The 404 Carbon Clincher has been out for a little while now, but the 303 offers a lighter aero solution to those counting grams or to lighter riders that get blown around by deeper wheels.
Firecrest is here to stay, and the shape has a lot to offer. Improved aerodynamics are always welcome, but after riding the 404 Firecrest for over a year I can say the handling has stepped up to a new level. Where the previous 404 was affected by crosswinds even with someone my size on them, the new Firecrest shape was unaffected by wind.
Another welcome change in my eyes is the addition of black spokes and hubs. While the silver has always been a classic look, black hubs and spoke scream stealth which is a look that's very popular these days.
The new black decals in my opinion were a nice change to something a bit more subtle. The previous white and silver logos were a little louder than I prefer.
The front hub goes unchanged other than color, but the rear hub has a couple of changes to increase stiffness and prevent contamination.
Get used to the Firecrest shape, it's here to stay! Wide rims provide added stiffness, a wider tire contact patch for reduced rolling resistance and improved handling, better aerodynamics, and better crosswind performance.
Follow the blog for some follow-up information after we get some miles on this new wheelset! And if you're interested, you're looking at $2700 for the set. Iron Cycles will set you up with some sweet tires (we're using the new Vittoria EVO SC on these) and a cassette to complete the package!
No comments:
Post a Comment