will be backed up and supported in exactly the same manner as all their other Zipp products.

Zipp introduces 101

These guys already make some of the best carbon wheels, now they doing a super Alu wheel too.

The 1,484g wheelset uses what the company calls a fully ‘toroidal’ rim shape (narrow at the mouth, wide on the sides). Unlike non-toroidal rims of similar widths, the 101 can be used safely with tyres as narrow as 21mm because the toroidal shape is narrower at the brake track than in the middle.

“The 101 probably has more in common with our carbon wheels than it does with any other aluminium wheel that’s ever been made,” said Zipp Technical Director Josh Poertner. “(The 101s) have gone through our wind tunnel development process, it’s faster than deeper-section rims from other companies, and it’s built by hand in the USA.”

Designed for racing and everyday training, the 101’s curved profile – 24.5mm wide and 30mm deep – smoothes airflow by matching the width of the rim to the width of any tyre up to 25mm.

Locally the Agent for ZIPP is Cycletech and you can get hold of them on

My new Speed Machine

Its taken me a long time and its finally here.

Picture doesnt do it justice as its actually a green fade and not yellow as in the picture but you will get the look and feel from this.

Its all vinyl so can be taken off at anytime. I have put a new simple minimilist TT front end, Profile CSX extentions on a Zipp Bull bar with Sram levers and brakes, no tape or anything, so its naked.

Sram red on rest of bike, so its a really smooth fast ride.

Energade Triathlon Series is apon us

Its that time of year again where we are reminded just how fast and hard a Sprint Triathlon is.BSG Energade Triathlon Series is the biggest in SA and been running for 14 years now. I always remember how Kak it feels when you finish your first one for the year. You left thinking that surely it couldn’t have been that hard.

The big difference for me this year is living at altitude and starting at sea level which should give me a little something extra. I also have a new ORCA Apex 2, first time i use it will be tomorrow. I also have my new Specialized Tarmac Comp with my Super fast Race wheels on, Zipp 808 front and Zipp 1080 Rear. I have only been training with this bike and haven’t had race wheels on yet, i have been very impressed with how a R20 000 race bike can ride and feel like a R60 000 race bike and i would know as i have ridden about 14 brands through out my riding days. There is something special about this bike, as well as the brand

So looking forward to having some red mist at some point in the race.

Here are the dates for the series in case you need them :

Suncoast Olmypic Distance Race

Suncoast Olympic Distance race took place in Durban Yesterday and a lot of the fast boys were out to show off there winter training fitness when we got to the beach for the start of the race. Team Whasp where also there with their new kit and even a few new faces with Michelle van Zyl and Tanielle Mandy joining the team so 3 girls in total along with Samantha Ferreira.

The boys only had Collin and David Hadenham in team colours. With almost perfect conditions the swim got off to a blistering quick start, Sean Dias was off the front, previous winner of the midmar mile and Jeff Norton giving chase, these 2 swimming just over 16min for the 1500m swim, David got out the water in 6th place and headed onto the bike with the rest of chasing left chasing hard just inside the top 20.

Onto the bike and i was feeling good and decided to push the pace, with my new Specialized TT bike and ZIpp wheel combo i was flying and was just checking my heart rate on my new Suunto T3 heart rate monitor to keep it at around 85% of my max.

It was hot out there and the women were all close, we had 2 pure life athletes out front and the then 2 past winners of the even and then the 3 whasp ladies.

Onto the run and in our new Puma Silver races and New Orca Trisuits we all settled into our running pace and tried to close down the gaps ahead of us.

David ended the day with a 9th place with Collin coming in 13th, which i was happy about considering i haven’t had the greatest winner, Samantha finishing first of the team girls in 5th place which is a good result for her followed Michelle and Tanielle.

So a good days racing was had by all and we now have good yard sticks to use for the next race in 4 weeks time.

Thanks for all your support and we looking forward to great things.