For high-level road racers and triathletes on roads and courses that allow for high speed, with less technical requirements, the Zipp 808 NSW carried the 808 standard the last few years. Yet, evolution moves us forward. Zipp is constantly working to improve their entire line of incredible Firecrest and NSW aerodynamic wheels. In summer 2018 Zipp released innovations and improvements to the existing wheel line-up with new clincher-tubeless rims that have more tubeless-appropriate internal and external widths, as well as improving strength and Zipp's tireless pursuit of Aero Balance (the combination of low drag and stability). As the rim profile gets deeper, that is more difficult to achieve, so the 808 NSW takes even more engineering. To get there, the 82mm profile Zipp 808 NSW Carbon Clincher Tubeless Front Wheel features an entirely redesigned rim shape that aerodynamically integrates wider tubeless tires for enhanced ride quality and performance. The 808 NSW now has a wider 19mm internal rim width and corresponding outer rim shape for aerodynamic optimization with 25mm tires and able to be efficient with 28mm as well.

The 808 NSW Carbon Clincher Tubeless Front Wheel is a wheel for competitive cyclists and triathletes, many of whom can now train and race on the same wheels- which develops incredible confidence and familiarity that pays off on race day. Clincher and Tubeless tire options make tire management simpler and more cost effective than tubulars, and with real improvements in race-ready tubeless, the feel questions are down more to preference and subtleties. Despite it's deep profile, the 808 delivers incredible stability and at an 857 gram weight, it is among the lightest in it's category. Complementing the 19mm internal width is a brake track width of 26.4mm, and max width of 28mm, so riding tires from 23-28mm wide means you can maximize the tire/wheel aerodynamic relationship carried through the ABLC Sawtooth™ rim dimple patterning. This advanced NSW dimple design consists of 12 nodes that are precisely clocked to start aerodynamic shearing at a rate of 50hz at a rider speed of 20mph. Sawtooth induces small sheet vortices that shed at a low magnitude, but at a higher natural frequency, thus decreasing the laminar bubble effect on the aerodynamically shielded side of the rim’s profile to further reduce high yaw drag and improve crosswind stability while providing aerodynamic speed.

The hubset is Zipp&s #39; Cognition series and while the real magic happens in the rear hub, the front hub was developed with a unique scalloped edge hubshell design that optimizes the stiffness of the lightweight alloy hub design to preserve the effective bearing bore diameter under load. In order to keep the Swiss steel bearings precisely in line with each other and the oversized alloy axle - for the lowest friction and resistance possible, the scalloped edges and even, high radial spoke tension, ensure the hub shape won't distort. This is type of detail that wins races and establishes record times. Every watt of energy conserved or gained through design saves valuable seconds.

Zipp laces 18 Sapim® CX-Ray lightly bladed, straight pull steel spokes in the radial pattern via Sapim's SecureLock external nipples. With the spokes disappearing into the hub, the overall effect is visually and aerodynamically very clean. Zipp's clincher technology is well proven and has made clincher use for events not only feasible, but common with today's top clincher tires like the Zipp Tangente series. As stated already, race ready tubeless tire options from 23-30mm are widely available and starting to make serious inroads into US domestic cycling and triathlon as the tire option of choice for racing and training. Zipp has engineered their own Tangente Speed RT25 and Tangente Speed RT28 tubeless tires to deliver the lowest rolling resistance, best dry and best overall cornering grip among major brands.

Rim braking with carbon wheels is a huge consideration for all cyclists, and Zipp's outstanding Showstopper™ brake track offers unparalleled braking and heat management through pairing of a directional, molded-in, texture with silicon carbide particles suspended in the surface resin in a molded groove pattern. That pattern has been matched with the surface and cooling channels of the included Tangente Platinum Pro Evo brake pads for incredible stopping power in dry or soaking wet conditions, in any terrain. The leading edge of the pad and first two channels efficiently wipe water and debris outward, cleaning the 317 grooves and drying the exterior braking surface, while the second two channels direct maximum interference as the grooves create greater braking force without heat build-up. With a deep section wheel like the 808 NSW, fine braking control and accessible braking power can be crucial to event performance. They don't call it Showstopper for nothing.

Just to raise the bar a little higher, Zipp uses ImPress™ technology to apply graphics directly to the rim surface, giving the wheels an even stealthier appearance without mitigating the aerodynamics of the dimple structures. The NSW design has been featured on many race winning road and triathlon bikes. Now the 808 NSW Carbon Clincher Tubeless Front Wheel allows for higher tire volumes in both clincher and tubeless options, you get more durability and can smooth out the ride with lower pressures while maintaining speed, efficiency and stability, all of which deliver performance that dominates triathlons worldwide and is the choice of rouleurs for the hard, long rolling races as well the perfect front wheel for TT specialists complementing a rear disc. Aero, fast, stable. Zipp.