Did a search without much luck, looking at getting some hed alps, to be used as a overall wheel set. Any good or bad comments about them from those with experience with them?
Well, they’ve been around forever so I would take that as a good sign of their quality.
I have to ask though why you would want to use them for everyday use? Presumably, your bike already has wheels. Why not use those wheels for training and save the Hed Alps with nice new tires for race day?
I like the Alps wheelset, but I wouldn’t use it for training. Too much chance of destroying a very expensive wheel and I wouldn’t want to put that kind of miles on race tires.
I’d be interested in hearing about them, too, especially as they compare to the JET or Stinger models. Not to hijack, but what’s the difference between the Jet and Stinger anyway?
The Jet is an aluminum rim with a fairing over it to make it deep.
The Stinger is an all carbon wheel.
Mine has been fantastic so far, but I agree with the other post that you probably don’t want to use a wheel like this for training. For one I like to train with slower wheels so I have to work harder. Two if something DID happen while training, these are pretty expensive to go replacing. But as a wheel they are rock solid and from the data and feel very aero.
I have a set of Hed Alps Tubulars (rear with a PT hub) that I use for racing. I cut my CH Aero cover for the rear wheel so I essentially have the option of the plain ALPs or my disc equivalent on the rear.
I think they are a great wheel for the money. My only real problem with them is the fact that I have to remove the tires to true them; which is a pain with tubulars. However, the price isn’t bad and I have to believe that from an aero perpective, they are as fast as any other deep section wheel (assuming comparable rim depth).
I’m not sure I’d use them as everyday wheels since you can pick up a decent training wheelset for so cheap but you probably could if you wanted. I do use my rear wheel during some training rides because I don’t yet have a training wheel for my PT.
If you do a search on “hed alps” you get 42 pages of hits.
Hed Alps every day
gives 2 full pages of hits.
I’ve raced with them and trained with them and find them indestructible. The price is right, much cheaper than the gucci Zipps and probably more durable. I have owned mine for a little over 2 years and haven’t had a single problem. FYI, I vary my weight between 190-210 lbs. if that helps you regarding rider size and weight.
They actully will be mostly a race day wheel set, was thinking of the michelin pro race 2 tires, I currenty have a set Mavic equipe’s and I have rub marks on the chain stays and tires. The wheels flex that much when I get out of the saddle, the frame is a litespeed. I weigh 170#, I just don’t want to drop the money and be disapointed. KDW, something went wrong because my first search, I did got 4 hits.
I have all kinds of bikes and wheels. I have a Cervelo Soloist that I keep set up with a set of HED Alps and Michelin Pro 2 race tires. I use it on flat, fast centuries and “special event” type rides. I did an 85 mile event two weekends ago and it took us down some amazingly awful roads. I did a century last weekend and it had a ton of RR crossings, potholes and other crap. I’m an old fart, but I had no trouble hanging with the lead racer dudes who always show up at these things and try to beat everybody up. I think the wheels helped. They helped me psychologically if nothing else. Man … they really look awesome on my black Soloist.
With the harsh roads there were several broken spokes and other wheel mishaps that victimized some of the lead pack riders. I had no problems whatsoever. Had I known the conditions on those 2 rides were going to be as they were, I probably wouldn’t have picked those wheels to ride. But they did great. FWIW, my set is several years old. I bought them used from a training buddy.
Bob C.