By our count, there are four big trends in wheel technology that are relevant to cyclocross and gravel cyclists: disc brakes; tubeless; wide rims; and thru axles.
Zipp Speed Weaponry has already embraced disc brakes, with the 303 Firecrest clincher and tubular wheels released in 2013, and the 202 Firecrest clincher wheelset we first saw last June.
As of today, the Indianapolis-based SRAM company embraces thru axles, and has updated the disc brake versions of its 202 Firecrest clincher and 303 Firecrest clincher and tubular carbon wheels with new thru axle hubs that it calls the 77 (front) and 177 (rear).
Bye Bye Bearing Preload
No more preload. Zipp’s new 77 front hub weighs 145g, and is still paired with Sapim CX-Ray spokes for both the 303 and 202 Firecrest wheels. © Cyclocross Magazine
Zipp had already dropped the bearing preload on its 404 Firestrike wheels we previewed last June, and it’s also a trend that Easton has followed with its Echo hubs featured on the EA90 SL wheels.
Now the 77/177 hubset featured on the 202 and 303 Firecrest wheels is also bearing preload free, and the company suggests that bearing life will typically be longer, because it was common for a rider to over-tighten the bearing preload on the previous 88/188 disc hubs.
