Zipp 202s for UK road racing, good choice?

andyedwardsster

I'm thinking about buying a set. Riding at Nat B level road racing within the UK and sometimes over hilly courses. I'll do international sportives too like La Marmotte, etc.

I know they are light, but friends say other wheelsets are more aero. Also, are they durable enough I've heard mixed reports about Zipp'd durability. Would anyone want to ride a set over some of the pothole riddled courses of late?

My current alloy wheels are pretty light - Easton Orion II and I have no complaints but would like to save a bit of weight on the bike if I can (having shed a few kgs myself!).

Thoughts and comments appreciated.

Thanks

chriskempton

Tubular or clincher?

andyedwardsster

I currently have clincher, but happy to switch to tubs (I think 202s only come as tubs).

incog24

Have you considered an Edge build? You could go for the 1.45 which would definitely be more aero than the zipps and the tune/dt aerolite build on racewheelsuk comes in at 1085g.

I can't claim to have ridden them, but they're definitely on my list to try...

chriskempton

They're apparently available in both formats:

http://www.rutlandcycling.com/19905/Zip ... n=pid19905

pprince

andyedwardsster wrote:

I'm thinking about buying a set. Riding at Nat B level road racing within the UK and sometimes over hilly courses. I'll do international sportives too like La Marmotte, etc.

I know they are light, but friends say other wheelsets are more aero. Also, are they durable enough I've heard mixed reports about Zipp'd durability. Would anyone want to ride a set over some of the pothole riddled courses of late?

My current alloy wheels are pretty light - Easton Orion II and I have no complaints but would like to save a bit of weight on the bike if I can (having shed a few kgs myself!).

Thoughts and comments appreciated.

Thanks

I sold a pair of 202 tubs to a customer recently who was very, very particular about his kit, the service, warranty etc. Proper old skool rider. you know, keeps tubs for years to mature, has never ridden clinchers. ex-pro too. He loves them.

excellent wheels but most people buy Zipps for aero deep section wheels

James_London

The 202s are the least compelling of Zipp's line-up and pretty specialist. They are light but not very stiff if that matters to you (ie if you're >75kg and have any sprinting ambitions). For epic alpine climbing the weight and low section in high winds may be a priority but for most road racing 303s or 404s are likely to be a better choice. 202s only come in tubular AFAIK and the clincher 303/404 are heavy and not nearly as robust as the tubulars. You might as well get Cosmic Carbone clinchers and save £700 over 303/404 clinchers. I do ride Hyperon Ultras for a very hilly race I often ride but they're a lot stiffer than 202s.

Pokerface

202s only come in tubular now. Not sure about the past. Pretty sure they have always been tubs. ANy website offering them as clinchers has made an error.

Fraktul

Good enough for Contador in this year's TdF.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/pro ... tarmac-sl3