Zipp

454 NSW Carbon Disc Brake Wheel - Tubular

Never one to rest on its laurels, Zipp is in a never-ending quest to increase wheel aerodynamics without coming at the expense of crosswind stability. What's often perceived radical and avant-garde in its design infancy often becomes the norm down the road. Take for instance its broader, rounded blunt-nosed rims design a few years ago. A quick look reveals that many brands now have adopted the shape. Its latest design, however, is something entirely different. The Zipp NSW Carbon Disc Brake Wheel features a unique and variable rim design using biomimicry and inspired by that of a humpback whale. It’s unique for sure, but no one logs wind tunnel time like Zipp and it found that the tubercles on the edges of humpback whale fins were beneficial when creating a rim profile that oscillates with its depth, thus it uses a striking shape that Zipp claims increases aerodynamic benefits and boosts the brand's already notable crosswind stability.

The most obvious difference between the 454 and any other wheel is in the rim shape, whose depth varies between 58mm at its deepest point and 53mm at its shallowest in a series of wavy swells Zipp refers to as Hyperfoils. The overall design is known as SawTooth, which takes on a shape not dissimilar to the ABLC SawTooth dimple patterning found on the 404 NSW. These bumps, designated as Hyperfoils, are meant to mimic the nodes or tubercles found on the fins of humpback whales that manage water resistance and contribute to the massive animals' ability to swiftly maneuver despite their size. Compared to standard, consistent depth rims, Zipp claims that wind tunnel testing shows that this SawTooth design significantly reduces both side force and aerodynamic drag, which in combination should translate to more confident handling when riding on exposed roads in variable winds and an easier time pushing the pedals at any given speed compared to even the 404 NSW.

The 454 NSW also marks a departure from Zipp's signature dimpling, upgrading the ABLC design to HexFin ABLC. The HexFin ABLC dimples take inspiration from their round predecessors' claimed ability to better manage the boundary layer of air against the rim, but Zipp tells us that the updated, hexagonal shape enjoys yet more of the stable aerodynamic benefits associated with the now-traditional round dimples. Further departing from the all-over dimpling of Zipp's other wheels, the 454's HexFin dimples are strategically placed in small, fin-shaped clumps above the deepest edge of each Hyperfoil, a collaboration that Zipp finds most efficiently manages airflow.

In combination with the SawTooth rim shaping, all these design changes mean that, in theory, this wheelset is ultimately faster than any other wheelset of similar depth that Zipp has made. If the 404 NSW—having dethroned its 404 Firestrike predecessor—was touted as the pinnacle of Zipp speed and stability, then the 454 appears poised to set yet a new bar for capable versatility. We haven't seen the raw wind tunnel data and we are in no way aerodynamicists, so it's prudent to take some of the above claims with a healthy grain of salt. However, with Zipp's race-bred history, it's a safe bet that these wheels at least match other high-end offerings. Whatever the case, one thing is for sure: The 454 NSW stands alone with an aesthetic that is guaranteed to garner attention at weekend club rides, coffee shop gatherings, and race venues alike.

While we're always excited about wind-taming benefits and improved stability, and if you've followed us for a while, you know that we're completely on board with disc brakes. This version uses Centerlock disc mounts making install and removal a piece of cake. You can enjoy all of this new found speed on tap with the ability to stop confidently with power and modulation in all weather conditions. The original Showstopper netted some pretty impressive stopping across all conditions, but Zipp assures us that the new version is even better—and reviews across the industry appear to agree. The real world application of this increased stopping power is an ability to hold speed longer while approaching a corner and braking later to gain tiny increments of time with each bend or switchback. Additionally, you'll be able to stop reliably when unexpected obstacles such as a darting squirrel, inattentive motorists, or rocky debris on a fast canyon descent impose themselves on your line.

Zipp's Cognition hubset (also first seen on the 404 NSW) makes an appearance in the 454 NSW and is arguably as innovative as the rims. The Cognition is centered on Zipp's Axial Clutch freehub mechanism, which engages by way of two Metal Injection Molding (MIM) rings. One ring is mated to the freehub body and one mated to the hub body, and the two rings are machined like a ratchet, so they ramp off of each other while freewheeling but engage each other during pedal input.

Compared to a standard pawl design, which operates like a drum brake, the Axial Clutch's MIM rings engage laterally to reduce friction while freewheeling, so coasting doesn't negate watts already spent. We're familiar with this model, as we've seen similar mechanisms on the designer hubs featured in top-end custom builds for years now, but Zipp is the first to replace the usual tensioning agent (steel springs) with magnets. This substitution further reduces friction between the ratcheting rings, making for what may be the smoothest freewheel on any mass-produced hub set. It's a design that we suspect will eventually be the norm, but—as with innovations in rim shape—Zipp is leading the charge.

In a wheelset of this caliber, even the tiniest details are attended to. Acknowledging those sticker decals break up the clean surface of the rim and impact both aesthetics and aerodynamics, Zipp uses its ImPress graphics process for clean branding that blends seamlessly into the rim's surface. While the speed impact may be negligible, printing the logo directly on the rim eliminates unnecessary sticker edging and ensures that the dimples are unencumbered by imperfect sticker surfacing for a clean, fully integrated logo that won't peel or crack over time.

Finally, this version of the 454 NSW comes in a tubular format, the choice of the pros. Tubulars are preferred in the peloton as it always comes in lighter than its clincher counterpart. The other benefit is a wheel can be ridden, within reason, on a flat until the team car can provide a replacement and if you have a blowout on a decent, you won't lose all of the air at once like on a clincher or tubeless wheels. Lastly, the ride comfort and cornering are so sweet, it'll bring a tear to your eye.

Each Zipp 454 NSW Carbon Disc Wheel includes Silca valve extenders and various end caps for front and rear compatibility. Please note that Zipp recommends a maximum rider weight of 250lb for this wheelset.