I occasionally see that some triathletes favor an interesting race wheel set-up: a 3 or 4-spoke composite wheel for the rear, and a multi-spoked (traditional spokes) deep rim carbon wheel for the front. This is most often a Hed 3 in the rear with a Hed spoked Alps for the front, but there are also are similar set-ups with corima wheels, x-lab wheels, etc.
So my question is: what is the evidence out there (if there is any) that this set-up is more aero, stiffer, lighter, or in any other way more practical or rideable than the equivalent set-up of either dual composite-spoke wheels (the same composite-spoke rim in front and back) or dual deep rim wheels (also same deep rim in front and back) or, if the race rules allow, a deep rim front with a rear disc combo?
Is this just a fad of some sort? Is it a function thing or a “style” thing? Or does it really work any better? If yes, how does it work better? And any actual evidence that it does?
I am not too sure solid data is out there as an exact answer. I like a solid rear wheel as they never come untrue with the torque mostly being on the rear wheel. I guess an ideal would be to have a HED 3 and disc for rear options. and a shallow, HED 3 and deep dish rim for the front. Then you would several options for different courses and 4 grand in wheels. Those HED 3 are tough wheels.
Style points go for HED 3 rear and Alps front, or Zipp disc and 808 front. Campy or Mavic discs get Oh my God $ points.
As far as faster or being better options any combination of the above wheels is probably faster than your training wheels so they are “fast enough” for me. I think a HED 3/ or Alps front and Renn disk are the bestest for the lesstest.
Style points go for HED 3 rear and Alps front
Ok, but how would a Hed 3 front and rear be any worse for style or function? It would seem to be better in both…
I personally feel it is either because A) People are afraid of buying discs (for that one in a thousand chance that it’s too windy) or B) They can’t afford as many race wheels so they go for a good all-around set. That kind of goes back to A, though- if you can only afford two race wheels, I say buy a deep or 3-spoke front and a disc rear. But as I said- I think they’re afraid of discs. I am lucky enough to have a set of 404’s as well as a Renn disc. I have never used the rear 404 in a tri- only in road races. The only time I forsee using it in a tri is when I make it to Kona.
If you only have one set racing wheel, this combination might be the best:
Disc rear is fastest, but not allowed in Hawaii. 3-spokes are probably the fastest non-disc wheel, in addition to be strong & maintenance-free.
3-spoke is fastest front-wheel, but difficult to handle in strong side-wind. A standard spoked wheel behaves better in wind, and is a bit more lightweight.
(If you listen to companies that don’t make 3 or 4 spoke wheels, they claim that their traditionally spoked deep rim wheel is faster.)
When I mentioned Hed alps front and H3 rear I was thinking of only one pair of wheels. That combo would be a bit better in big wind conditions (if that is a concern), a tad lighter (hilly courses). Hed 3 on both ends is pretty a common setup. I don’t like the Hed 3 front on highspeed courses (as in general solid wheels aren’t as round or true as the spoked rims). In back that is no problem, but I want my front wheels very accurate for breaking and corners. My Hed 3 was a “select” one that John Cobb picked out years ago out of a group of twenty or so at his shop. It is pretty good but not perfect on the jig.
My next carbon wheel will be an Alps, 404, or 808. I may even consider of all things a clincher setup with a powertap. I have never raced on clinchers before, so who knows? Even Old Skool even changes.