Technique

On test: Campagnolo Zonda 2-Way Fit 2010

Details

Parent Category: Technique

Category: Campagnolo

Published on Tuesday, 25 May 2010 08:22

Written by Luca Salvatelli

Evolved further confirmed hard and sliding wheel with the possibility of adopting traditional or tubeless tires

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Campagnolo for 2010 has completely revised its wheel-set Zonda, not only with the introduction of rim 2-Way Fit, but redesigning the whole wheel. New alloy wheels were more lightened by reducing the thickness of the extruded material between the rim and the spoke and spoke. The top edge is drilled and the inside edge is designed for mounting tubeless tires, as well as traditional ones. That the pair of wheels is also provided for tubeless tire valve or eliminated for traditional tubes. The rim, once paid, is adjusted and balanced for the best stability at speed. The front wheel has a height of 24 mm, while the rear of 30 mm. The spokes are stainless steel, aerodynamic profile, and variable section according to their function: the finest locations in less critical, more robust in the most critical. The front spokes are mounted radially in number 16 and have a thickness of 2.2/2/1,5/2 mm, in addition to anti-rotation system that allows you to keep the rays in the ideal position for a good penetration aerodynamics. Same solution for the rear wheel adopting 7 rays tangential to the left side of the stretched dimension of the front spokes and 14 cross in the second side box and a diameter of 2/1.8/2 millimeters. The arrangement of the spokes of the rear wheel follows the classic Campagnolo G3 in which the spokes join the rim in groups of 3. The rims are also oriented holes to better merge with the spokes. New design of the hubs, always in light alloy, designed to increase rigidity. The bearings are cone-cap uniform front and rear, with 15 balls to 5/32" steel grade 10 for bearing. Campagnolo declared a weight of 680 grams for the front wheel and 900 grams for the rear, we have a weight of 670 grams for the front wheel and 868 grams for the rear locks have a weight of 54 grams, the front, and 62 grams, the rear. They are available in all black.

The road test

The new Zonda wheels are recognized by their design features, as well as the characteristic radius of the rear wheel, distinctive Campagnolo. The new spokes, as well as new locks differ from the previous model as well as black and new graphics. Excellent surface finish, also easy to clean. The clincher is easy to mount, as well as that of tubeless, even if, as always, requires a minimum of experience and strength more. Easy to remove and replace the valve dedicated to tubeless, just the rim dedicated to it and the solution to make the rim compatible for both products, allowing impassioned to try a product or the other, with the possibility of alternatives according to preferences. Interestingly, we found the weight is less than stated and very competitive in view of the list price of the wheels; sin, however, that the 2-Way Fit technology, we are increasing the weight of 25 grams, according to official data, compared to traditional Zonda. Moving appreciates the high smoothness of the hubs, which leads to good performance in the plains, also thanks to its excellent lateral stiffness of the same wheels. The new spokes differentiated profile, if allowed to reduce the weight, do not appear to have reduced the rigidity of this pair of wheels that indeed seems improved, both for the front wheel to the rear. Excellent sensitivity to side winds, when the wheels behave perfectly reflecting little or no wind, and improving driving safety and performance. Always good stability on fast with the front wheel which remains well balanced even at high speed and excellent safety in braking, with the sides of the ground wheels which provide perfect modulation of the braking. Uphill appreciates the reduction of weight, but when you get up on the pedals is the lateral stiffness that is the master allowing respectable performance. Even in their action raises is positive for both the low weight for good sliding and lateral rigidity. Only weakness may be comfort, with the wheels that absorb the sharply uneven road, but if you want smoothness, low weight and lateral stiffness to something must give. Most sensitive to this aspect, however, can overcome the problem with a pair of high-end tires, frame is made of cotton, which provides improved comfort, and increases performance further. A pair of wheels, then, without apparent defects, excellent in every point of view, suitable for the agonist that has a limited budget, for the enthusiast looking for a reliable, lightweight and durable. Just as we emphasize on reliability in our short test of about 1000 km, we have travelled many rough roads and even white, does not indicate any problem ever. The list price is around 689 Euro, for version 2-Way Fit, while the clincher version only costs 605 Euro, in both cases they are proportionate to benefits emerged. If you do not need to try tubeless, however, the traditional version has an even more competitive price as well to weigh slightly less.

Positive aspects

Build quality
Low weight
Lateral stiffness
Fluency
Braking
Reliability

Negative aspects

Weight, though 25 grams, Zonda model than traditional values

To learn more:

Campagnolo
Website: www.campagnolo.com