The 2003 Zipp hubs embody our continuous drive to explore the limits of machining technology and to rapidly incorporate new technologies as they are developed either by us or elsewhere in the CNC industry. We are motivated to search for constant in-line improvement and incessantly seek to streamline our methods of manufacturing. The 2003 hubs are really the net result of thousands of hours of effort, not leaving one stone unturned or one area of potential improvement untouched.

As a hub is critical to a wheel, so the bearings become the most important aspect of all wheel performance. We have focused significant effort to designing and specifying exactly the bearing we deem necessary to perfectly compliment a Zipp wheel. In the cycling industry, the standard for each ball variance is 50 millionths of an inch. Zipp bearings are manufactured in precision matched sets to an ISO ball tolerance or less than 10 millionths of an inch in total variance in size or sphericity. To realize maximum performance and longevity from such precision, each bearing set is fitted to a custom Teflon self lubricating retainer that significantly reduces friction over steel or brass retainers used in “industry standard” cartridge bearings. The balls are placed between precision races in a Teflon retaining ring and surrounded by a custom formulation of Isoflex barium-hydrocarbon based grease made in Europe and used exclusively in the industry by Zipp. The precision polished races allow Zipp to use double contact seals on both sides of each bearing. What this means to you is a wheel that spins smoothly with minimal effort and will continue to perform at this level for a long time to come.