First the cobblestones of Paris-Roubaix, now the rigours of cyclo-cross: Zipp's new and improved 1,209g 303 Cyclo-cross tubular wheelset will be raced by top US racers Katie Compton, Todd Wells and the Cyclocrossworld.com team of Tim Johnson, Jeremy Powers and Jamey Driscoll this season.
The US$2,285 wheelset includes Zipp’s new 88 front and 188 rear hubs with 24 front and 24 rear spokes. The numerical designation of the hubs reflects their weight in grams.
“Cyclo-cross is all about speed, power and precision,” said Johnson, a two-time US national champion and overall winner of the 2008 United States Gran Prix (USGP) of Cyclo-cross series. “Lightweight, strong wheels are a necessity, and Jeremy, Jamey and I think we’ve found the ultimate ‘cross wheel with the Zipp 303.”
The 25.4mm-wide tyre bed protects against tyre damage, and an angled brake track improves brake modulation. Zipp increased the rims' height from 44.1 to 45mm, and widened the rim out from 22.4 to 27.5mm.
“Cyclo-cross is the toughest sport in the world on bikes and the riders," said Compton, a five-time US national champion and two-time world championships medalist, now sponsored by Planet Bike of Madison, Wisconsin. "I need my equipment to handle the extreme conditions of cyclo-cross.”
Compton is also testing the new Zipp Tangente high-performance cork brake pads, designed specifically for carbon rims.
For more information, visit www.zipp.com.
SRAM returns as USGP title sponsor
SRAM, owners of Truvativ, Avid, RockShox and Zipp, are returning for their fourth consecutive year of sponsorship of the US Gran Prix (USGP) of Cyclo-cross.
The USGP is North America's premier cyclo-cross series, featuring eight races at four International Cycling Union (UCI) ranked venues. The USGP begins on the weekend of 27 September in Madison, Wisconsin with the Planet Bike Cup, moves through New Jersey and Kentucky, and concludes with the Stanley Portland Cup, in Portland, Oregon, on 6 December.
Sponsorship of the USGP dates back to 2006, when SRAM first introduced road gruppos. The top-of-the-line SRAM Red is a favourite of 'cross riders; Cyclocrossworld.com team-mates Tim Johnson and Jeremy Powers have worked closely with SRAM engineers to adapt the road groups to the dirt.
"We're thrilled to have SRAM back with the USGP for another exciting year of cyclo-cross action," said USGP series director Joan Hanscom. "Over the years they have been an invaluable supporter and enhance the series in so many ways."
For more information, visit www.usgpcyclocross.com.