| Features | ABLC™ (Aerodynamic Boundary Layer Control)
Advanced Boundary Layer Control (ABLC) refers to the patented and instantly recognizable dimpled pattern found on most of our rims. ABLC smoothes airflow across the rim's surface and is tailored to every model from the 202 to the Sub9 disc. 2009 sees the third-generation of ABLC, with up to 4 times more dimples than before.
Carbon Bridge™
Carbon Bridge uses a Kevlar® thread in a co-axial helix stitch to bind sheets of carbon to each other in our tubular rims. Because Kevlar is 350% more impact resistant than carbon, it can disperse shock more evenly throughout the carbon laminate, making for a rim that is practically bulletproof. In particular, Carbon Bridge reduces the vulnerability of the rim's tire bed, the area most susceptible to damage from impact.
88/188 Hub Technology
Every aspect of our 88 and 188 hubs sets a new benchmark. The standard steel bearings are the roundest in the industry. The 17mm axle is the stiffest of any road hub we've tested. The wire EDM-cut hub internals are the most precise. The SHIFT spoke hole technolgoy is the most durable. When it comes to precision and performance, there's really no comparison.
Steel Bearings
One thing that has set the Zipp hub apart since the beginning has been the bearing design. Zipp is the only company in the world specifying Swiss made ball bearing cartridges, but these are not even standard Swiss made cartridges, they are highly specialized. Since most stock bearings of the size used in bicycle hubs come from the machine industry, they are invariably designed for higher rotational speeds and generally lower loading, and usually no shock loading. Working with a family-owned Swiss bearing manufacturer, Zipp is able to define certain key criteria to bearing smoothness and long life, and develop the finest cartridge bearing every introduced into the cycling industry.
To start with, standard bicycle bearings are usually toleranced at 50 millionths of an inch. This is done by blowing them up a graduated tube with air, and guarantees that all balls are within 50 millionths of an inch of each other in diameter, and any individual ball is round within that same 50 millionths of an inch spread. High precision balls utilized in most company’s high end products up this spec to 25 millionths of an inch to ensure better roundness of the balls, and ensure smoother rolling. Zipp ball bearings are specified to 10 millionths of an inch tolerance, guaranteeing that they are at least 2.5 times rounder and better matched than most company’s ‘high precision’ balls, and more than 5 times tighter than most ‘precision’ balls. The measurement reports below show two ‘round’ items, the first measuring 10 millionths round, the second 20 millionths round.
Wire EDM
Electron Discharge Machining allows us to cut the materials for our rear hub drive internals after they’ve been hardened through heat treating, negating the warping and imprecision caused by the heat treating process.
Notes:
• Valve stem must be at least 45 mm. Please use a 27 mm valve extender with all Tangente tires.
• Integrated aero rear brakes in some frames may present clearance issues; please check fit with brake before purchasing. |
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