New Zipp freehub design, "Axial Clutch Technology"

[F45]

Looks interesting. How does it work?

Image credit, Bikerumor



Sound at 1:05 in the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUdC3mrHcc8

[euph]

I watched that video yesterday and thought "what on earth is he talking about. They don't sound amazing. They sound well....silent?"

Either way they look interesting.

[ichobi]

I hope they get it right this time, because i hate to see 'a new improved hub' from them next year (Again). Kind of saying that their previous hub sucks and need improvement annually.

[Kayrehn]

^ +1, it scares me too that every year the hubs are improved. Anyway, I'm surprised that this came out at a time when people still haven't got over the sticker shock of the Firestrike. And for all the fancy things they say about the dimples, Paul Lew denies that they do anything useful at all in aerodynamic terms.

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[FIJIGabe]

Paul Lew runs a competing company, which cannot use dimpled technology without paying Zipp to license the technology. His opinion on a competitor's product has limited merit (not to mention the significant amount of research done on the issue, which has demonstrated that dimples improve aerodynamics).

It doesn't scare me one bit that they're changing their hub design. First of all, it shows they're improving areas where they are dissatisfied or are receiving complaints. At least they're taking our complaints and acting on them (rather than flip us the bird). Second, this isn't an evolution of their current hub designs. These wheels aren't even an evolution of the current design. It's clearly a design program to maximize aerodynamics and improve on other areas (brakes, hubs, etc). Some of this technology may trickle down to the more pedestrian wheels (303's, 404's, etc), while some may stay as a "halo" feature. Think of this as the 7 Series of wheels. Some features will work their way down to the 5 Series and even the 3, while others will stay firmly in the 7 Series family.

[bm0p700f]

It might work in a similar way to DT Swiss freehubs.

[kgt]

I am sure a new, much 'improved' hub, will show up in a couple of years.

[bm0p700f]

why dont they just get dt swiss or Miche to make them a hub.

[Kayrehn]

I am sure a new, much 'improved' hub, will show up in a couple of years.

Nope, I'm sure it happen next year.

[prendrefeu]

Paul Lew runs a competing company, which cannot use dimpled technology without paying Zipp to license the technology.

Just thinking off the top of my head, but I believe the "dimple technology" patent by ZIPP is almost expired... or recently expired.

EDIT: It's almost up.
http://www.google.com/patents/US7114785
14 years + 2003 = 2017

in 2017 SHIT HITS THE FAN FOR DIMPLES EVERYWHERE!!

[F45]

They usually do that with pairs offset to double the number of engagement points and cut in half the dead space when you start to pedal.

[F45]

That is a pretty nice write up.

It looks like the Zipp design is a hybrid of the King and DT, a ratchet system with the teeth at 45 degrees to the rotation. It looks like the little white nubs are the springs, and they are only on one side. I'd like to get my grubby little hands on one. It looks less durable than other designs.

[wheelsONfire]

Paul Lew runs a competing company, which cannot use dimpled technology without paying Zipp to license the technology. His opinion on a competitor's product has limited merit (not to mention the significant amount of research done on the issue, which has demonstrated that dimples improve aerodynamics).

It doesn't scare me one bit that they're changing their hub design. First of all, it shows they're improving areas where they are dissatisfied or are receiving complaints. At least they're taking our complaints and acting on them (rather than flip us the bird). Second, this isn't an evolution of their current hub designs. These wheels aren't even an evolution of the current design. It's clearly a design program to maximize aerodynamics and improve on other areas (brakes, hubs, etc). Some of this technology may trickle down to the more pedestrian wheels (303's, 404's, etc), while some may stay as a "halo" feature. Think of this as the 7 Series of wheels. Some features will work their way down to the 5 Series and even the 3, while others will stay firmly in the 7 Series family.

There are several claims from Paul Lew that these dimples does zero for aerodynamics. Regarding the hubs, i called a dealer and talked of both Enve and Zipp. After a while he told me about 10-15% of the 2015 Zipp wheels sold, developed play. They took wheels back and did what they could, but all these wheels started to develop play again. So they were exchanged.

Routing back to dimples and patent, it's funny because Reynolds have news coming 2017. If it would come a line of wheels with something even close to dimples, i would really be amazed. Talking dimples and dirt, i think these cavities seem very prone to collect dirt. Must be super important to keep them clean or it seems the possible gains, could actually be the opposite!

[mythical]

Sound at 1:05 in the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUdC3mrHcc8

Interesting review. And what sound? I barely heard anything. Anyway, I'm sure that next year we'll see these wheels on plenty of bikes, especially triathlon bikes.

That video also reminds me of when i did a 4 hour low intensity test (63-68% of HRmax) around the same average speed, only on my Giant TCR LTD with Mavic Ksyrium wheels, a bike that wasn't aero at all. I wonder what the difference would've been with today's bike technology.