should i use an 808 front?

On windy days you're better off with a 404 front and riding the disc in the back than you are switching out the disc to a 404... the front wheel is the one that will push you around, not the back.

If you're lacking funds. why are you looking at Zipps? You can get most of the benefits with some of the more affordable brands out there... 

My suggestion is get a 50-60 mm wheelset, Flash Point 60, Bontrager 5.0, HED Jet 60, Mavic Cosmic Carbone SL, and get a wheel cover for the rear wheel for about $100. You'll have the best of all possible worlds and save quite a bit compared to zipp wheels.

Edited by DanielG 2009-09-14 6:28 AM

808s and a wheel cover for the rear.

Get an 808 front, disc cover rear and another training wheel for the front.  Racing is ALWAYS the 808/disc combo.  For training, you can use the training wheel front and remove the cover from the rear (which could also be a training wheel).  This is, in fact, exactly what I do except that I rarely ever use the 808 in training.

What he said ^^^^^.

IF you're worried about wind, 404 back and 808 front is NOT the way to go...reverse that - 808 back and 404 front

Ok so is the best "compromise" front something like a FP60 or Jet60 so that you don't have the "push" on windy days but still have the "deep" dish on windless days??

Even the accountants at Zipp probably know more about the products than all of us put together.

But I'll offer my opinion, anyway.

If you are getting three wheels, get front and back 808's for 'windy days', and a rear disc for the back when conditions are conducive.

Problem solved

Edited by pga_mike 2009-09-21 5:48 AM

I have Zipp 808 wheelset front and back and just invested in the 900 disc for the rear.  I paid roughly $4k for the three wheels. They are great, but budget was not a primary concern.  Zipp owns HED or vice versa.  Anyhow, if on a budget may want to look at HEDs.

When I choose the setup for a race, it has little to do with wind and more to do with hills.  The 808 on the rear will help with acceleration - lots of hills means you loose momentum and this is where the disc hurts.  Both the 808s and the disc you will learn how to sail the wheels to give you extra propulsion. 

The best is a 10mph constant wind - does nto matter if headwind or tail wind, as you can sail in either.  The worst is +25mph side gusts.  In this situation both the 808 and the discs are tough - I fidn the disc to be worse here.

BTW - I would not train on these, as they are way to expensive.  I use stock easton rims.  Zipp does have a program where if you ruin the wheel you only cost to replace.

Edited by jdorsh 2009-09-21 5:55 AM