SL7 Wheels

[LedZeppelin007]

I’ve had some QC issues with the Enves and am able to exchange them for store credit. Any sense in considering the Zipp 353 or 454?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[yingyu]

I’ve had some QC issues with the Enves and am able to exchange them for store credit. Any sense in considering the Zipp 353 or 454?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

353s are climbing wheels in mid-depth disguise. They are less aero than other ~45mm wheels but, according to Zipp's marketing, the vibration damping might save watts back depending on the speed. I do find them very comfortable. Anecdotes say they are plusher than some other 25mm-internal wheels, but I don't have Enve 3.4 or 4.5 to compare. The comfort plus nimble yet stable handling make them ideal for blasting alpine descents. Their printed decals don't peel. My set initially had weird clicking noise when ratchet engaged, but LBS was able to silence it with more lubes.

I also have a set of 454 but I end up using 353 on my SL7 most of the time. I don't race and live in a hilly and occasionally windy area. And I'm too light and weak (62kg, 250W FTP) to take advantage of additional aero gains.

One issue of 454 is that while they are aero-optimized for 25c tires, there are relatively few brands endorsing their 25c tires on 23mm rims. I run the illegal Conti 25c combo without issues, but for your weight the optimal pressure for 25c would likely hit the hookless limit.

[LedZeppelin007]

I’ve had some QC issues with the Enves and am able to exchange them for store credit. Any sense in considering the Zipp 353 or 454?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

353s are climbing wheels in mid-depth disguise. They are less aero than other ~45mm wheels but, according to Zipp's marketing, the vibration damping might save watts back depending on the speed. I do find them very comfortable. Anecdotes say they are plusher than some other 25mm-internal wheels, but I don't have Enve 3.4 or 4.5 to compare. The comfort plus nimble yet stable handling make them ideal for blasting alpine descents. Their printed decals don't peel. My set initially had weird clicking noise when ratchet engaged, but LBS was able to silence it with more lubes.

I also have a set of 454 but I end up using 353 on my SL7 most of the time. I don't race and live in a hilly and occasionally windy area. And I'm too light and weak (62kg, 250W FTP) to take advantage of additional aero gains.

One issue of 454 is that while they are aero-optimized for 25c tires, there are relatively few brands endorsing their 25c tires on 23mm rims. I run the illegal Conti 25c combo without issues, but for your weight the optimal pressure for 25c would likely hit the hookless limit.

Interesting. Would you say the 353s are worth the extra dough over the 303 FCs?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[NiFTY]

You are a big unit at 95kg. Get deeper rims. Wheelweight is not going to affect your climbing speed and you should easily be able to manage deep wheels. I just spectated the tour and watched wout at sub 80kg crush mountain stages with 50mm rims.

[mashiehood]

im 62kg and ride an SL7 with the new Enve 4.5's. Very happy with them and no real issues with crosswinds

[JayOJonson]

Out of your list I'd go with the 4.5's, I'm 95kg and run 5.6's almost every ride.

[yingyu]

Interesting. Would you say the 353s are worth the extra dough over the 303 FCs?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

For me and my S-Works Tarmac SL7, yes. It's very hard to say a $4k wheeset "worth it" but I think the addtional 2k for 303 -> 353 would give better ride feel (handling, comfort) than Specialized -> S-Works frame. The rim's look, while polarizing, tends to get praises

According to https://www.slowtwitch.com/articles/ima ... _aero1.jpg (forget the suboptimal 454 + 27c combo), you can expect 1.6W more aero drag at 32kph switching from Enve 4.5 to Zipp 353. For my joy rides, I'd take comfort, stability, and lower weight. But the aero drag might be an issue in race breakaway and sprint finishes. My friend who race a lot also find the lower pressure underwhelming for out-of-sabble efforts.

[tonytourist]

Any sense in considering the Zipp 353 or 454?

I've got some 454s coming sometime this week, hoping to see how they compare to my (old) 4.5s.

[LedZeppelin007]

Well, I’m getting ready to have a $3k credit at Competitive Cyclist. So, trying to figure out how to spend it. Not sure whether it should go toward wheels (I actually really like the Rapide CLs that came with the bike and think I can run 28s at 75psi and latex tubes without risking a pinch flat) or something else. I was thinking about doing some local crits, but really don’t want to ride my $9k bike and risk trashing it, so was thinking about picking up one of the cheaper bikes on the CC site (like the Pinarello Gan or Cervelo Caledonia). Just don’t think most of the wheels in the $2-3k range are significantly better than the Rapide CLs.

What do you guys think? New wheels or crit machine? Unfortunately, stuck with whatever CC has in stock.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[yingyu]

Aluminum frame and deep carbon wheels with good crash replacement e.g. Zipp 404 might make more sense if equipment damage in crits is a big concern. I just had the chance to activate my 454's warranty after hitting a pothole. Somehow it still held air.

[LedZeppelin007]

Aluminum frame and deep carbon wheels with good crash replacement e.g. Zipp 404 might make more sense if equipment damage in crits is a big concern. I just had the chance to activate my 454's warranty after hitting a pothole. Somehow it still held air.

There’s been a lot of crap talked about 353 and 454 aero performance. Did you find the 454s to be fast?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[yingyu]

454 is only fast with 25c front but not every brand approves their 25c on 23mm rim. With your weight it'd be quite close to hookless limit. I usually run ~4psi lower than Zipp calculator recommendations. It'd be advisable to get a digital pressure gauge to nail the optimal pressure. I can feel the difference of +-3psi. IIRC 454 with 53-58mm rim depth ranks in the middle of pack among other 60-62mm wheels in tour aero test. But it's just 1-2 W of difference at 40 or 45kph. I personally don't find it slow and you are unlikely to tell apart the straight line speed from Roval. Low rim weight does help acceleration and climbing though.

[tonytourist]

454 NSWs on my SL7




Only a short 30 mile ride on them so far but they felt pretty good.

[LedZeppelin007]

454 NSWs on my SL7




Only a short 30 mile ride on them so far but they felt pretty good.

::drool::


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Stueys]

454 NSWs on my SL7

Only a short 30 mile ride on them so far but they felt pretty good.

I run the Rapides on mine (love them) but gotta say those Zipps look lovely