The Slipstream Sports Professional Cycling Team plays an important role in our product development process. We provide them with many of our newest products to find out how they perform at the professional level. The newest product to be proven by the team is the Zipp Disc with PowerTap SL 2.4, which Slipstream will bring to Tour of California for its racing debut.
For this project, CycleOps Power partnered with long-time PowerTap Technology supporters, and the leaders in fast wheels, Zipp Speed Weaponry. Zipp realized early on the benefits of using PowerTap Technology in their wheels. Nowhere is this more evident than in their collaboration on the development of the Zipp Disc with PowerTap SL 2.4. CycleOps’ PowerTap Technology melded with Zipp’s Sub9 Disc wheel that saves an incredible 12 watts at 15 degrees of yaw has yielded the first, and the fastest power-measuring wheel available.
Our long-time PowerTap fans know that this product is long overdue, but it will be well worth the wait. Because of the diverse array of technologies involved with the disc wheel and the PowerTap, combining the two is more difficult than one might imagine.
The first design element that the engineers had to tackle was the PowerTap hub shell. The design of the hub shell was very important because it is the joining point between Zipp’s carbon fiber disc wheel and PowerTap’s core technology, the torque tube. The hub shell had to support a strong bond to each side of the carbon wheel. It also had to accurately position PowerTap’s torque tube.
The next design element that the engineers needed to consider was the torque tube itself. It needed to be compatible with Zipp’s disc wheel as well as house PowerTap’s precise torque measuring strain gauges. In the end, the folks at CycleOps and Zipp developed a brand new torque tube exclusively for the disc wheel. The new wheel will be using Zipp’s proprietary axle, bearings, and freehub body.
The last piece of the project was putting all the elements together. This is an important issue since a disc wheel cannot be trued. It’s paramount that every component is held to the strictest tolerances so that the wheel runs straight and true for miles and miles.
The Zipp Disc with PowerTap SL 2.4 that Slipstream Sports will be using at the Tour of California will carry all the benefits of the regular Zipp Sub 9 plus the power-measuring accuracy and clean wireless transmission that PowerTap is known for. Speed and measured power—the ultimate in performance.
To see more of the Zipp Disc with PowerTap SL 2.4, tune in to the Tour of California or stop by your favorite Zipp or CycleOps Dealer this spring.