The likely hood is that you do not currently own a time trial bike with disc brakes, as at present, the only one we can think of is the new Parlee TT bike launched this week.
However, we fully expect that more bikes will be launched over the coming year, and Zipp have prepared for this with the launch of the Super 9 Disc-brake Disc. Owing to complex cable routing and heavy integration, braking on time trial bikes is often poor.
The new Zipp Super 9 Disc Brake Disc uses the centre lock standard and has thru-axel and QR compatability
(Image credit: (c)2014 Joe Vondersaar)
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While many would argue that if you braking in a time trial, you are doing it wrong, there is no debate, that braking performance is crucial on technical courses, especially those with descents. Followers of F1 will testify, if you can brake later, you can go faster for longer.
The disc brake versions of the Super-9 disc, 1175grams for the Carbon Clincher and 995 grams for the Tubular, retain the light weight of their rim-brake counterparts.
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Although Zipp is starting to release some tubeless ready wheels into its range, the clincher version of the Super 9 is not yet tubeless compatible. The shape of the disc is retained from the non disc brake version too, with the same flat profile and dimpled surface.
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Some details and technical specs for the Clincher and Tubular version are as follows:
The retail price for the carbon clincher is set to e £1987 and £1736 for the tubular version, while vailability is planned to be September 2016
Zipp has also launched a new 202 NSW rim to complete the NSW line, along with the existing 303, 404 and 808 NSW wheels. The 202 NSW will only be available in a clincher version though, with Zipp citing that it didn't feel there was enough demand for a tubeless version.
The new Zipp 202 NSW
(Image credit: (c)2014 Joe Vondersaar)
The 202 NSW will retail at £2369, with availability from October. The weight is a claimed 1390g a pair, with the wheels using the same technology and cognition hubset found on other NSW wheels.
The new Zipp 202 NSW rim with show stopper brake track
(Image credit: (c)2014 Joe Vondersaar)
The other big news from Zipp is the launch of disc brake specific 303 Firecrest wheels. The rims are now disc brake specific, with no brake track, which has allowed engineers to make the wheel lighter and with more dipples.
The new Zipp 303 disc brake specific rim.
(Image credit: (c)2014 Joe Vondersaar)
The Firecrest 303 Disc Brake rim is also tubeless ready. The retail price is set to be £2027 a pair, with availability in December.
The Zipp 303 Firecrest Disc Brake
(Image credit: (c)2014 Joe Vondersaar)
In the mean time, for more information on the new products, head over to Zipp.
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Oliver Bridgewood - no, Doctor Oliver Bridgewood - is a PhD Chemist who discovered a love of cycling. He enjoys racing time trials, hill climbs, road races and criteriums. During his time at Cycling Weekly, he worked predominantly within the tech team, also utilising his science background to produce insightful fitness articles, before moving to an entirely video-focused role heading up the Cycling Weekly YouTube channel, where his feature-length documentary 'Project 49' was his crowning glory.
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