Name of Product: Zipp 808 Tubular wheelset (2007 version)

Manufacturer: Zipp

Name of Reviewer: Fred West

Website of Product if available: http://www.zipp.com/

Cost of Product: $2,100.00

Description:  Faster than a 3 spoke in any condition, faster than even our 404, the 808’s patent pending ABLC dimpled rim surface combined with a rim depth of 81mm simply humbles any racecourse. This is the best all around time trial wheelset available anywhere. The days of being blown around mercilessly on windy courses are over. The 808 provides almost as much speed a disc, without the potentially hazardous handling shortcomings. Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, the 808 is draft legal. That’s right, you can road race the 808, and it is legal in ALL triathlon applications.

· Revolutionary dimpled 81mm deep rim

· Unique partially ovoid rim shape for maximum sustained speed

· Available tubular and clincher

· Silica ceramic braking surface (tubular) Zipp carbon pads highly recommended

· Built on 82/182 hubset

· Sapim CX-ray spokes 18 front 24 rear

· Wheel set weight = 1435g

· Shimano and Campagnolo compatible

· 700c only

· Powertap option

· 655g front, 780g rear

Personal opinion of the product/service:  I highly recommend this product. I’ve owned this wheelset since midsummer of 2007 and still really pleased with how the wheels have held up.  I’ve used them exclusively for tri’s and time trails. I don’t really plan to use them for road racing (although they are perfectly legal) because unfortunately the roads around this state are not in the best shape and I don’t want to risk damaging a rim. When riding in a pack you can’t always see the potholes in time and I don’t want to run the risk of smashing into one possibly crushing  a rim as I’ve seen others do.

Pros:

• The wheelset has run true right out of the box and have stayed that way ever since.
• Versatile, almost as fast as a disk but able to use at any race and arguably faster than the 404.
• When in a pinch, able to replace broken spoke with a “normal” spoke at any bike shop.
• Very light for this deep of a rim.
• Smooth rolling hubs.

Cons:

• Expensive! But you get what you pay for.
• One needs to get the quick release adjusted just right or there’s tons of play in the wheel (brake pads rubbing on wheel intermittently).
• Wider rim, need to adjust brakes when swapping out between  wheelsets.
• Not as bombproof as aluminum wheels.
• One may also need to change out brake pads to those specially made for carbon rims.