I received the latest ZIPP 404 and 808 wheels from a customer for service.
Looking at the rear wheel of the 808, with that rim depth, I'd say 20 spokes would be fine—actually, I think 20H would be better, but it's laced with 24H instead.
Both sides use 2-cross lacing, which is equivalent to a 4-spoke pattern, but unless you want the non-drive side to be 3-cross,
24H seems like excessive spoke count to me.
On the flip side, Shimano's C24 and C35 rear wheels would probably gain
more rigidity benefits by going from 20H to 24H than the weight penalty costs,
but thanks to that, when customers switch from Shimano wheels,
they're amazed at the stiffness of hand-built wheels like those from Nomo Labo.
As for me, I'd like to stick to the path we've been on—rear wheels with matching spoke counts of 20H on both sides or Optibral 21H.
There was some lateral runout on the front wheel, but it was within the amount that ZIPP's quality control would allow.
I guess it's become just an ordinary hub... At least there's no obvious design flaw, which is something.
It's fine that they ditched the spoke-tension-retention hub flange ring,
but I'm a bit disappointed they moved away from the streamlined end cap design with aerodynamics in mind.
Looking at the rear wheel of the 808, with that rim depth, I'd say 20 spokes would be fine—actually, I think 20H would be better, but it's laced with 24H instead.
Both sides use 2-cross lacing, which is equivalent to a 4-spoke pattern, but unless you want the non-drive side to be 3-cross,
24H seems like excessive spoke count to me.
On the flip side, Shimano's C24 and C35 rear wheels would probably gain
more rigidity benefits by going from 20H to 24H than the weight penalty costs,
but thanks to that, when customers switch from Shimano wheels,
they're amazed at the stiffness of hand-built wheels like those from Nomo Labo.
As for me, I'd like to stick to the path we've been on—rear wheels with matching spoke counts of 20H on both sides or Optibral 21H.
There was some lateral runout on the front wheel, but it was within the amount that ZIPP's quality control would allow.
I guess it's become just an ordinary hub... At least there's no obvious design flaw, which is something.
It's fine that they ditched the spoke-tension-retention hub flange ring,
but I'm a bit disappointed they moved away from the streamlined end cap design with aerodynamics in mind.