Introducing the ZIPP 1ZERO HITOP SW: The Ultimate Wheelset for Leadville

Words: Ryan Cross

In the world of gear choices in Leadville, we don’t often toss around the term “perfect” lightly. With ever-changing conditions, diverse terrain, and the undeniable influence of personal preference, there’s usually some wiggle room in the equipment department. However, the recently unleashed ZIPP 1ZERO HITOP SW wheelset has managed to make me reconsider my choice of words.

I spent the last 3 months testing out these fancy new wheels on Leadville’s rugged mining roads and my home trails in Boulder, CO. Now, it’s time to spill the beans on ZIPP’s flagship XC wheelset. 

Proving Ground – Leadville’s East Side 

While many are familiar with the terrain served up on the infamous LT100 MTB course, my heart tends to gravitate towards Leadville’s lesser-known eastern side when I’m in town. Here, the climbs are steep, the trails less traveled, and it’s only a stone’s throw from downtown. If you’ve only explored the LT100 MTB route, I strongly recommend taking a detour to the east next time. You’re in for a delightful surprise.

Now, let’s talk about what makes this terrain the ideal testing ground for a set of XC race wheels:

• Steep climbs, like, really steep climbs 
• Rugged descents that’ll rattle your equipment to the core
• A few hidden singletrack gems with fun flow
• Mining roads that can go from smooth to very rough in one quick turn

The Setup

I mounted these brand-new ZIPP wheels on my trusty hardtail, a steed that’s seen more miles in Leadville than I can count. It’s my go-to endurance companion, tried and true over the years. I’ve been running Specialized Renegade 2.35 rear and a Specialized Fast Trak 2.35 front tire for nearly two years, and I kept that consistent for the testing. The tires mounted easily and we were riding in no time. 

• Tire Pressure: 24 PSI (rear), 22 PSI (front), more on that later.  

These wheels are available in both a SRAM XD Driver freehub body or a Shimano Micro Spline configuration. I’m riding a SRAM Eagle 12-speed groupset and have the wheels set up with an XD driver. 

Technical Specifications: 

When it comes to ride quality, modern XC wheels share a few common traits: they’re wider, more stable, and incredibly lightweight. For us discerning XC riders, the combination of these three qualities is pure gold.

Now, let’s delve into the nitty-gritty technical details:

• Rim Depth: 21.2mm
• Rim Inner Width: 30mm
• Weight (Pair): 1,325
• Rim Consctruction: Carbon – Hookless
• Product Details: 
  • Price: $1,950
  • Lifetime warranty

Stiffer Isn’t Always Better:

A narrative as old as the cycling industry itself, we’ve always been led to believe that stiffer is better. Stiffer shoes equate to better power transfer to the pedals, stiffer frames make for a snappier sprint, and stiffer wheels create a more responsive ride. 

I’m here to tell you, stiffer ain’t always better. 

ZIPP created an all-new carbon layup for these wheels with compliance in mind. These wheels were noticeably more compliant than other carbon XC wheels I own (such as the Bontrager Kovee that came stock on this bike). 

The result is a lightweight XC wheel that helps to carry speed through a variety of terrain choices. The increased compliance is noticeable and the ride quality is unparalleled. 

Technical Specifications: 

When it comes to ride quality, modern XC wheels share a few common traits: they’re wider, more stable, and incredibly lightweight. For us discerning XC riders, the combination of these three qualities is pure gold.

Now, let’s delve into the nitty-gritty technical details:

• Rim Depth: 21.2mm
• Rim Inner Width: 30mm
• Weight (Pair): 1,325
• Rim Construction: Carbon – Hookless

Hubs: 

ZIPP has the 1ZERO HITOP SW wheels laced up with their ZM2SL Hub, a sleek, low profile and lightweight hub that I put through the paces this summer. I had no issues with these hubs during my 3 months of testing, and the 66 points of engagement made for quick power transfer in tight terrain. 

Tire Wiz

If you’re like me, someone who likes to tinker with tire pressure, adjust it based on terrain, or simply curious about the ideal settings, this little gadget is an absolute joy to experiment with.

As a larger rider, standing tall at 6’2″ and tipping the scales at 179 lbs, I’ve always erred on the side of caution when it comes to tire pressure in the mountains. I usually run 24 psi at the rear and 22 psi at the front, because, let’s be honest, nobody wants to hear the gut-wrenching sound of their rim colliding with a rock. 

The insights from Tire Wiz informed me that I could safely drop each of these pressures by about 2-3 PSI and still keep my rims happy. I wouldn’t normally say this is a game changer, but for all the loose and rocky climbs I struggle up in Leadville, that extra bit of grip was noticeable to me and did improve my performance on some of the toughest climbs. 

Another neat feature – LED lights illuminate to tell you that you’re within an established pressure range. This takes the guesswork out of it if you need to plug a tire and throw a little air in the tire while trailside. 

Applications – Pure Perfomance or All-Round Capability?

Make no mistake, this wheelset is designed to be a pure-bred XC race wheelset. It’s one of the lightest out there and it’s stable and compliant ride quality made it perfect for mega endurance efforts like the Leadville Trail 100 MTB. 

But, ZIPP also claims that this wheelset is suitable for bikes with up to 130mm of travel, and given the paces I put them through, I’d concur. While its intended use is XC performance, you could easily put these on a “downcountry” or mid-travel trail bike on long days. I plan to put these on my downcountry XC bike moving forward and continue testing on slightly sendier terrain. 

The Ultimate Leadville Wheelset 

So, while I’m cautious to say that this wheelset is the best thing since sliced bread, I do think it’s the perfect wheelset for the rugged terrain in Leadville. It smoothens out the harshest terrain with ease, boasts impressive weight specs and rim design, and throws in a nifty Tire Wiz to sweeten the deal. 

So, if you’re building up your rig to take on next year’s Leadville Race Series events, consider letting these wheels be your choice, and you won’t be disappointed. These wheels have officially launched today, October 4, 2023. Reach out to your local dealer to grab a set, and happy trails!