The difference between wind tunnel development and testing in a wind tunnel is subtle and significant. Zipp's recent wind tunnel visit resulted in some very significant findings, but the real advances come from using the wind tunnel for product design and development rather than testing products already in production. Using advanced rapid prototyping technologies, Zipp was able to test innovative ideas and designs against existing products and assess their performance relative to past work and competitive products.
Read more in these articles by Jay Prasuhn from Road Magazine Issue 32, page 42 and Triathlete #278 - June 2007, page 192
Zipp Wheels going the distance, going for speed - Road Magazine .pdf
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Revolutionary Speed: Zipp's Wind-Tunnel test -Triathlete Magazine .pdf
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Listen to Josh Poertner talk about Zipp's aerodynamicsZippCast28 explains why investing in aero-wheels can make a major difference to your performance, looks at the relative contribution of front vs. rear wheels and the importance of proper bike fit for comfort and power.
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ZippCast29 examines the relative importance of bearings, the power savings, the costs and answers the question what you really get when you invest in ceramics, where those bearings should best be located ( wheels, BB or derailleur pulley) and sets forth the advantages and power savings of true aero-wheels.
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ZippCast30 explores the role of aero-bars, gives the rationale for Zipp's Vuka bar line and looks at the trade-offs between fit, power and drag. Listen to Josh Poertner take the mystery out aerodynamics when looking at the bike system as a hositic unit.
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ZippCast31 explicates the rationale behind dimples on discs, rims, hubs and tires. It's all about surface roughness, boundary layers, laminar flow, stalling angles, yaw and air movement. Dimples on hubs deliver 1-3 watts and dimples Zipp's rim shapes help extend the yaw angle (from 11 to 15 degrees) at which riders still gain aero advantage.
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ZippCast32 - optimizing tire and rims in the wind tunnel makes for faster wheels. Understand why it is important to match tire and rim width for optimum aerodynamics, lower rolling resistance and improved road holding.