Zipp

60 Carbon Road Wheel - Clincher

Carbon wheels are infamous for costing an arm and two legs, but it turns out you don't actually have to take out a second mortgage and auction off your firstborn to get a race-ready carbon wheel. Zipp's 60 Carbon Road Wheel is fast, sure, but Zipp also built it with an emphasis on durability, so you don't have to freak out if you hit a pothole or frost heave.

Zipp engineered the carbon structure of the 60 with the help of a manufacturer who engineers carbon-fiber resins for Formula One race cars. It manages heat more effectively than standard carbon, which actually improves air-pressure retention and helps prevent blowouts. By fusing an aluminum band to the carbon structure, Zipp provided a reliable braking surface with none of the sketchiness of carbon, and actually made the wheel damper, too, so you're not tortured by road vibrations. The rim is relatively wide, too, and 23.5mm, which reduces air resistance while increasing traction.

Zipp changed up the hub, too, in keeping with the 60's emphasis on durability. By building the hub from 7075 aluminum, Zipp made sure it'll keep ticking long after you first ride it, while the silky-smooth stainless steel bearings keep things spinning smoothly even after years of hard use. Sapim constructed the CX-Ray stainless steel spokes with two eyes on durability, but also made sure that they're light enough for racing and comfortable enough to ride every day.