Market: The US manufacturer ZIPP has stood for noble wheels in the highest performance class for many years. With the new ZIPP 404 NSW Aero wheels, however, the level has, according to the company, been raised to a completely new level and it should embody the spearhead of what is currently technically possible in the wheel sector. But such a high-tech wheel set naturally has its price.
With the ZIPP 808 NSW, the so-called "Nest Speed Weaponry" product line celebrated its premiere at ZIPP last season. The term refers to the in-house development laboratory, which is called 'The Nest' within the company. Here the latest technologies, findings and developments are analyzed and implemented in the NSW products. After the ZIPP 808 NSW, the new 404 NSW is only the second product in this high-tech series.
But despite all the technological innovations, the ZIPP 404 NSW is initially 'just' a wheelset. The facts are easy to read: the clincher rims are 58mm high (compared to 82mm on the 808 NSW), are held by 18 (front) and 24 (rear) Sapim CX-Ray spokes on the ZIPP Cognition hubs. The wheels weigh a total of 1.555g - sounds like the right ingredients for a very good aero wheelset. But in the case of ZIPP wheels, this is only half the truth.
Dozens of computer simulations, many weeks in the wind tunnel and countless prototypes were needed to bring the wheels to the level they are now. "The wind tunnel will never be replaced as the last and most important instance of impeller design," Dave Morse, one of the developers, emphasizes the relevance of the practical test despite the many computer simulations. Compared to the 404 Firecrest from their own company, the susceptibility to crosswinds is said to have been reduced by 34% - this gives the 404 NSW an all-round character despite their high rims, which should make them the wheels of choice in numerous scenarios and on many routes. Other technologies that are already known from the 808 NSW, such as the ImPress rim graphics, Sawtooth structure on the rims and the Showstopper silicone braking surfaces are of course also included.
The hubs are also state-of-the-art: In order to reduce the frictional resistance within the freewheel to a minimum, a system with magnets is used in the Cognition hubs instead of classic pawls with springs. This not only offers the smaller resistance just mentioned, but also has the advantage that it works virtually maintenance-free. Specially developed hub bodies also distribute the load of the spokes more evenly over a larger area to prevent twisting in the bearing area. The result is again: Less resistance and greater durability. Speaking of durability: The ZIPP 404 NSW are all laced by hand.
As mentioned at the beginning, such a development and construction effort naturally has its price. €2.800 is due for the wheelset – anyone who is toying with the idea of purchasing one can head straight to the specialist retailer: the ZIPP 404 NSW are available now.