Market: The US manufacturer ZIPP has always been a technical spearhead in the development of high-performance road wheels. According to the company, the new ZIPP 454 NSW is another huge step forward - especially in terms of aerodynamics. One of the inspirations for the new carbon clincher was the humpback whale.
Better wheels with the help of bionics - the humpback whale as a role model
In order to be able to improve technically in the area in which high-performance wheels like the ZIPP NSW move, innovative spirit and courage are required. It takes creative minds who dare to think outside the box and outside of the box. That's exactly what the developers of the new ZIPP 454 NSW wheels did - in the in-house development laboratory "The Nest" we tinkered, tested and developed for over four years. The key to the leap in development that the new wheels are supposed to make compared to their predecessors is bionics. Almost everyone has probably heard the term, but what exactly does it mean? The English translation, Biomimicry, already reveals a little more; it is the study and imitation of nature.
Sounds very theoretical at first, but it quickly becomes clear with a simple example: At the end of the 19th century, aviation pioneer Otto Lilienthal observed the flight behavior of large birds and tried to use his findings to develop his own aircraft - as we know, with success . A lot of time has passed since then and bionics is a well-established science. In the search for a way to further improve the aerodynamic properties of bicycle wheels, bionic investigations were systematized and, among other things, the front fins of the humpback whale or the skin surface of a shark were used as models.
But the path from the fin of a humpback whale to a carbon wheel is far, long and arduous. The ZIPP 454 NSW wheels took more than four years to develop. 36 prototypes were built and tested in the wind tunnel for over 250 hours until the final design was finalized.
More than just a wheel? High-tech in a carbon guise
With the ZIPP 454 NSW, the result of this development is not only optically unique wheels that are packed with modern technology. The most striking feature is undoubtedly the rim's SawTooth technology. The rim height varies between 53 and 58mm and the jagged design is reminiscent of a saw blade - hence the name. The indentations in the rim also have their own name: ZIPP speaks of HyperFoil junction points, which are intended to noticeably improve the aerodynamic properties. The HexFin indentations on the side walls of the rim and the ImPress decals, which are inserted directly into the rim, have the same goal.
How does the new rim design work? The greatest benefit of the new SawTooth design is that it is significantly less susceptible to vibration vibration. The irregular rim height interrupts the turbulence that occurs in crosswinds in a regular rhythm and thus takes the fright out of gusts, for example. This not only increases safety, but also saves energy while driving.
Already known from other NSW wheels such as the 404 NSW presented in spring, the Showstopper braking surfaces are made of silicon carbide. These promise constant, weather-independent braking performance that is better than that of conventional braking surfaces. The hubs are also already familiar: in the Cognition hubs, a system with magnets is used instead of classic pawls with springs. This not only offers less resistance, but also has the advantage that it works almost maintenance-free. Specially developed hub bodies also distribute the load of the spokes more evenly over a larger area to prevent twisting in the bearing area. The result is again: Less resistance and greater durability.
Handcrafted in the USA for €4.000
4.000€ are due for the new premium wheelset from ZIPP. A proud price; there is definitely a decent complete bike for that. But if you consider that every single rim is made by hand in Indinapolis and is also married there to the hubs produced in Europe using Sapim CX-Ray spokes, the high price is put into perspective a little. It is also part of this that every wheel is checked again before shipping to ensure that it is perfectly assembled.
The key technical data of the ZIPP 454 NSW
Total weight: 1.525g (690g / 835g)
Tire Type: Clincher
Rim height: 53 & 58 mm
Rim width (internal): 17mm
Wide braking surface: 26.4mm
Spokes: 18 front / 24 rear
Price: € 4.000
Availability: Now (Nov. 2016)
Leave a Comment