I never see much discusion about the Stinger range from HED. People always mention the Jet range.
What are the issues/differences that make everyone lean towards Jet range?
Does anybody know how the Stinger Disc is constructed? Is it a full carbon or is it like the Jet Disc??
HED information on their website doesn’t give too many details away.
the stinger is tubular only, a big minus. otherwise it might be quite attractive.
the jet series, of course, is neither a true disc, nor is it a true deep section wheel. the jet series are basically standard alloy rims with a thin, basically non-structural, carbon fairing attached to the outside.
the stinger wheels also are able to get a more aero shape allegedly than the jets, since the braking surface isn’t a separate piece
zipp tubulars are more aero than zipp clinchers for the same reason
.
So does anybody know how the Stinger are constructed?
Why is tubular a big minus?
Why are Stingers not very popular?
I went from a Jet 9/Jet disc setup to a Stinger 9/Stinger disc setup and I will tell you I LOVE the Stingers. The Stinger 9 is a structural carbon wheel, while the Jet is basically a box rim with a carbon fairing over it. The carbon on the Jet 9/disc is very thin and flexible. It is also very easy to punch a hole in, as somebody put a skewer into my front wheel at T1 and pretty much ruined my Jet 9. The Stinger 9 looks and feels awesome, I think it truly matches up against Zipp wheels in this regard. The Stinger disc is pretty much a Stinger 9 with the carbon fairing thingy from the jet series covering the rest of the wheel to the cassette. I have the 320tpi Vittoria tubulars mounted on there and the ride is unbelievably smooth. Whether or not they are faster than the Jets I cannot say, I did not have a powermeter when I had the Jets. They FEEL faster, but that could just be my mind wanting them to be faster. They do feel much stiffer than the Jets, but something that can’t be denied is they are much lighter than the Jets. The main reason triathletes don’t like tubulars is because to get good rolling resistance numbers equal or better than equivalent clincher wheels you must glue the holy hell out of tubulars to the point they will never come off the rim. Think Normann Stadler in the lava fields spazzing out because he could not get the tubular tire off the wheel. I like the risk versus reward, keeps it exciting!
Here is what they look like on my bike.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d137/stitchboy24/20410330-1-1_324-690508_DATAx1.jpg