Speed-wheel maker claims efficiency gains in the hub as well as aero gains
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The Zipp NSW808s were ridden to world championship gold in the women's team time trial(Image credit: Courtesy Zipp)
NSW stands for Nest Speed Weaponry, with 'nest' referring a windowless development room within Zipp(Image credit: Courtesy Zipp)
The new Zipp NSW 808s are faster than the current wheels by 3-4 watts, Zipp claims(Image credit: Courtesy Zipp)
The new NSW hub has less drag than current models, Zipp says, because of a ratchet mechanism that disengages more cleanly when coasting(Image credit: Courtesy Zipp)
Zipp has a new subcategory of wheels called NSW, with the new 808 NSW Carbon Clincher being the first out of the gate with claims of better aerodynamics, reduced side force, improved braking and a new hubset with less drag than the current model.
Zipp launched the 808 NSW clinchers in the week before the Ironman world championships in Kona, Hawaii, but the wheels have already been ridden to gold under the Velocio-SRAM Pro Cycling squad that won the women's team time trial at the UCI Road World Championships.
The 82mm-rim wheels weigh a claimed 830g front and 980g rear (1,810g total), and bulge to a whopping 27.8mm at the widest point (26.44mm at the brake track). Internal bead width is 17.25mm.
Retail will be $3,400 / €3,000 / £2,350, and the wheels will be available in December.
Zipp claims the new wheels are 3-4 watts faster than the current 808s.
Zipp-sponsored athlete Jordan Rapp said he puts the new braking on par with hydraulic discs.
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