Do all of the new HED3’s still have this problem of handling crosswinds?
Do any of you have personal experiences with this? Also, do you think future HED3s will somehow accomodate a little?
hate to break it to you but aeroness and wind handling wise the new HED3s, assuming you mean the carbonlites, should be virtually identical to the old HED3 wheels. Actually with a smaller moment of inertia due to no aluminum rim they actually might be slightly less stable. I’ve never ridden them, I ride a Zipp disk and 404 but as long as you’re a decent bike handler, aren’t super light and don’t use them in crazy strong wind obviously you’ll be okay. Half of riding in crosswinds with aero wheels is just getting used to being blown around and going with it…
You (and I) need a disc, for the crosswinds. Definitely helps, I tried in the wind with a friend’s Renn.
In one sprint tri with 30+ mph crosswinds I was tilted over about 20 (it felt like 45) degrees with the H3’s. someplaces I couldn’t use the aerobars because we were using the bike lane of a highway–scary.) The only non-complainers were using spoked shallow wheels.
It is more a choice for each athlete than a problem with HEDs wheels. I haven’t experienced any ‘handling’ problems’ with HED wheels other than one would expect with wheels that catch varying amounts of cross winds. I own the HED3D disc, front and back Tri-Spokes, and the front Stinger. I use the disc wherever it is legal. If it’s not in back I always use the Tri-Spoke. Up front I use the Tri-Spoke unless – like last year in Kona – winds are exceptionally strong. Then the Stinger.
For perspective, I am 6’ 3" and near 190lbs. For a smallish woman (or man) these wheels might present handling problems in some conditions that were not problamatic for me. But it is not a problem to be fixed. Simply use another wheel if it isn’t right for you.
Similarly, I run in Asics Gel Kayanos. For a smaller, lighter athlete they might feel like clod hoppers. But there’s nothing ‘wrong’ structurally with the shoe. It’s just not right for everyone.
Hope that helps.
I’ve never noticed problems running a H3 friont and disc rear either in winds or on twisty technical courses. Personally, I think the handling issues are overblown.
I think he’s talking about H3’s front and back.
teege,
The Hed3s tend to be a little different than traditional wheels the first time you ride them in a crosswind situation. That said, I have ridden them and raced them in crosswinds and at this point, I do not really notice any unusual handling problems or characteristics with them over tradional wheels. I think the biggest part of this is adapting to how they handle. As you ride them in different conditions, this will occur all by itself. After a short time you can ride them confidently in a pack or group ride unless there are outrageously strong crosswinds.
You will notice more handling issues with a pair of Hed 3s vs a disc and a Hed3 on the front. I don’t have the technical explanation for this but this is what you will discover.
I last rode my Hed3s in a 100 mile race on July 31st. There were winds and crosswinds and much of my riding was in pacelines and groups but I really didn’t notice any handling problems with the wheels. I was never anxious about riding in these groups with these wheels. All in all, I had a great ride and a great time that Sunday. I never regretted mychoice of wheels for that event.
I have had my Hed3s and disc for slightly more than a year now and I wouldn’t hesitate to ride them in any wind, short of a gale force blow.
You are definitely faster with the Hed3s or a disc and a Hed3 front than you are with traditional wheels.
ben: so you are saying you wouldn’t go with 2 Hed 3’s?
I’ve owned HED3’s for many years…even some old Specialized…they are all the same. I’ve raced using HED3’s front and back and HED3 front and HED3D in the rear. I use them in anything short of a hurricane.
I also own the new HED3 Carbon front…and as mentioned earlier, it is far lighter and not as stable as the older/current aluminum rimmed HED3’s.
I race using the HED3C and HED3D combination in all conditions!
You’ll get used to the crosswind stuff…I don’t even notice anymore.
Half of riding in crosswinds with aero wheels is just getting used to being blown around and going with it…
Hit the nail on the head…
WHOA, what’s going on, you usually never agree with anyone!!! 
WHOA, what’s going on, you usually never agree with anyone!!!
Don’t you read my tagline and see my screenname?
HED3 fronts are definitely not a good idea on a windy course. That is why you see so very few of them at Kona (only people who haven’t ridden Kona before would try them.) I don’t think the dimensions of the HED3 will change, and that is what causes the problem in the cross winds.
I have the old school Hed3 rims. I have had the crosswind problem only once. It was during some 40 mph crosswinds. Otherthan that I have never hada problem. For reference I am a 190lb male riding a Trek 2200 road bike. I swear by my rims, I love them 
Have raced the Specialized TriSpokes in a lot of TTs, but only one tri. Anyway… One particular TT was out in the desert with howling cross winds. The berms along the side of the road provided the most entertainment, as I went behind them and veered about 3 feet to the right, then came out and veered 3 feet to the left. Felt more like I was tacking across the wind… But even then, the handling wasn’t a real big issue. Never have done a TriSpoke front/disk rear combo. May have to give that a try. I may be seeing a Renn disk in my future…
Rear disc, 808 front handles better on my bikes when I’m riding them than rear disc, H3 front. Love the H3, think it’s darn near bombproof…BUT, I like the 808 better.
Ok, I am a little confused (new). What would be your ideal HED set up? Hed 3 front, Disc back? How about if you didn’t want a disc wheel in the back, what would you do?
Dude go back and do a search, I had these same issues and what i found out was that the HED wheels were not for me, although they were good wheels they just tossed me around like a tossed salad and Im a clyde. I turned them in for some Zipps and couldnt be happier, no more issues with crosswinds.
Those that say that handling issues are overrated are full of bunk, I thinks its a personal issue and to each his own. Try out what you want and form your own opinion, those that say your handling skills are sub par dont know what they are talking about.
If you think the H3 is sketchy, you should scrounge up a pair of Hed Deeps (not the jets, the old ones that laced tiny spokes to a 90mm deep carbon rim). Slap one of those puppy’s up front and you’ll feel the effects for sure.
H3 front + H3Disc rear for all of my B races (clinchers) and Nimbles for the precious few races I deem important enough to warrant tubies (tufo’s by they way, guess that’s why I’m slow :p)
If you like the design of a tri-spoke but want something a little more stable in a crosswind, the Nimbles are worth trying out, though I’m sure plenty of people will chime in with how they aren’t as aerodynamic, blah blah blah.
Compared to KP, I’m shorter and fatter, so I hated having to constantly true up my race wheels. I really like a full carbon wheel, and to be quite honest, I haven’t ridden any tri-spoke or disc that I didn’t think was a perfectly fine choice for just about anything.
I’ve seen 120 pound women handle them fine in 20mph +/- crosswinds… but they knew how to ride a bike