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).
What’s Missing: Sealant and mm
The new Firecrest 202 and 303 wheels obviously embrace disc brakes and thru axles, but what’s also missing on the clincher models is a tubeless-compatible rim, and a wider internal width that many clincher (and tubeless) riders appreciate. The Firecrest 303 tubular may be the ultimate thru axle wheel for cyclocross racers, but gravel racers may long for more from the clincher models.
On the 202, it’s the same rim 32mm deep, 16.25mm wide 202 Firecrest rim that Zipp just released last year during Press Camp, so we’re not really surprised that the company is committed to the rim (and molds and tooling) for a while longer. The 303 features the same 45mm deep, 17.25mm wide (internal, clincher) non tubeless rim as seen on the previous model as well.
The new Zipp 202 Firecrest Disc wheels keep the same 32mm deep and 16.25mm wide (internal) rim, but move to Zipp’s new 77/177 hubs that accept thru axles and XD drivers. Hubs are lighter, but nipples are now brass so weight stays the same. © Cyclocross Magazine
We’ve been recently racing and riding the 202 Firecrest clincher rim on cyclocross courses, and paired with a high quality tire and latex tube, the ride quality narrows the gap between a typical clincher and tubular ride. And make no mistake, the 303 Firecrest tubular wheelset already remains a proven cyclocross weapon.
However, there’s no denying that many cyclocrossers and gravel racers are embracing tubeless tires to avoid thorns and pinch flats, while others are moving to wider rims for more air volume (and also pinch flat protection). Zipp, in marketing the clincher wheels as ideal for the cyclocross and gravel crowd, misses the two trends that don’t require a specific bike, unlike disc brakes and thru axles. We’d love to see a wide, tubeless-compatible rim option, both in rim and disc brake options.
Zipp hasn’t yet embraced tubeless for any of its road wheels, but says it’s always evaluating and developing new technologies, and cites the lack of standards as one of many factors that has held up a tubeless rim introduction. We expect in the next few years to see more tubeless-compatible, wide carbon rims aimed at both mountain bikes and cyclocross/gravel racers, but tubulars and traditional clinchers work just fine for many, and Zipp’s three new wheelsets are definitely worth a look if you fall in that group or need a dual purpose road disc and cyclocross disc wheelset.
Stay tuned as we test a pair, and also bring you a tour of the Zipp wheel factory. Firecrest 202 and 303 disc brake wheel specs on the next page.
