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Best new wheelset for under $2,000??
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I just received a nice bonus at work and am looking to buy wheelset with my money. I want to spend under $2,000 for the set, tires, and maybe a cassette. I do get a 15% discount on all equipment with my local tri-club so maybe keep that in mind if the set you are recommending is near $2,000.

I was thinking about getting a HED set with a H3 up front and the HED disc in the back.

What are other wheelsets I should consider? (Zipp, Sram, HED, etc). Also, I am not against crossing brands so if you think a ZIPP/HED is the best combo please suggest it.

Thanks for your help
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Re: Best new wheelset for under $2,000?? [Am00re34] [ In reply to ]
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I just bought 2010 zipp 606's (808 rear 404 front), for 1185 shipped off ebay. My point is you don't have to spend 2k to get a great set of wheels. the going rate for 606's on ebay is about 1350 right now.

ishi no ue ni san nen | Perseverance will win in the end. | Blog | @nebmot | Strava | Instagram |
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Re: Best new wheelset for under $2,000?? [Am00re34] [ In reply to ]
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Go to the Classifieds section and find an H3/whatever disk. Get some super smooth Vittoria Cronos (Corsa if you are worried about long course and flatting). You will have a bunch of leftover money.
Last edited by: AaronT: Oct 10, 10 12:12
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Re: Best new wheelset for under $2,000?? [nebmot] [ In reply to ]
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While the OP said he wanted new, I think the OP should consider used wheels.
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Re: Best new wheelset for under $2,000?? [Am00re34] [ In reply to ]
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Like the OP, I plan to buy a wheel set (used in my case). I cannot find any reason to buy a wheel set other than the H3. I'd like someone to explain why the H3 is not the right choice.
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Re: Best new wheelset for under $2,000?? [BigPimp] [ In reply to ]
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If you want new, aero and under 2,000, HED is the only real choice. I have a pair of H3 clinchers and stinger 9/stinger disk. The clinchers front and rear are for local TTs where I ride to the start and ride home afterward (Bonty RXL aeros in the 700X19 size). The stingers are for blustier days on a coarse where I can count on a cross wind all the time. I use the H3 front with the stinger disc on calmer days. The H3 is a really narrow wheel that is hard to beat on a calm day, just make sure you don't run a side tire the H3 or you waste the advantage. From about 0-5 degrees of effective cross-wind, you can't beat a H3. Past that wind angle, the stinger 9 is supposed to be a little better, but to be honest I have never been as fast on the stinger 9 as the H3.
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Re: Best new wheelset for under $2,000?? [grumpier.mike] [ In reply to ]
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SRAMS have served me well.


~~~~~~~~~
Yours in golf,
PGA_MIKE
Couch Potato to IM SPUD in 4 years
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Re: Best new wheelset for under $2,000?? [Am00re34] [ In reply to ]
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JoeC has an insane deal on a Jet C2. I want to get it in the worst way, but I can't unload my tubie Trispoke. I don't think you will be anything less than thrilled with a Hed product.
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Re: Best new wheelset for under $2,000?? [Am00re34] [ In reply to ]
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Performance is blowing out their Mavic Cosmic Carbone SLR's, $1499

http://www.performancebike.com/...1556503_20000_400038

Loving mine so far, light, bombproof, alu rim. Good stuff for someone who actually wants to use their wheels.
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Re: Best new wheelset for under $2,000?? [53x12] [ In reply to ]
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In Reply To:
While the OP said he wanted new, I think the OP should consider used wheels.


I'm ok with used, but the purchase of used scares me because unless you can actually see them when you buy them you never know what your getting. And i get nervous dropping that much money on something unseen especially when there are chances they have been crashed or whatever which caused them to be untrue...
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Re: Best new wheelset for under $2,000?? [BigPimp] [ In reply to ]
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In Reply To:
Like the OP, I plan to buy a wheel set (used in my case). I cannot find any reason to buy a wheel set other than the H3. I'd like someone to explain why the H3 is not the right choice.


I agree with you.. I have looked at reviews and articles and everything points to HED products, espcially the H3. does anyone know if its worth the extra money to buy the H3D?
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Re: Best new wheelset for under $2,000?? [Am00re34] [ In reply to ]
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Clincher ? Can't help you.

Tubular? :
Hed Stinger Disc (new)
Front wheel Hed3c or Stinger 9 (used)
You will need two new tires(glue up your own wheels) & Swiss stop brake pads
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Re: Best new wheelset for under $2,000?? [Am00re34] [ In reply to ]
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How durable are the H3s? Will they stand up to training, or no?

Aerodynamics are for people who can't build engines. -Enzo Ferrari
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Re: Best new wheelset for under $2,000?? [Clutch Cargo] [ In reply to ]
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In Reply To:
Clincher ? Can't help you.

Tubular? :
Hed Stinger Disc (new)
Front wheel Hed3c or Stinger 9 (used)
You will need two new tires(glue up your own wheels) & Swiss stop brake pads


Why are you not recommending the HED's in clincher? I was thinking clincher only because of the ease and cost of replacing tubes when they pop....
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Re: Best new wheelset for under $2,000?? [Am00re34] [ In reply to ]
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The HED website says the H3D is better only if you ride 25+ mph.
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Re: Best new wheelset for under $2,000?? [BigPimp] [ In reply to ]
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In Reply To:
The HED website says the H3D is better only if you ride 25+ mph.


Pfffftttt... shouldnt be a problem for anyone here on ST.
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Re: Best new wheelset for under $2,000?? [Am00re34] [ In reply to ]
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There is two groups of people in the tire choice,Clincher or Tubular.
I'm in the tubular group for race wheels.The tubular wheels are lighter,I like the ride of the tubular tire glued to a full carbon rim,less likely to flat with tubular tires(never had a flat).
This is my preference there are some very good clincher race tires out there.
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Re: Best new wheelset for under $2,000?? [Am00re34] [ In reply to ]
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Go check out American Classic Wheels, you can get a disc with a 90mm front for $1999. I ride their Aero 420 wheels, never tried there disc, but its a great price.
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Re: Best new wheelset for under $2,000?? [Clutch Cargo] [ In reply to ]
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There is two groups of people in the tire choice,Clincher or Tubular.
I'm in the tubular group for race wheels.The tubular wheels are lighter,I like the ride of the tubular tire glued to a full carbon rim,less likely to flat with tubular tires(never had a flat).
This is my preference there are some very good clincher race tires out there.



Carry a spare? It's a whole tire, not just a tube. Plus, you'll carry the same inflator and CO2, plus you'll probably have some anti-flat crap pumped into your tires for extra weight. You say there's a weight advantage? Not really. Nothing meaningful.

Think they roll better? Only if you glue the living daylights out of them and, if you do, conjure up the mental image of Normann Stadler chucking his nice race wheel in frustration and crying on the side of the road at Kona. Any glue job short of that will likely be inferior to the top clinchers in terms of rolling resistance and race day performance.

To the OP, I've been blissfully happy and very fast on a Hed Jet 90 on the front and a Hed Jet disc on the rear. I've used both C2 and non-C2 wheels with great success. (I switched to the non-C2 for clearance issues in the chainstays on my P4.) I've had considerable experience with the other key brands. The HED wheels deliver performance at a relative value. The Jet clinchers are very nice and will not represent any compromise at all over anything else you might consider.

.

Bob C.

The "science" on any matter can never be settled until every possible variable is taken into account.
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Re: Best new wheelset for under $2,000?? [Am00re34] [ In reply to ]
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Gray Wheels.
http://www.trisports.com/...ular-rear-wheel.html

comes with swiss hub, 5 grade ceramic bearing, and the clinchers carbon clincher.
great customer service

very very happy

I was between Gray and Sram...sram is old tecnology from Zipp (2005 zipp tooling) but...have SRAM name on it.

good luck
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Re: Best new wheelset for under $2,000?? [psycholist] [ In reply to ]
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In Reply To:
There is two groups of people in the tire choice,Clincher or Tubular.
I'm in the tubular group for race wheels.The tubular wheels are lighter,I like the ride of the tubular tire glued to a full carbon rim,less likely to flat with tubular tires(never had a flat).
This is my preference there are some very good clincher race tires out there.



Carry a spare? It's a whole tire, not just a tube. Plus, you'll carry the same inflator and CO2, plus you'll probably have some anti-flat crap pumped into your tires for extra weight. You say there's a weight advantage? Not really. Nothing meaningful.

.


that is the exact thing i've heard with tubular...I don't have many friends that are in the tri-scene (at least not seriously) and two of them have tubular wheels. Both say if/when they get new wheels they will be clincher without a doubt. While they like the tubular wheels, the things you mentioned are the reason they dont want them on race day. Most of the time they don't carry all that "junk" because there isnt room so they are risking a DNF with a blowout. Not worth it, even if it does get you 2 seconds...

Does anyone have any exp. using a HED H3 vs. a deep front such as a 404, Jet 90, SRAM 40, etc? Which one is faster, smoother, etc? I am thinking a disc for the rear and my research has showed the HED disc is the best value (ZIPP is way to much $$$). I could go with wheelcovers, but I dont have a lightweight wheel to cover so i'm not sure if its worth it.
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Re: Best new wheelset for under $2,000?? [nebmot] [ In reply to ]
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In Reply To:
I just bought 2010 zipp 606's (808 rear 404 front), for 1185 shipped off ebay. My point is you don't have to spend 2k to get a great set of wheels. the going rate for 606's on ebay is about 1350 right now.


New or used? If new, who is the seller?
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Re: Best new wheelset for under $2,000?? [Am00re34] [ In reply to ]
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The H3 and Jet 90 are both great wheels, but every time I put them on, I take a serious look at how windy it's going to be that day. We get some serious gusts around here and it can grab hold of your front wheel. Actually, any windy days over 20mph make me think twice about using them.

As far as comparisons go...
-I don't notice any difference in ride comfort / quality between the H3 and the Jet 90.
-I don't feel any difference in speed between the two, but then again, what does a fraction of a second per mile feel like?
-The H3 is certainly heavier.
-The H3 is supposed to have better aerodynamics over a wide range of wind angles (yaw), making it a better 'allround' choice.


As far as the rear wheel goes, I'm really happy with the jet disk and couldn't justify spending a penny more for a zipp. I've also used a wheelcover and they provide you with virtually the same benefit at a fraction of the cost.

In Reply To:


Does anyone have any exp. using a HED H3 vs. a deep front such as a 404, Jet 90, SRAM 40, etc? Which one is faster, smoother, etc? I am thinking a disc for the rear and my research has showed the HED disc is the best value (ZIPP is way to much $$$). I could go with wheelcovers, but I dont have a lightweight wheel to cover so i'm not sure if its worth it.
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Re: Best new wheelset for under $2,000?? [beston] [ In reply to ]
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In Reply To:
The H3 and Jet 90 are both great wheels, but every time I put them on, I take a serious look at how windy it's going to be that day. We get some serious gusts around here and it can grab hold of your front wheel. Actually, any windy days over 20mph make me think twice about using them.

As far as comparisons go...
-I don't notice any difference in ride comfort / quality between the H3 and the Jet 90.
-I don't feel any difference in speed between the two, but then again, what does a fraction of a second per mile feel like?
-The H3 is certainly heavier.
-The H3 is supposed to have better aerodynamics over a wide range of wind angles (yaw), making it a better 'allround' choice.


As far as the rear wheel goes, I'm really happy with the jet disk and couldn't justify spending a penny more for a zipp. I've also used a wheelcover and they provide you with virtually the same benefit at a fraction of the cost.

In Reply To:


Thank you... since you have tried both would you get: the H3 of the Jet 90 if you could only have one or the other? In addition, since I only have stock wheels on my Felt B16 should I go with a wheelcover or spring for the Jet Disc?
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Re: Best new wheelset for under $2,000?? [Am00re34] [ In reply to ]
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In the past 13 months I have ridden (all clinchers):

H3 front/H3 rear
H3 front/Jet Disc rear
Jet 6 front/Jet Disc rear
Jet 6 front/Jet 9 rear

My favorite is the Jet 6/Jet Disc combo, followed by the Jet 6/Jet 9 combo.

The H3/Disc combo can get a little dicey with a good crosswind. I'm not a small guy and I got blown around a bit riding the Texas 70.3 in Galveston. That made me buy a Jet 6. Dual H3's aren't a comfortable ride, IMO.

Just my two cents. I'm 6'0" and 175 lbs. Normally ride 20-24 mph on race day.

Favorite Gear: Dimond | Cadex | Desoto Sport | Hoka One One
Last edited by: GMAN 19030: Oct 11, 10 6:43
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Re: Best new wheelset for under $2,000?? [GMAN 19030] [ In reply to ]
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Thanks GMAN. That is very helpful.

I have read posts on here that the H3s are heavier than other race wheels. I looked on the HED website and the difference is at most 50 grams. That is 2-3 ounces.
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Re: Best new wheelset for under $2,000?? [BigPimp] [ In reply to ]
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I had read on ST that a Jet 9 front rides similar to a H3. That's why I didn't go with a Jet 9 front and went with a more friendly Jet 6. I prefer to be a little more comfortable on the bike as opposed to white knuckling a ride just to be a nanosecond faster.

Favorite Gear: Dimond | Cadex | Desoto Sport | Hoka One One
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Re: Best new wheelset for under $2,000?? [Am00re34] [ In reply to ]
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With a disc....I think this wheel is just sick
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Re: Best new wheelset for under $2,000?? [Am00re34] [ In reply to ]
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We all certainly have a limited budget to work with. If I had to choose, I think I would go with the H3.

When I look at the wind tunnel data on Hed's website, the Jet 90 is a wheel that has a definite sweet spot where it shines. On the other hand, the H3 does really well in all wind angles. The H3 will serve you better across a range of conditions.

The choice of a rear wheel depends on how much you want to spend and how comfortable you feel with removing the cassette to put the cover on / off. A cover will save you money, but it will cost you more time and effort to work with. If you only have 1 wheelset, it becomes a bit of a pain to keep putting it on for races and taking it off for training. Another option could be to buy an inexpensive rear wheel and adding a cover to it. You'd still save a lot of money over a disk.


In Reply To:


Thank you... since you have tried both would you get: the H3 of the Jet 90 if you could only have one or the other? In addition, since I only have stock wheels on my Felt B16 should I go with a wheelcover or spring for the Jet Disc?
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Re: Best new wheelset for under $2,000?? [Am00re34] [ In reply to ]
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In Reply To:
I just received a nice bonus at work and am looking to buy wheelset with my money. I want to spend under $2,000 for the set, tires, and maybe a cassette. I do get a 15% discount on all equipment with my local tri-club so maybe keep that in mind if the set you are recommending is near $2,000.

I was thinking about getting a HED set with a H3 up front and the HED disc in the back.

What are other wheelsets I should consider? (Zipp, Sram, HED, etc). Also, I am not against crossing brands so if you think a ZIPP/HED is the best combo please suggest it.

Thanks for your help

Wheelbuilder - HED Belgiums laced to a Powertap (~ 1400) , disc cover and a used deep front wheel for racing.

John



Top notch coaching: Francois and Accelerate3 | Follow on Twitter: LifetimeAthlete |
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