HED 3’s all the way! My rig ready to race
How do you ride without pedals? I imagine it is an aero advantage, but I suspect a drop in wattage.
Sweet ride, if everything goes right, I should be able to post a pick of my new P2 with front and back H3cs in a few weeks.
I like it. But don’t forget your pedals on race day:)
I just ordered a HED3c Deep rear with a standard HED3c front…look forward to the set up…
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Thanks for putting the pic of my bike up. I clearly need a tutorial on how to add photos to my posts. I appreciate the help.
Happy to help =)
On the TinyPic website, just to the left of your bike picture, there are four different links listed. Just copy the link listed under IMG Code for Forums & Message Boards, then paste that link in the body of your post.
Just a quick question about the HED 3c wheels: do you think they are a good choice for light riders (sub 140 lbs) on windy courses?
This is the season I invest in a set of race wheels and am considering a Zipp 808 rear and 404 front setup but am still researching other options.
Steve, this is my race day setup…I’m only 140 and run the Stinger 60 front with the HED3C rear…could I get away with a HED3C front?
Also I have to admit, I don’t like the uneven braking surface on the HED3C even with Swiss Stop Yellow pads.
Arrghh. I tried two different links, but did not see the message board one. I got it now, thanks for your help.
Personally, I don’t notice a big difference between the H3 and other deep wheels such as the 404. I believe if you are set up correctly on your bike and your weight is distributed properly, they should handle fine. Levi and Contador are small guys and they will ride them in big winds.
Paul:
Could you get away with it? Yes. Do you need to? Probably not, your current set up looks good. Of course if you want to cover all of your bases, you need a H3C front and a disc to add to your quiver and you should be set for all courses and conditions. And get your bars lower:)
I notice that your saddle is quite far back with regards to the clamp. It seems to be further back than recommended (by most saddle manufacturers).
What’s the reason you are using the front clamping position instead of the rear? To reduce saddle flex when “tipping” it?
So why does Lance stay with them? Both HED and Zipp have been advancing the technology on the deep dish wheels and all the tests show that the H3C is slower than even a 2007 Zipp 404.
Plus they are really ugly.
I found that when I ran it on the back clamp, there woulld be too much leverage on the saddle and I had a few instances where the nose tipped dramatically in races. So it is a preventitive measure as I could achieve the same set up on either clamp.
I can’t speak to why Lance sticks with them, along with many other top pros. However, there are a lot of excellent wheels on the market and how they compare in the windtunnel is only part of the equation. Real world conditions and results are what matter most. That said, I have had some stellar results on Zipp wheels and like them a lot. This thread is just intented to share my recent experience with the Hed3C, whic has been very positive.
Arrghh. I tried two different links, but did not see the message board one. I got it now, thanks for your help.
Personally, I don’t notice a big difference between the H3 and other deep wheels such as the 404. I believe if you are set up correctly on your bike and your weight is distributed properly, they should handle fine. Levi and Contador are small guys and they will ride them in big winds.
Thanks, this is good to know. I’m half an inch shorter than Levi and not quite as light as his listed race weight (132 lbs).
Darn, Steve Larsen just told me to remove that last 3 mm spacer or get a negative rise stem.
So much for riding 2009 in tourist mode with a stack of spacers totalling 5mm (current set up).
Steve, seriously though, what is the braking surface on your HED3C’s like. I have to say that mine is not great. The surface is somewhat concaved and uneven.
I think my next wheel will be Zipp 808 clincher with powertap hub (just so that I can download my feeble powerfiles after races for my friends at ST to laugh at).
Dev
I don’t recall the braking service being out of the oridinary, but I’ll take a look at them today and get back to you.
So why does Lance stay with them? Both HED and Zipp have been advancing the technology on the deep dish wheels and all the tests show that the H3C is slower than even a 2007 Zipp 404.
Plus they are really ugly.
Can you reference this (a link or links would be great)? I’d like to read the study since I’m researching race wheels.
How pretty or ugly wheels, frames or any gear may be is pretty subjective. Personally, I’ll pick an efficient product/design over aesthetics. That said, I’d still like a little bit of “coolness” (w/in my perspective) in the look of the product/design of the products I purchase.
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So why does Lance stay with them? Both HED and Zipp have been advancing the technology on the deep dish wheels and all the tests show that the H3C is slower than even a 2007 Zipp 404.
Plus they are really ugly.
And, in addition to these questions, I thought H3’s were prone to wobbling at high speeds when going downhill. Is that true, or is it something that I thought I read in a thread somewhere that is ultimately incorrect but it’s somehow stuck in my head?
Steve, Ironman Lake Placid is calling. 
any plans in the near future?
I would love to get back, but it doesn’t seem likely that it will be in 2009. If I make it to an IM this year, it will probably be of the Maple Leaf variety. Summer will tell if I can get ready.
To 3-spoke or not to 3-spoke…?
I have heard that these wheels tend to be very stiff…to the point of making for a really rough ride. Can you comment on this?
I have a Hed3, Jet60, Spinergy Stealth (45mm), and training Velocity Spartacus (30mm aluminum) front rims. With the same tire and pressure, the Hed3 is the smoothest and nicest feeling front out of them all. Much less road vibration is transmitted to your arms than with any of the others. The wheel is very stiff but also very comfy.