HED JET 6 or 9 rear wheel? 6 or 4 front?

Triathlon Forum
1

Decision time and as they say, don’t do anything without consulting slowtwitch.

I want to buy a power meter and my first tt wheelset. I have been renting a powertap alloy shallow rim wheel this winter for training and I have loved the simplicity and reliability of the powertap so far. So I have decided that I would buy a HED wheelset with a powertap. I want one do it all wheelset (tt, road bike, windy, hilly etc,…) set it up and don’t think about it. I am a MOP so I don’t mind losing 2min because I haven’t got the most optimum wheel set.

I am hesitating on the depth of the rim. For the rear wheel I am tempted to buy the jet 9 but I am worried that it might be a wee deep if i ever want to use this wheel on my road bike or on hilly triathlons, or during windy days. My other option would be to go for a jet 6 which I could use any day, and slap a wheel cover for fast and flat courses.

Regarding the front wheel, I am not sure I could handle the 6 in windy weather, so I could go down to the jet 4. However would I really gain much with the 4 compared to my current shallow campy wheel (28mm)? I don’t want to be spending hundreds of $ for little benefit. I might as well buy the 6 and only use in good weather.

So fellow slowtwitchers what do ya say? 9 or 6 rear wheel? 6, 4 or save the monies at the front?

2

I have the 6/9 combo and like it a lot. I never felt like the 6 up front was unmanageable in the wind.

3

I actually went with the 6 on the rear with the PT for the all around wheel, I had an 88 mm rear before that and used it daily but wanted something a bit shallower for training and maybe some bike racing. I throw a wheel cover on it for racing so no big difference than with the 9. The 9 up front has never given me problems. It is a whole lot better than my S80 I had before. I don’t think you can go wrong either way but I am sure you could manage the 6 up front for sure. I am no handling expert but I have ridden some windy, hilly courses where I got a lot of speed and only ever was nervous once, and that was 2 weeks after a crash so I was twitchy regardless. Hope that helps.

4

6/9 would be ideal. Although this is coming from someone who just picked up a rear 6 to swap with my disk for regular rides.

5

I went with the 5 up front and a 7 on the rear. Arts had them on special a few years ago.

I have been riding them on my Slice for 3 years now and I am super happy.

Last year I sent the rear wheel to http://www.wheelbuilder.com/ and had them put a Powertap Hub in it and I got a wheel cover to fit. I run the cover for races and take it off when just training.

I would look at getting a moderate deep rear (like my 7) and get a wheel cover for the versatility you want.

6

< 150lbs: 6+Disc or a 9 if you have aspirations for a non-disc race)

150lbs: 9+Disc “”
.

7

155lbs. leaving in a windy area and a little bit hilly.

I sounds like a 6 rear and 6 front for training + disc cover for races would be a nice combo.

8

Went for the 9 rear jet black with a PT. First ride today, loving the wheel and I am so glad I went for the 9. Doesn’t look that deep and a 6 would have looked to skinny.

I had a shallow rim at the front and I couldn’t really feel the wind on the rear wheel.

I just need to buy the little sister for the front when I have the funds. Now I am wondering whether I should go for a 6 or a trispoke.

9

Buy an H3 and ride it all year long. I do!

10

I have the 6/9 combo and like it a lot. I never felt like the 6 up front was unmanageable in the wind.+1. Same combo, did Lanza this year with it, it was fine. Add a disk cover and you are sorted

11

I bought the 6_9 combo jet blacks. Love them. I think you will regret it if you get the 6 rear or 4 front. Ya they might move a little with some cross wind but its not that big of a deal. Fyi i am 170 lbs.

12

< 150lbs: 6+Disc or a 9 if you have aspirations for a non-disc race)

150lbs: 9+Disc “”

Can you explain why? Also looking to upgrade my ride this season, and was curious as to this advice. -Thanks

13

I agree! I’ve used a HED3 front (latex, supersonic) with a Jet disc for several years, and today, for a 40km TT, I decided to try my Jet6 front (latex, conti 4000s 23mm) just for kicks. My N = 1 experience tells me to go back to the HED3. With virtually identical power to the state TT from a month ago, similar conditions and similar course, I was about 80 seconds slower today (59:00 compared to 57:40). I don’t necessarily attribute all of that difference to the front wheel (I also ditched the btwn the arms bottle today), but I now have renewed trust in the HED3/supersonic for max speed.

14

I agree! I’ve used a HED3 front (latex, supersonic) with a Jet disc for several years, and today, for a 40km TT, I decided to try my Jet6 front (latex, conti 4000s 23mm) just for kicks. My N = 1 experience tells me to go back to the HED3. With virtually identical power to the state TT from a month ago, similar conditions and similar course, I was about 80 seconds slower today (59:00 compared to 57:40). I don’t necessarily attribute all of that difference to the front wheel (I also ditched the btwn the arms bottle today), but I now have renewed trust in the HED3/supersonic for max speed.

There is a reason the H3 is still the front wheel of choice for ITT in the TDF. The H3 just flat kills it.

15

I have a 5 up front and a 7 rear. 2 years ago I had a powertap laced into the rear and got a cover from wheel builder.com . I leave the cover off untill races and train with wheel without it. I leave it off only because it is easier to clean the bike. I have crap bike handling skills and I have no problems getting blown around. It is a great all around set up.

16

Have a 6/9 Jet Plus Combo on my P2 here.

First set of aero wheels, so nothing to compare to, but they hold their speed very well.

A little sluggish to accelerate (well, compared to my dura-ace c24s!), but otherwise really good. Especially with latex tubes.