How A Zipp Carbon Fiber Wheel Is Made - Inside The Zipp Factory
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- Äas pĆidĂĄn 22. 07. 2024
- Simon tours the Zipp factory in Indianapolis to find out how a Zipp carbon fiber wheel is made.
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Ever wondered how carbon fiber wheels are made? Wonder no more and tour the factory with wheel building apprentice and fully qualified letter opener Simon Richardson.
Every Zipp wheel is made by hand in the Zipp factory in Indianapolis and it takes months of training to learn how to complete each stage.
After the wheels are made, they also need to be tested - we were very lucky to get a close-up tour of these facilities too. While we were there we saw the difference between false and genuine wheels.
Let us know your thoughts down in the comments and don't forget to LIKE and SHARE this video!
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Leave us a comment below! - Sport
I`d like to see more of how things are built please.
Loved this.
You may have seen it. I liked the Look tour. These use 306 pieces on a carbon frame.
Maybe manufacturers generally don't wont you to know. The fact that Zipp in Indianapolis, US, has so many asian workers makes me want to know what salaries they pay the operators who make wheels that cost 1 500 USD per set and upwards (in Sweden)
I bet SI comes home with a new set of 454 NSW wheels!
They probably binned everything Si touched.
This was awesome! I used to work with carbon fiber and fiberglass on military aircraft and its so cool to see this. Thank you GCN for all your content.
Wow, they actually test counterfeit ZIPP's also. That company is amazing.
I doubt it. Why would they? There is nothing to gain by testing anyone else's components. Those two wheels had probably been around for a long long time and they show them to us to make you believe they test Chinese wheels. How stupid do they think we are? I've owned Chinese carbon wheels and I know others still using them with no problems. As long as Zipp prices their wheels so that it breaks the bank there will always be a market for Chinese wheels. By the way, do you or anyone know anybody who has died from a failure on a Chinese wheel?
Did you watch it? One of the Zip counterfeit wheels in question had a spelling mistake on it. I doubt that Zip would have built a sub-par wheel with a deliberate spelling mistake just for our viewing pleasure.
Fran Rod What is overpriced, the real thing or the knockoff?
Those were clearly counterfeit wheels. You can tell by the Novatec hubs and the lack of correct Firecrest markings.
It's also funny how every time someone brings up counterfeit someone chimes in with "well they work for me!". We know nothing about your riding style, where you live, how much you weigh, where you bought them from, etc. The biggest difference is that the QC levels are a probably not nearly as high. So maybe you got a good set, whereas others could get a really bad set. Everyone I know who has had carbon wheels living in California eventually have problems with them unless they use them only for crit racing where brakes aren't used a lot and there are no long descents.
Fran Rod You get what you pay for, I guess.
I ride 2018 Zipp 202 tubular with 77/177 hubs and itâs terrific in the mountains! Thank you Zipp!
Excellent video⊠enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would. Fascinating process!
That was a great tour, thanks GCN and ZSW !!
The return of the "Exactly" and "Now" duo!
I had my first 404's in 2005 which I loved. In 2015, I got 808 firecrest carbon clincher but hated the hub manual preload. Now, I'm on 2016 808's with new preset hubs and they are fantastic.
Not even a minute in and I've burst out laughing. Michael Hall is surprisingly hilarious.
Seeing that white 3 spoke wheel at 11:50, reminded me I used to ride with a Neo-pro named Dan Vogt in 1989, he had a set of these and was sponsored by Zipp. He was also the model in the sales brochure!
Can someone please tell me the wheel serial number that Si made? I will avoid buying that one.
Tevin Chau he only did the last bit. He couldn't have wrecked it too much.
that was very cool of zipp to take gcn on that factory tour. would like to pick up a pair of clincher 30s for the cervelo soon... nice job here
Si "The Mechanic" Richardson in his element - acting like a giggling school girl - forgot which way to tighten spokes....classic video!!
He didnt know in the first place.
For guys who live an ocean away you sure do find yourselves in the Midwest a lot. Only been subscribed for a few months and you were in my home town around iron man then at trek hq and now Indiana. I must live middle of cycling county her in the US.
The handlebar wheel holders are amazing
Awesome vid! Keep it up!
that s an amazing video thanks for sharing, my question is how can I tell when I buy a set of new zipps if they are counterfeit.?
great video. I would love to see more of a similar flavor.
This is really fascinating
Si!!! You GCN guys should cover the Little 500 in Indiana. Jason Fowler at Zipp raced in it, the movie Breaking Away is based off the race. It's usually the 3rd Saturday in April, you'd have a blast.
I feel sorry for the person who has to have si's bodged up wheel
Awesome video!
I got a pair of Zipp 530 wheels with aluminum braking surface flyet to a carbon rim in 2001. In 2015 I had to stop riding them since they was getting so soft several places on the carbon rim like they were delaminated. I hope the wheels are better now.
Great Vid fellas đ
wow helluva video. loved it
I don't know about now, but a few years back Zipp hubs were JUNK! Knew a least three guys who had them just self destruct inside.
"....and this is the toasted sandwich maker where we press in this years bullshit marketing pattern. I mean dimples."
Always wanted a set of zippâs
Itâs such a pleasure listening to MICHAELâŠâŠ. heâs someone who doesnât sound like a Monty pythons Austin powers James Bond goofy character đ
Hi, GCN. Can u guys make a GIANT factory tour video..... pls
That was great. More like this! Are all all the Zipp wheels built in that factory?
Yes
Lol Simon's face 5 seconds after the word coffee
I've always wondered about this, how they get it so light. I had a Viscount Sebring in 1977, it was supposedly very light for its time. Took a concerted effort to lift it. Today, my Nishiki with Zipp carbon fiber wheels, I can lift with one arm not even breaking a sweat. Amazing. Never ceases to amaze me.
Hey you're about 5 miles from my house! I know a few engineers over there at Zipp.
How do they hold the rim shape while laying up the carbon?
very interisting
Did the tire or the rim fail first in the pressure (inflation) test?
@gcntech #gcntech I'm curious to understand the new "filament wound" method of producing carbon rims, rather than the more traditional cutting and shaping up of sheets of carbon. Perhaps something that you could explain on the fab new gcn tech channel?
How can I get one of those spoke holders?
Feel better knowing the wheels are made here. Had no idea.
Trying to work out if a Si Richardson 404 would be worth more or less than standard! 'unique' or 'special' could apply to both ends of the zipp newbies production run.... :-)
I live in southern California, and if I ever decide to pony up the cash for carbon wheels (my HED Belgium C2 wheels w/ Chris King R45 hubs seem to work perfectly fine), Zipp would be the only ones I would buy. During Levi's Gran Fondo this year at the bottom of Hauser Bridge, I was waiting in line to use the SRAM Support guys' bike pump after my front tire blew on the descent, and in the 15 minutes I was waiting, there were 4 guys ahead of me with destroyed carbon wheels from the braking (it's a pretty hairy descent), all needing a replacement wheel. I'm sure there were many more failures throughout the day than just those 4 while I was there. The SRAM guy said in all the years he's been supporting the ride, he's seen virtually every brand of carbon wheel fail except for Zipp. Fortunately for my wallet, I cannot justify $3,100 for a set of 303 NSW's at the moment.
Dana Rouleau so the guy who works for Sram (the company that owns Zipp, remember) said he'd never seen his own product fail? Now there's a ringing endorsement for ya!
I dunno, when I was there, there was a failed Enve, Easton, and then two other wheels that I don't recall (some cheaper ones that I couldn't see the decals of).....so take it for what it's worth. I don't care what anyone buys really, I just know that after doing that ride and seeing firsthand what excessive heat can do to carbon wheels, I would probably listen to a guy who travels all around California supporting these events, regardless of who he works for - didn't really seem like the type of guy who was trying to sell SRAM stuff.
What amazes me is that you bought that sort of crap from a SRAM company guy. Wow, some americans are really dumb.
Are you actually stupid enough to believe that some mechanic making shit for money gives a crap if you buy a set of $3,000 wheels?
The Giant SLR 0 cost around $2200, and to think its built in Taiwan. $3100 made in US, is reasonable for pro racers. just sharing my opinion.
Si, as always, fun video. Is it remarkable that you're wearing Levis and Vans? So California!
How is the air bladder removed from the rim? The rim shape is closed so there seems to be no way to get the bladder out but clearly it is taken out somehow.
what is the crash test standard name (or number) ? what are the parameters ? weight speed distance etc ?
Finally a presenter actually drinking a real beverage from a mug. Thanks Si for keeping it real.
4:55 I can see Froome's Ventoux algorithm on the computer screen
i
wish this was in orlando id love to work here
Simon in his natural habitat
How many takes to open that envelope?
great to see such spot on R&D and how rip off wheels fail
ŰŽÙ۱ۧ ŰčÙÙ Ù ŰŹÙÙŰŻÙÙ Ű§ÙŰŻÙ ŰȘÙÙÙ ÙÙ ŰšÙ Ù Ù ŰŁŰŹÙÙۣۧۏÙÙۧ ŰŁŰۚۚŰȘ ÙÙ ÙÙÙÙ ÙÙŰ§Ù ŰȘŰ±ŰŹÙ Ű© ŰšÙ Ű§ÙŰșŰ© ۧÙŰč۱ۚÙŰ©
So which way do I turn the nipple? --SI 2016
Few weeks ago we had Mikoto and now we have Kuroko lol
Is Academy City getting so boring that students decided to pick up some new hobby?
Leon Suen yeah I spat my tea everywhere when I saw the name show up
As⊠Kuroko Shirai âx ;;â A
Ahh the birth of my wheels!
I'm curious about what is the core material?
How can I order another size, 53cm?
4:30. That scared me. I thought his hand was still inside and was going to get burned
Were they able to say how many brake cycles they do on their wheels?
Si looks like Eddie Redmayne. The resemblance is uncanny!
Hi GCN and specifically Dan. Dan you met my friend Matt Dennis at a cx race two weeks ago competing on a Vitus bike. Today he was hit by a car that opened it's door then got run over it wasn't his fault. He has a broken rib and a broken wrist and is in hospital. Please could you give him a shoutout or something on the GCN show? Would mean a lot! Thanks, Chris
Can you do a comparison between aftermarket wheels like these against the factory options. For example say these Zipp wheels versus say The wheels that come on a Giant, there SLR 0 wheels.How does a consumer know if they are really buying something much better then the ones that came on there bikes to begin with.
Proud owner of multiple pairs of Zipp wheels. They make the best.
Would have been nice to see how the hubs were made.
Si had a great orientation at ZIPP before starting as Mail Boy. So why wouldn't they trust him with a letter opener?
Deleted scenes of Si using a Mop to wash floors
can someone recommend an advanced bicycle mechanic book, something really comprehensive
it really takes good hand skills to make a perfect set of wheels, standard machines cannot do that yet.
6:29 it's look like "Git" in my world :D
Whoa. I make the same latte :'D ^^
Wheelie good!
How come u guy did not talk about the hubs. Aren't how good the hubs are just as important.
Thx GCN
đđ
Robert Saldivar The hubs get shipped in from overseas... Not much to show :)
That master wheel builders is like hurry up bro I have shit to do!
can i work there as an operator? nice!
"H-hands on this is my coffee making outfit"
totally not scripted
Dude was class agreed
first of all if you can get zipp carbon wheels it would be a great idea to get a disk brake bike....
Graphene resin rims?
God that scared me when the press came down. Thought he lost his arm lol
good
Today's episode: Si makes the new Zipp Panini.
Is it possible to order Zipp rims only? With 32 holes? :P
Finding carbon rims, that can be used with a dynamo hub is hard..
Nextie is the only possibility it seems!
yes Google it... there places that builds wheels and you can buy it from them
32H no, 28 yes. Check out Wheelbuilder.com.
didn't know that Zipp uses Novatec hubs? check 10:15 - 10:17
I think in Europe the wheels are assembled in Portugal.
That was so cool. How to spot counterfeit product?
don't order from alieexpress
Know who you're buying from.
Gt George true true. But sometimes you just can't beat those deals you know... lol đ
Buy from your local bicycle shop,
yeah you can, it's not all about money. Supporting your local bicycle shop may be more costly but the money is being used in better ways than buying online
are all zipp wheels made in USA?
Si's special edition Zipp wheels will both be square.
I'm not advocating counterfeiting of Zipp wheels but it'll be good for consumers to see the difference of the impact test and brake track delamination test of the real wheels. I think the reason why they don't show it is because both wheels will fail in a relatively similar way albeit the counterfeit ones at less loads and stresses. If that's the case, I would prefer Zipp wheels to be more affordable by lowering their design limits so they cost less to produce. I mean who would pump their tyres up to 338 psi??!!!
Where is the factory located? Is it Taiwan? I believe it's in the South East, probably Indonesia or Malaysia
yep like every big name brand wheel company and then they mark them up
Me thinks you printed up that badge yourself Simon.. ;)
why do zipp still use alu axles when dura ace use titanium.?
not quite...
fab.cba.mit.edu/classes/863.15/doc/tutorials/sandcasting/img/specific-stiff-strength.jpg
Well I don't know what to think about this video.
It's always cool to see the manufacturing process but gess what ? Zipp wheels are made like any other carbon wheels.
Saying all wheels are made in Indianapolis is a nice promotional lie. At #t=6m33s we can clearly see the names of the workers.
Correct me if i'm wrong but Lal Tin Thang or Van Nuam are not typical names from Indianapolis.
Everybody know that carbon components are made in in Taichung,Taiwan like any other brand.
You should probably add 'sponsored' or 'promotional' in your title
900K fast approaching
U skipped hole drill machine!
Naturally they used Vredestein tires during pressure test.
+Global Cycling Network watched the new Harry Potter spinoff yesterday, the guy really looked like Si :D
was that your p45 lol
6:17 "Si : that way" but still ended up turning into the wrong direction.. still long way to go Si.
Si, presuming that was your P45 in the envelope?
Glasses in your back pocket Si, that's a sitting down disaster waiting to happen.