C Law

I am going to buy some aero wheels for my time trial and triathlon bike.

I am looking at

1. Set of Zipp 606

2. HED stingeror jet 60 front , HED stinger or jet 90 rear, plus a HED standard disc rear.


My main stumbling block is why the hell are Zipp's 1.8x the price of the HED's?

just dimples? Are dimples really that important and worth the premium?

merlinextraligh

I own 2 sets of Zipp wheels, and one set of HED's. IMHO,
Zipps are lighter, better made, better warranty support, and they do have dimples.

For your TT bike, I'd go with a HED trispoke and a HED disc. Or a Zipp 808 front, and Zipp disc, if you have the coin.

Those two set ups are just about as fast as it gets, with competing data fathoring the Trispoke over the 808 front, and vice versa. (with the conflict turning on various assumptions about wind angles)

chzman

zipps are better made... but HEDs should work fine for a TT or tri bike, durability wise. the gap is closing in quality, i believe.

C Law

well

the problem is my limit is about 2g's.

and getting a disc rear would be nice, but it can't be run at all courses. I would like to get it, but If I get the zipp disc rear and an 808 front I could not reasonably afford another rear non disc zipp wheel.

With the Hed I could afford 2 rear wheels, one disc and one non disc where I could swap depending on the course

these wheels will be seeing racing only pretty much.

I guess it boils down to...am I going to be dissapointed with the quality of the HED's? I know it sounds like a crazy question with wheels that expensive, but seriously

merlinextraligh

I don't think you will not be disappointed [edited to clarify], at least as to the Trispoke, and the HED disc. They should be fine. The trispoke is just about as good as it gets. The disc is just a bit heavier than Zipp, and you lose a very minor advantage from the dimples. I can't speak to their spoked wheels.

Also another option is a Renn disc, even less expensive. It's non lenticular so arguably slightly less aero, but I think that difference would also be very minor.

jamiewilson3

Buy the Hed3 and Hed Disc. Send the extra $800 to me. Consulting fees, you know.

C Law

Does that mean I will be dissapointed? you know.......the whole double negative thing

thomspins

LOL

merlinextraligh

I can't read my own words.

I think you'll like them. (I glanced back and read something different than I typed.) That's what happens when you let work get in the way.)

C Law

thats what I thought. I was just making sure.

I have heard and read nothing but great things about the HED3. I am suprised more people don't run them, or maybe they do and I am just ignorant. It seems most opt for a deep dish spoked wheel.

jamiewilson3

The disadvantage of the Hed3 is that it cant be used in Crit/RR. When you get a set of 404 or equivalent, you get a really good aero wheel for RR/Crit/TT/Tri. The Hed3 is limited to TT/Tri. And it is heavier than a 404. Those are its 2 achilles heels.

Jim Bonnet

I was just talking to someone about hed3 in road race/crit... Not that I'd want to use mine that way, but I digress.. We didn't see anyplace in the USCF rules to prohibit it. Did we miss it?

Cheers-
Jim

merlinextraligh

They don't meet UCI requirements for mass start races. The application of UCI bicycle requirements to USCF events has a somewhat on and off history. (Asgelle can give you the history.) In 2008 you won't be able to use non UCI equipment in national championships, international selection races, and NRC events.

https://www.usacycling.org/news/user/story.php?id=2705



I'm pretty sure if you show up with Trispokes at your local crit, you won't be allowed to use them, but I can't quote you chapter and verse.

ranger5oh

Cant you go with 2 trispokes and kinda get the best of both worlds?

edmaverik

I used my HED Jet60 in RR and Crits. Price was my motivator for purchasing my HEDs and I'd do it again. Zipps are overpriced. Also, HED's customer service is outstanding.

Kris Flatlander

Would a Jet 90 be possible for a front wheel as well, or would the extra rim area make handling adverse in most conditions?

TheKillerPenguin

You'd be SOL in any type of crosswind.

asgelle

Trispokes are perfectly legal for all USCF races except in the cases mentioned above which follow UCI. If someone tries to prevent you from using a trispoke (or disk, or wheel cover) in a USCF race, make them show you the rule prohibiting them.

HolyInstantRice

Hed's deeper carbon/alu rimmed wheels are not structural, i.e the carbon is just a fairing. With the Zipps, everything's one piece and the carbon is structural-I think that's what makes up most of the price difference.

slvoid

Have you looked at Nimbles? They're just as aerodynamic but cheaper.

C Law

^ cheaper than what?

The nimble crosswind trispoke is $1,500 per set , just slightly cheaper than Zipps and 1.2 times the price of HEDs

Although, thanks for the heads up on nimble, I have really never heard of them

Instant Rice - Can you point me to where you read that or is that just common knowledge

slvoid

I meant cheaper than Zipp. Well a coworker wants to sell the trispokes in 650c for like 500 bucks, so that's pretty cheap.

Eyeseeu

I use HED3's and a HED disk, but I don't do crits/rr's. I have quite a few miles on mine in events and absolutely love them. I have a HED3 rear too for when it is too windy for the disk, but I actually like the disk in the wind also. In crosswind you will notice it quite a bit if it is 90 degrees to the bike, but not so much if it is another angle. My times are still better with the disk than without, even in higher winds.

C Law

Are you running tubies or clincher?

I know that tubular is a pain for some, but since I am only using them for events I was leaning that direction for weight savings

Eyeseeu

I run clinchers because I do long distance and don't want to have to replace a tubular 100 miles out.