No Zipp for Leopard team?

[MMMMMMMMM]

Honestly I was a bit surprised to learn that team leopard won't be using Zipp products this year and instead they opted for Bontrager. I never used bontrager rims but have used Zipps mainly 404 and 202, and their quiet impressive. you think bontrager can provide the same performance? is it all a marketing gimmick (i.e are all top of the line products similar)? Plus it will be hard seeing cancellara not riding on Zipps What do you guys think?

 

[ultimobici]

Honestly I was a bit surprised to learn that team leopard won't be using Zipp products this year and instead they opted for Bontrager. I never used bontrager rims but have used Zipps mainly 404 and 202, and their quiet impressive. you think bontrager can provide the same performance? is it all a marketing gimmick (i.e are all top of the line products similar)? Plus it will be hard seeing cancellara not riding on Zipps What do you guys think?

Zipp are owned by Sram so are not a good fit with Shimano politically. Plus Bontrager is Trek's in-house parts brand.

 

[Martin318is]

And yet, what was the groupset and frame combination at RadioShack last year?

 

[ultimobici]

And yet, what was the groupset and frame combination at RadioShack last year?

RS were and still are on SRAM. Team LeOpard are on Di2 so AS can't stuff up his shifting!

 

[therealtimshady]

the new kit is awful

 

[Finbouy]

I've some Bonti carbon rims, 35's, been excellent and far far better than the lightweights I had last year (which kept going out of true)

 

[ultimobici]

I've some Bonti carbon rims, 35's, been excellent and far far better than the lightweights I had last year (which kept going out of true)

So how did you true them?

 

[la.margna]

As a ZIPP fanatic, it is very hard for me to see Cancellara not riding ZIPP's anymore. But let's hope, Bontrager are as fast as well, although I have certain reservations, but probably I am biased or influenced by marketing

ZIPP 303!

 

[simo1733]

As a ZIPP fanatic, it is very hard for me to see Cancellara not riding ZIPP's anymore. But let's hope, Bontrager are as fast as well, although I have certain reservations, but probably I am biased or influenced by marketing

ZIPP 303!

Disco/USPS riders often use different wheels badged as Bontragers.Hed H3/Lightweight disc is a favoured combo for some of their TT riders.

 

[Michele]

As already mentioned, Bontrager is part of Trek and almost every team sponsored by Trek has been using Bontrager components and/or wheels so it doesnt make sense.

Bontrager wheels used to have Hed rims (which are known for being very solid and pros like this) and Dt Swiss hubs (which are one of the most famous brands for smoothness); right now they dont sell to pubblic wheels with Dt Swiss but it wouldnt suprise me if they set up the ones for the team with them.

 

[luckyboy]

Didn't USP used to ride Zipps stickered-up as Bontrager? That sorta thing still goes on I assume..

 

[KuotaRocket]

RS used Lightweight Discs with a Bontrager sticker last year for TT's...
Bontrager has been involved with Rolf and HED for years. Rolf is gone, but Steve Hed is still working with Trek/Bontrager. I love my ZIPPs but really, if they were that good, we would see more of a difference in results among the pro's. Spartacus will be fine. Trek has serious $$$$ like Specialized to invest in R&D. Just ask Chris Lieto...

 

[Michele]

Didn't USP used to ride Zipps stickered-up as Bontrager? That sorta thing still goes on I assume..

Any picture?

 

[Bustedknuckle]

Honestly I was a bit surprised to learn that team leopard won't be using Zipp products this year and instead they opted for Bontrager. I never used bontrager rims but have used Zipps mainly 404 and 202, and their quiet impressive. you think bontrager can provide the same performance? is it all a marketing gimmick (i.e are all top of the line products similar)? Plus it will be hard seeing cancellara not riding on Zipps What do you guys think?

Provide the same performance? Are you kidding? Truck full of spares, legion of mechanics, any wheel will provide the proper 'performance'.

BTW-Spam and sram related products are not going to be seen around anybody with a last name of Schlek..Trek branded stuff nothwithstanding.

 

[hfer07]

i've some bonti carbon rims, 35's, been excellent and far far better than the lightweights i had last year (which kept going out of true)

???????????????

Bonti wheels are "so good" that even LA & Contador got a dispute about the advantage of having them available for the TT's in 09........

lol

 

[will10]

I'm more interested in seeing Cancellara on the Trek TT bike vs. Martin on the Shiv.

 

[**Uru**]

Easy fix. Buy unbadged wheels from Zipp and put Bontrager stickers on them. Problem solved.

 

[roadbiker]

Any picture?

At least for disk wheels it was true back in 2005 or 2006. I can remember some pictures from a TT at La Vuelta.

 

[El Oso]

Any picture?

http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/photos/2005/tour05/tech/?id=lance_tour_tt_bike/cntdf05-lancettx2

Note the dimples on the edge. I've seen one of a Bontrager disc with "ZIPP" clearly in view, but can't seem to find it right now.

 

[El Oso]

The Bontrager dsic wheels for Astana in '08 were made by Lightweight, which of course were also the wheels at issue in the '09 "wheelgate"

http://velonews.competitor.com/2008/02/bikes-tech/tech-report-a-detailed-look-at-astanas-discs_71794

 

[Michele]

Thanks, I knew about the disk but never heard or seen about road wheels.

 

[El Oso]

Looks like they will be using actual Bontragers, not relabeled ZIPPS:

http://velonews.competitor.com/2011...rd-trek-and-team-radioshack-on-the-way_155044

 

[brianf7]

Bontrager and Treck are all in same bag the wheels look good from what I saw on McEwans Bike in fact McEwans bike is looking good all around.
Treck want the cut in the market again.

 

[veganrob]

It really makes no difference what the pro's ride. Get Hed and Zipp side by side, and who's claims are you going to believe? The same riders finish the same position no matter what bike they are riding, wheels using, gruppo, etc (except for Andy, even he can't f*** up a shift on Di2). Occasionally see rebranded product per a riders preference, Lance, but otherwise no.

 

[antares1]

if its Spartacus' time of the month he could be riding on rebadged R550 's for all it matters!
ZIPP are the zen masters of product placement.