About this project
Was to take a FRESH but simple approach to building a zero lag hub that would optimise the transfer of the torque/power that human beings generate from pedalling a bike. Brainstorming our ideas, designs & prototypes quickly showed instant engagement was a positive result. Testing the functionality of several components & materials while considering a variety of designs possibilities would prove invaluable to the project.
Working tirelessly with our design team forever keeping in mind three factors, Reliability, Durability & weight. Years on from the initial drawings & many changes after undertaking an extensive research / development & test programs our final design ticks all those boxes.
Today we are fully tooled for production with a world beater that stands alone from any other rear bicycle hub on the market.
The easiest way to explain how the ZhERO works. There are several ceramic infused needle rollers sitting at the base of Nitrogen treated cams. When load is applied, the rollers run up the cams and jam between the outer and inner bodies, creating drive. At freewheel they sit idle. This action is similar to tightening a bottle top with our hand, however the loads are far greater and shared over multiple points of contact.
Gravity-Zero manufacturers the ZhERO & DO NOT use off the shelf clutch bearings for our hubs.
The ZhERO's ceramic infusion & Nitrogen combination is the world's most mechanical advanced purpose built ZERO lag mechanism ever made & without question improves the riders performance from the first turn of the pedals to the last. The ZhERO hub can be fitted to all rims with conventional or hidden nipples that have a matching spoke count.
To support our findings we employed the services of the Victorian University (Sports Engineering & Technology Unit) to evaluate a Reference Hub ( Shimano Durace ) against a ZhERO (Test hub) & the Hub Evaluation Report showed a massive improvement in torque.
In the field it gets better. The smoothness of the ZhERO eliminates the shock of lock up through your back, legs, muscles & joints. The cluck of changing gears is halved as the chain just drops to another gear whereas conventional hubs need to reload power. Your muscles are switched on earlier with each pedal stroke forcing both legs to work as one. Hill climbing you can dance from pedal to pedal equally without experiencing any form of lag, one experienced rider liken it to running on the bike.
From a Social rider to Road racing, Triathlete, TT specialist or Criterium the mechanical precision that the ZhERO brings will increase your endurance, performance & all round wellbeing on the bike.
Tests carried out by the Victorian University ( Sports & Engineering & Technology Unit)
Reference Hub = Shimano Durace hub ( red line ) Test Hub = Zero lag hub (white line)
Graph #1 clearly shows the negative torque or lag time to a Dur ace hub. Expanded wave forms during the transition from backward pedalling indicated by negative torque to peak torque output.
Graph #2 Expanded scale shows wave forms during constant cadence trial at 90 rpm
DT SWISS 10 degrees lag
SHIMANO DURACE 10 degrees lag
ZhERO O/zero degrees lag
ZIPP 10 degrees lag
Mavic 7.5 degrees lag
Campy 12 degrees lag
Novatec 13 degrees lag
ZhERO ( zero lag rear road hub )
Lag degrees Zero degree
Weight 265g
Sealed Bearings x 4
Ceramic Bearings ( Optional ) x 4
Spoke hole options 20, 24, 28
Gauge 14
O.L.D 130mm
Axle 15mm
Axle Material AL7075
P.C.D 35.5/50
Pawls 16
Cassette Body AL7075
Cassette Compatibility Shimano/Sram 10/11sp
ZhERO log Lazed Engraved
"The ZhERO is most responsive hub I have ever ridden, from Crits to road racing there is no other way to explain it, the smoothness & efficiency is simply amazing from the instant zero lag mechanism. I would highly recommend the ZhERO to anyone that rides a bike."
"Having tested the ZhERO & knowing that it takes 54,000 pedal strokes to complete the 180ks bike leg in a Ironman...... it is a no brainer for me I'd choose the ZhERO hub ever time because not only am I more efficient on the bike, my legs would be more balanced, less fatigued & fresher for the 42ks run."
"Having tested, trained & raced on the ZhERO from its early conception it's been a secret weapon that I would NEVER start a race without. The gain in efficency has only enhanced my cycling & triathlon career."
"Supplied with a set of ZhERO hubs built into Gravity-Zero 50mm full carbon clinchers these are the best hill climbing clinchers wheels I have ever ridden"
Risks and challenges
Though the manufacturing processes to produce bicycle hubs are centuries old, there are very few who can deliver this level of craftsmanship/precision required for such a design. Our manufacturing partners are 100% committed to our project, but like all manufacturers, they have their own process of prioritizing the order of projects they work on. The biggest risk to shipping on the stated delivery date is the supply of raw materials & production capacity or scheduling of our actual order.
For those of you who are a new to one such project, we have a lot of professional product development experience and like to communicate often. All of our previous projects have shipped on time.
Your pledge is in very good hands!
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Funding period
- (60 days)