Propulsion Is Possible

ALTERNATE VIEWS
Sub-9 Disc Tubular

The Sub-9's highlights so far include Ironman 70.3 World Championships for Andy Potts and Terenzo Bozzone, and a yellow jersey for Fabian Cancellara. We expected nothing less from the ultimate aerodynamic breakthrough.

In the center of the aero "sweet spot" – a wind angle of 12 to 18 degrees – the Zipp Sub-9 was the first wheel ever to produce forward lift, when paired with our 21mm Tangente tire. To achieve this feat, we added a toroidal bulge similar to our 1080 and 808 spoked wheels around the edge of the disc to control airflow at the wheel’s leading and trailing edges. In addition to improving aero performance, the bulge’s vertical compliance keeps the Sub-9 glued to the road when cornering and yields a comfortable ride. This makes it the ideal choice for long-course triathletes to bounce out of T2 with fresh legs after a blistering bike split.

For decades, an obsession with aerodynamics has influenced everything from wheels to water bottles. But with the Sub-9 disc, we moved from minimizing drag to maximizing propulsion.

Warning:
Variation in individual chain stay specifications on these bike models may cause interference issues with the Sub9. This is more of an issue for heavier and stronger riders (>170 lbs), but Zipp strongly recommends you test the compatibility under riding loads and conditions before making a purchase.

  • Cervelo P3, P4
  • Ridley Dean and Noah
  • Scott Plasma
  • Giant Trinity Alliance
  • Argon 18 E-114
Total Weight 998g
with Powertap 1152g
Rear Wheel
Aero Width 28.46mm
Tire Bed Width 18.0mm
Track Adaptable No
Dimpled Surface Yes
Roadcyclinguk.com  August 2008

Zipp makes loads of carbon parts. Wheels, stems, handlebars and cranks, all sharing the company's driving force of absolute performance.
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Triathlon Germany (video)  August 2008

Video review of 1080 and Sub-9
watch the video ...

Testrider.com (video)
Featuring 1080, Sub-9, VukaBull and VukaClip.
 August 2008

Testrider.com rider Matt Benko races against the Pros at ToC. Matt came within 5 minutes of Levi's time in the ITT. From Bed Edwards with Testrider.com: Wanted say to thanks once again for providing the equipment for the TOC TT feature. It has been our most viewed video for March just passing 20,000 views yesterday. It has also been getting a lot attention in the old Blog-o-sphere as well. It shows no signs of slowing down and should be our most viewed video to date by mid April!
watch the video ...

ABLC™  (Aerodynamic Boundary Layer Control)

Advanced Boundary Layer Control (ABLC) refers to the patented and instantly recognizable dimpled pattern found on most of our rims. ABLC smoothes airflow across the rim's surface and is tailored to every model from the 202 to the Sub9 disc. 2009 sees the third-generation of ABLC, with up to 4 times more dimples than before. Read More

VCLC™  (Visco-Elastic Constrained Layer Control)

Visco-Elastic Constrained Layer Control (VCLC) uses a vibration-absorbing material sandwiched between layers of rigid carbon laminate in the rim. When the wheel receives an impact from the road, much of the shock is absorbed by the VCLC system, delivering a 10% reduction in vibration. Read More

Carbon Bridge™

Carbon Bridge uses a Kevlar® thread in a co-axial helix stitch to bind sheets of carbon to each other in our tubular rims. Because Kevlar is 350% more impact resistant than carbon, it can disperse shock more evenly throughout the carbon laminate, making for a rim that is practically bulletproof. In particular, Carbon Bridge reduces the vulnerability of the rim's tire bed, the area most susceptible to damage from impact. Read More

88/188 Hub Technology

Every aspect of our 88 and 188 hubs sets a new benchmark. The standard steel bearings are the roundest in the industry. The 17mm axle is the stiffest of any road hub we've tested. The wire EDM-cut hub internals are the most precise. The SHIFT spoke hole technolgoy is the most durable. When it comes to precision and performance, there's really no comparison. Read More