karungguni

Looking for a set of HED Ardennes Stallions. Not easy to find these days. Does anybody have recommendations in the same category? Am 200 lbs but climb about 60K M per month so quite tough on wheels.

TrojanHorse

I have a set of easton EA90SL wheels (28/24) I've generally beat the hell out of for 4 years now, they're still doing well but they're old-school skinnier rims. I'd probably look at a pair of Boyd Altamont wheels if I were looking to replace them, they make a 28/24 configuration for heavier riders.

It looks like the Ardennes Plus CL is your equivalent wheel now, but I can't figure out how many spokes they put on the thing. I mean... why would you put THAT on the spec page?

karungguni

The + are b**** to change a tire and do not fit in the rear triangle of a Tarmac SL4.

chaadster

My top recco is an American Classic Argent wheelset. Light, strong, reactive, tubeless and pricey. But I love mine.

Flo 30s may be worth a look.

karungguni

Thanks. I have had a bad experience with tubeless ready as they are very difficult to change tires, both the HED Ardennes plus and Bontrager Race X Lite 29er. How has your experience been?

chaadster

I'd say to take a look at the rim bed profile of the wheels that have been difficult to mount. As I understand it, those with shallow, flat rim beds are more difficult to mount than deep beds. For example compare the Kinlin XC279 and AC Argent below:





My only tubeless experience is with the Argents, which mount up and release Schwalbe Ones very easily, but if you look at mounting instructions for tubeless rims and tires, the advice is always to seat the first bead in the deepest part of the rim before seating second bead, but that's an aspect of clincher rim mounting ease as well.

Here's the Flo 30 cross section:



I'd expect it to be easier to mount than the Kinlin based on the profile, perhaps less easy than the Argent (or the same).

mikiek

I have the Belgium+ (same rim) and changing tires is no problem at all. In fact Vitoria Pave's, Vitoria Diamante's and Conti GP4K all come off and on with no tools.

chriskmurray

I personally love my A23's, I also am about 200 lbs and there is nothing flat around me so I spend a lot of time climbing too. They have a pretty similar profile to the HED rim and you can have the rims laced to what ever your hub preference is.