skydive69 said:I love the looks of the zipp 404's. Two questions regarding them:
1) By a clean set, I assume that you mean a used set.
2) My understanding was that Zipp 404's were not a training wheel, but strictly a racing wheel unless you have the bread to replace/repair them - I was told that they don't stand up to heavy road useage.
What is your input?
That's used, two to three years old. New, you'd pay $1k for a set from a discount source, $1.3k from a LBS that sells for list. You probably want to avoid Zipp wheels older than around 2002, they had some durability issues with the hubs.
A lot depends on the roads you ride. It isn't so much that they're fragile, just that replacement rims are very expensive. I ride mostly around horse farm country in central KY, where they keep the back roads in very good condition. Don't want a million dollar horse to have a bumpy ride to the track... so rough roads are really not an issue for me. If you're riding on Pothole Bvld, you probably want something that will cost less to fix. No reason you can't ride newer 404's on weekends, providing you keep in mind the replacement costs and try to avoid nasty hits. Of course, that's true of any very expensive wheel - very expensive to repair.
Avoid the clincher 404's. Earlier examples had trouble with the aluminum rim delaminating from the carbon, later ones you pay a weight penalty. Might also look at the 303's - they're a tad bit lighter without the aero rim section, and a bit less expensive.
In any case, Zipp wheels represent the extreme. Remember that cost rises at a geometrically increasing rate to functionality on cycles. In the higher end equipment, a little improvement costs a lot.
I've ridden a borrowed pair of Kysriums, and while they're nice, I personally think they're a bit overrated at the asking price. My old Rolfs are a bit more aero, a bit lighter, and cost less. Be aware that both the K's and the Rolfs are very stiff, harsh riding wheels. With average riding gloves, I found my hands going numb after about 20 miles. I ended up settling on Campy Zonda wheels for everyday riding - a little less stiff, a little easier on the hands.
Better still, if you want to keep up with the crew, work out more. I've seen my average speed on my favorite hilly loop go from 13mph to 18 mph in less than a year. 20mph is my immediate goal.
