Yes that'll be interesting to see what happens long-term. The rider's weight is supported by a few spokes at the bottom of the wheel not by the rest of the spokes in the wheel. So those spokes have to have enough tension that when the rim deflects upwards they are not fully de-tensioned or they will fail.
Zipp presumably put wheels through extensive machine testing and trail testing so they should be fine, but that photo showing the bent spoke doesn't look like it's a sustainable wheel design. Time will tell.
June 5, 2019, 7:37 a.m. - Vik Banerjee
Yes that'll be interesting to see what happens long-term. The rider's weight is supported by a few spokes at the bottom of the wheel not by the rest of the spokes in the wheel. So those spokes have to have enough tension that when the rim deflects upwards they are not fully de-tensioned or they will fail. Zipp presumably put wheels through extensive machine testing and trail testing so they should be fine, but that photo showing the bent spoke doesn't look like it's a sustainable wheel design. Time will tell.