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Zipp offers CeramicSpeed freehub upgrade kit, plus other new goods

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Zipp CeramicSpeed 177 hub upgrade kits

If you’ve already upgraded your derailleur wheels, why not throw some ceramic in your actual wheels? Zipp’s just released their CeramicSpeed freehub hop up kit for their 177 rear hubs, available in SRAM/Shimano and Campy 11-speed, plus XD-R Driver Bodies. They come with the better bearings preinstalled for a simple replacement and claim 1.5 to 9 watts reduction in drag per bearing. Retail is $355 (€365 / £281) per freehub, available in July.

For more affordable new bits, roll on down…

zipp-wheel-sleeve-elasticized-bicycle-rim-cover

If wheel bags are overkill, these new Wheel Sleeves will keep your rims from getting marred in transit. They’re made with an elasticized nylon-Lycra blend that simply stretches over a 700c wheel with up to 3omm tires installed. Comes out in July for $13 (€14 / £11).

zipp-low-mount-out-front-cycling-computer-mount

Most out-front cycling computer mounts sit flush with the top of the bar, elevating your computer’s screen about a centimeter or more above the stem. Zipp’s new low mount version ends up putting the screen just about flush with the top of the bar. Made for 31.8mm bars only, its specs say it works with any 1/4 turn twist-to-lock interface, but really, it probably means Garmins. Retail is $20 (€21 / £16).

Zipp.com

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\m/
\m/
8 years ago

That is a lot of freakn money

Tom R
Tom R
8 years ago

I assume you mean “per bearing set” not “per bearing” for the drag reduction numbers???

icycle_bay
icycle_bay
8 years ago

Wait…you need a ceramic bearing so that you can coast faster?

Greg
Greg
8 years ago
Reply to  icycle_bay

On Zipps and most (but not all) hubs, the freehub bearings turn when you’re pedaling and are stationary when you coast.
That said, 1.5-9 watts per bearing seems like horse poo, considering a whole set on ZedTech wheels used to save like 3watts. Some of it probably has to do with Zipp going to a tighter interference fit with their steel bearings, so there is more to gain…

Rixter
8 years ago

So you can spend $355 to maybe save 1 watt? Sign me up!

KT
KT
8 years ago

Totally unnecessary ceramic upgrade, but some people have an extra $355 burning in their pockets

Collin
Collin
8 years ago

The above mount will not work with Wahoo Elemnt (also a 1/4 twist setup) but it has the tabs rotated 90 degrees from garmins.

That One Guy
That One Guy
8 years ago

Of all places to spend $350 bones, my free hub body is not where I would focus.

Hashtag: dumb (<== am I doing this right??)

Haromania
8 years ago

Bikes and their components have evolved so much up to now, we’re left with incremental improvements like this. Nothing wrong with this stuff and if I had more money than I knew what to do with I’d buy it to, but I don’t, but I’m still glad they make it. Zipp is a pretty innovative company, I wonder if I could talk them into building a set of Firecrests for my fatbike?

Kernel Flickitov
Kernel Flickitov
8 years ago
Reply to  Haromania

How does “pretty innovative” jive with the fact that their hubs are garbage, even before the Sram buyout. How does biggest wheel recalls the industry has ever seen sound? Maybe we can apply this ‘innovation’ to your Firecrap fatbike wheels.

BobScooterman
BobScooterman
8 years ago

@Kernel Flickitov They are innovative, that is why recalls happen. They make new things and yes when you are producing so many of your own designs something may go wrong. Considering it’s a hub that has been on the market for years with practically no failures I’d say it’s understandable that they didn’t foresee such a long term effect. I’ve been in the bike industry and have seen things go wrong where there definitely should have been a recall, yet it wasn’t required and the company did the sleezy thing. Zipp/Sram is a great U.S. company that only has a small amount of the market compared to Shimano but sure is doing a lot with it. I have full faith in them.

Greg
Greg
8 years ago
Reply to  BobScooterman

“practically no failures” is woefully inaccurate. Twenty-five at my prior shop until I left last fall. Front and rear. First ones were approximately six months into the 88/188 production run, with admittedly corrosively sweaty customers.
It’s still irritating that they didn’t recall the rear. As far as I can tell, it’s merely because when the rear fails, you lock up and come to a stop. When the front fails, you dig around the pavement looking for your teeth.

Kernel Flickitov
Kernel Flickitov
8 years ago
Reply to  BobScooterman

Your attempt to somehow justify Zipp recalls is crazy talk. For the last 20 years they’ve had the worst record of the domestic wheel companies pertaining to hub quality. This last recall (nearly 60,000 units) was all in the name of innovation, eh? They knew the 88 front hub was failing and didn’t issue a recall until 2 or 3 years later when people started getting hurt. Oh, so very innovative! By the way, the 77/177D hub sets that you claim “have been on the market for years…” haven’t been on the market for an entire calendar year. Sorry Bob, your argument holds no water.

Sure you have faith, blind faith.

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