We only had about a full day at the show, so the only wheel people we got to spend time with were Josh Poertner of Zipp and Paul Lew of Reynolds.

Zipp has segmented the disk market into three in its typically uncompromising manner. The 900 is the basic model, the Sub9 the long distance comfort model, and the new wider Super 9 the super stiff rocket. The Super 9 features a new tire bed shaped to match the scanned profiles of Vittoria tubulars perfectly. Mismatched profiles create gaps that need to be filled in with glue, and extra glue squirms and increases rolling resistance.

Also new are the 101 clinchers, with a fully toroidal aluminum rim and a curved brake track like the Zipp’s carbon rims. The wheelset comes in just under 1500 grams and will retail for $1300. The toroidal profile means aerodynamics will be pretty good despite the low profile, and the wider rim should give the wide contact patch ride that Hed Ardennes users rave about. (Judging by Zipp’s chart, I’d put these wheels at about 24-25 watts on this chart, a very respectable placing considering how deep the other wheels in that range are.)

Zipp also had a set of their return-to-center shifters on hand. The shifters are a SRAM concept, but with Zipp aerodynamics. A version to accomodate Shimano cable pull will be available.

Paul Lew joined forces with Reynolds and brought his Pro VT-1 wheel concept with him. Rebranded the RZR, the wheels are now slightly heavier and stronger at 900 grams for the set, and less expensive at $6000. Like Mavic R-Sys wheels, the carbon spokes are under no compression or tension while at rest, but unlike the tubular R-Sys spokes, the RZR spokes’ flat aero profile allows it to flex under the rider’s weight without shattering. The rear wheel has drive spokes mounted on a centered flange so that drive torque doesn’t pull the rim to the side. Unlike Lightweights, these carbon spokes can be replaced – Lew claims a one day turnaround.

Lew also brought his bead-seat clincher concept across, where the tire is held on the rim by a bed underneath the bead rather than a hook above. An extra deep center channel allows for quick tool free tire changes. With an extra wide profile and a hollow space between the inner and outer walls, this clincher can withstand the high heat of braking without failing like other carbon clinchers. According to Lew, you can run 160 psi or more on this rim with no problems.

The V-shaped rim is substantially wider than the tire. The wider rim is supposed to work like the toroidal bulge to keep airflow attached. Working backwards from the tire, Lew found that the optimal rim depth was 92.2mm, so that’s what these rims measure.

Now for the bad news, at least from a roadie perspective. These rims will be built up like the RZR (but with even wider carbon spokes), which will make them cost more than 6k. Also, this wheel is intended for triathletes: it’s a deep aero wheel that can handle high tire pressure and allows for quit changing of flats. Should this concept withstand the test of time, it would be nice to see it trickle down to more affordable models. An aero carbon clincher can be as fast as anything around, and if you flat on your way to the race you can fix the flat and still race without fear of rolling a tubular.