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IB13: Zipp Makes Rear Hubs Stiffer For Cavendish, And You

2014 Zipp rear hub updates make them stiffer for Mark Cavendish
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For 2014 models, all of Zipp’s rim brake wheels -the 202 tubular and the entire Firecrest range- get completely redesigned rear hubs.

The 188 V9 hub was developed with and for Mark Cavendish, who tends to put a lot of stress on equipment. Larger, thicker flanges and larger Swiss stainless steel bearings in the hub shell (same 17mm axle) add up to a 20% laterally stiffer and 140% torsionally stiffer wheel. That means there’s virtually no effort lost to wind up or flex during massive sprinting efforts.

Close up pics and more below…

2014 Zipp rear hub updates make them stiffer for Mark Cavendish

Spoke counts have bumped to 18/24 across the range, too. They call it a “virtual 3-cross” lacing because if you extended the spokes they’d cross again – but really it’s a 2-cross pattern.

2014 Zipp rear hub updates make them stiffer for Mark Cavendish

All in, there’s a gain of about 30g, but most of that’s at the hub. Front hub and rear disc brake (303) hub don’t change.

2014 Zipp rear hub updates make them stiffer for Mark Cavendish

Rims get new diecut logo decals that are a bit sharper looking with a thinner, lighter material.

2014-Zipp-printed-rear-disc-bicycle-wheel

They’re also experimenting with printed labels (like Reynolds), but for now the amazing graphics are limited to wheels used for coffee tables. Want!

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Tandumb
Tandumb
10 years ago

I don’t get it… what are “rim brakes”?

Speedy
Speedy
10 years ago

“They call it a “virtual 3-cross” lacing because if you extended the spokes they’d cross again – but really it’s a 2-cross pattern.”

I love marketing, lol.

issacross
issacross
10 years ago

you are right Speedy, if you took a standard 24h hub with the same flange diameter and laced it 2x i’m sure you would end up with the same spoke angle. I love when new advancements in wheel tech are just return to us to what classic wheelbuilders have known all along.
Gripping aside, I appreciate that Zipp is now making a wheel that i would be more inclined to buy, though id be more likely to build up there rims to my own spec.

B-rad
B-rad
10 years ago

How do thicker hub flanges make the wheel 20% stiffer? That is pure bs. They would have to widen the bracing angles to make the wheel stiffer, and with an 11sp freehub body my guess is these latest hubs have a narrower flange spacing than older 10sp hubs. How come no one questions claims like this and demands the calcs behind them? And since when is windup a problem that needs “improving”? Even on mountain bike wheels with crazy amounts of forces near the hub (disc brakes) it isn’t an issue.

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