We’ve overviewed the various PowerTap hub models to choose from but, no PowerTap is complete without being assembled into a wheel. There are many more wheel options than hubs, so let’s take a closer look.
It is often said that there is no better component upgrade than a good pair of wheels. Paired with a PowerTap, we agree there is no better way to improve your cycling performance. But which wheel to choose depends on exactly which part of cycling performance you want to improve. A good set of wheels can help improve climbing, time trialing, triathlon or sprinting. A good set of wheels can also ensure you have miles and miles of uninterrupted training by avoiding mechanical issues, which can be just as important as riding faster.
For part 1 of our overview we’ll provide a brief overview of our tried and true training wheel and then focus on our first authorized wheel partner, Zipp. Future overviews will focus on our other partners, until then you can check them out at the links below:
American Classic: amclassic.com
Bontrager: bontrager.com
Mavic: mavic.com
HED: hedcycling.com
PowerTap SL+ Mavic Open Pro
For everyday training it’s hard to beat a Mavic Open Pro rim laced to a 32-hole PowerTap hub. The Mavic Open Pro has been around for a number of years and is a very popular training wheel among our sponsored athletes. It’s simple, elegant and almost retro. Our Open Pro wheels are built by Quality Bicycle Products in Minneapolis, MN with black DT Swiss double-butted spokes in a “2 cross pattern" on both sides of the hub. “Two cross" refers to the number of times the spokes cross each other as they make their way to the rim and is a good indicator of how stiff and durable the wheel will be. Most training wheels have at least a 2 cross pattern. A PowerTap SL+ built on the Mavic Open Pro rim along with the matching front, can be yours for $1999.99.
This is the only wheel CycleOps Power offers directly to our authorized dealers. All other options are distributed by wheel companies after sourcing the hub from CycleOps Power. This ensures the proper wheel building measures have been taken given the various manufacturers’ specifications.
Zipp Speed Weaponry
Zipp offers one of the widest ranges of wheel options on the market and virtually all are available with PowerTap. Their investment in wind tunnel time is very apparent throughout the line, right down to the dimples. No matter your discipline, they have a wheel that balances perfectly the aero to weight ratio most wheels struggle with.
No other Zipp wheel exemplifies this better than the flagship Zipp 404. If you’re after a wheel that you can race in all conditions, this is the one. The often sighted 58mm rim depth is key to producing this quality, but where Zipp’s wind tunnel time really pays off is in the bulging shape of the rim which creates the lowest aerodynamic drag possible. Going with the tubular version with a PowerTap SL+ will give you a sub 1500 gram wheel set and provide a wheel worthy of long or short course triathlon, road races, criteriums and time trials. The clincher version is also race-ready but better suited for fast training and group rides. While the aluminum braking surface provides the convenience of not having to change brake pads, it does add about 300 grams.
From there you can either go for less weight in something like the 202 or 303 or more aero advantage in the 808 or disc wheels. The 1080 wheel is the only Zipp wheel that is not PowerTap compatible due to the extreme spoke angle created by the rim depth and hub flange combination.
Despite their aero heritage, Zipp makes a nice climbing wheel in the 202. The 202 was recently redesigned for optimized aerodynamics, going from a 24mm rim depth to 32mm while maintaining its incredibly light weight—built up with a PowerTap SL+ the wheel set will come in under 1300 grams . Available only in tubular, this wheel is exclusively for racing. The light weight offers great acceleration for criteriums and road races. New rim technology makes this wheel durable enough for all road conditions and races, as demonstrated by Martin Maaskant in his 4th place finish at Paris-Roubaix in 2008.
On the other end of the spectrum, Zipp offers both the Sub-9 and 900 disc with PowerTap. No other disc wheel you can get is available with PowerTap, and we couldn’t be happier to have partnered with Zipp since the new Sub-9 is without question the fastest disc wheel on the market. The unique shape offers some amazing aerodynamic advantages, including actual lift given certain wind angles. This means the wheel is actually pushing you down the road. The shape achieves this by precisely managing air flow across all aspects of the wheel and optimizing it for the most common road-like conditions. Both Zipp disc wheels utilize Zipp axles and bearings as well that keep the added weight just 100 grams over their non-PowerTap disc wheels.
Zipp wheels with PowerTap can be purchased through any authorized Zipp dealer.