Interestingly enough, Zipp's very first product was a disc. Their quarter-century-long quest for the knowledge of speed allowed Zipp to create their fastest wheel ever - the Super-9 Carbon Clincher. The Super 9 Carbon Clincher is Zipp's fastest wheel but is also highly engineered for ride quality too so it rides like a spoked wheel and won't chatter your teeth on bad roads. It is an ideal triathlon or time trial setup when paired with the 808 Firecrest Carbon Clincher or 404 Firecrest Carbon Clincher.

Zipp has validated their findings in the wind tunnel and refined them further in the "virtual wind tunnel" using powerful Computational Fluid Dynamics software analysis. The result is the Super-9 Carbon Clincher optimizes supreme aerodynamics, power transfer, stiffness, lightweight and durability -- all with the convenience and low rolling resistance of a clincher.

The Super 9's non-parallel brake track helps to smooth the airflow transition from the tire onto the disc's surface. It's a key piece of the aerodynamics puzzle. The Carbon Clincher brake track combined with the Super-9's wide profile, which runs virtually the same width from rim to hub, create an ultra-aero wheel. Zipp's exclusive resin effectively tolerates the incredible spikes in heat caused by braking to provide reliability and stopping power.

Tubulars are commonly used at the highest levels cycling and triathlon, but clinchers have a couple performance advantages that will increasingly see them being used by world TT champion Tony Martin and other top athletes. Clinchers are more aerodynamic than tubulars thanks to a more linear tire to rim line. Top-end clinchers also have lower rolling resistance than tubulars. Using clinchers makes race day tire changes a snap so you can use a wider tire on a course with bad roads or a super light and supple tire when the course is glass smooth.