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Zipp 404 NSW Carbon Clincher wheels offer improved stability, aerodynamics

At the Elite women's competition of the UCI team time trial world championships, Zipp wheels played a critical supporting role—as good components do.

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At the Elite women’s competition of the UCI team time trial world championships, Zipp wheels played a critical supporting role—as good components do.

During that event, competing riders rolled out with the brand’s 808 NSW wheels propelling them through the course. Building on that precedent, Zipp has now developed the next in the NSW series of components, the Zipp 404 NSW Carbon Clincher. The product of an exhaustively-engineered development process, the wheelset includes improved braking performance, crosswind stability and aerodynamic efficiency.

Like the 808 NSW, Zipp’s new offering also features the brand’s Cognition hubset with its Axial Crutch technology, allowing for increased durability and minimal drag.

Versatility, above all, is the foundation of the 404 NSW, which is designed to offer efficiency on climbs, power on flat stretches, and a balance between the strength to absorb the impact of a Springs Classics course and the speed and tight handling to take those corner sprints with confidence. Much of that is thanks to its advanced aerodynamic design, providing a rider with a remarkable degree of stability—especially considering the 404 NSW’s rim depth of 58 mm. The sideways force of crosswinds is reduced by up to 34%, making the 404 NSW a swift, sturdy connection between rider and road.

Similarly, that stability is a plus when it comes to keeping things steady on high speed descents, reducing stopping distances even in inclement weather or after long, speedy descents. Another feature that aids in stopping is the wheelset’s Showstopper brake track, made from silicon carbide. Even in slick, rainy conditions, these brake tracks slash the distance needed for safe stopping.

The wheelset's Sawtooth dimple design consists of precisely-measured nodes to start aerodynamic shearing at a rate of 50 hz while a rider is moving at 20 miles per hour.
The wheelset’s Sawtooth dimple design consists of precisely-measured nodes to start aerodynamic shearing at a rate of 50 hz while a rider is moving at 20 miles per hour.

One of the more fascinating parts of the design, supporting the wheelset’s aerodynamic function, is the 404 NSW’s new Sawtooth dimple design, consisting of precisely-measured nodes to start aerodynamic shearing at a rate of 50 hz while a rider is moving at 20 miles per hour. A product of the brand’s in-depth wind tunnel development, the Sawtooth technology creates small aerodynamic sheet vortices to reduce high yaw drag and improve crosswind stability. In short, if you’re confronted by a stiff crosswind when the weather gets nasty, put simply, it won’t result in a higher output of wattage just to keep moving in a straight line.

Features of the Zipp 404 NSW Carbon Clincher include:

  • 1555g wheelset total weight
  • 705g front weight
  • 850g rear weight
  • 58mm wheel depth
  • 27.8mm max width
  • 26.44mm brake track width
  • 18 front spoke count
  • 24 rear spoke count
  • Sapim® secure-lock nipples
  • Sapim® CX-Ray® spokes
  • Cognition hubset
  • ImPress graphics

Individually, the wheels include:

  • Zipp Tangente titanium black sewer
  • Zipp valve extender by Silca
  • Zipp individual wheel bag
  • Zipp Tangente Platinum Pro Evo brake pads
  • Zipp Tangente tube 700x x 20-28mm
  • Zipp rim tape 700c x 20mm