I’ve been out of the game for a few years. Is this still a solid choice, or are the deep section wheels just better at this point?
No. If it was, you would see more of them.
I love mine, but if I was going to buy new wheels at this point I’d be getting deep-section spoked wheels (primarily for the crosswind stability)
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Given many of the fastest riders in the world choose Tri spokes I would say the tri-spoke is still alive and well.
Gallery of the Giro TT: http://www.steephill.tv/2018/giro-d-italia/photos/stage-16/
While pros ride what they are given, there were rebadged trispoke wheels on the Movistar bikes at the Dauphiné yesterday.
Also seen: TriRig brakes and many Triathlon-style seats.
Very relevant. I’d argue that the Hed 3+ with a 20mm SS is the fastest wheel/tire setup you can run if you are a faster rider (keep in mind that’s not an official tire recommendation by the manufacturer, use at your own risk and be careful about the air pressure). My $0.02, with the rise of disc brakes I think you’ll see tri-spoke wheels become more relevant, not less.
I think it is still a solid choice. I’ve had a lot of different wheels over the years and my HED 3’s are still my favorite. Great in almost all conditions. Also very durable and can take a lot!
Still a solid front wheel.
Love mine on my P3SL!
Following your logic: Have you seen how many tri-spokes (often not sponsor-correct) are at ProTour level time trials?
And how many paychecks from Shimano are there for those wheels? Go read Josh@Silca posts on trying to show pros how wrong they were on tires, wheels, and air pressure. I don’t care what pro cyclists are riding.
The ones that break their Trek contracts to ride unbadged HED tri-spokes and Giro Aeroheads? Yeah, I kinda care what they do.
No disc brakes though, so in BryanD’s eyes, he’s just a yuppie Fred on the MUP
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How about the fact that the world TT champion and stage one Giro winner rides a tri spoke.
And let’s not forget the absolutely insane wind tunnel resources that Giant put into refining his position and literally designing that TT helmet (can’t remember the name… Rivet?) for his position. Surely after all of that they just went with the sponsor wheel choice… the same wheel used by Team Sky in TTs.
The ones that break their Trek contracts to ride unbadged HED tri-spokes and Giro Aeroheads? Yeah, I kinda care what they do.
Exactly
No disc brakes though, so in BryanD’s eyes, he’s just a yuppie Fred on the MUP
No. But I question any team riding Shimano PRO wheels because normally there is a paycheck associated with that.
Why is it then that ENVE and Zipp and all the other wheel companies don’t make trispokes if they are so fast?
And how many paychecks from Shimano are there for those wheels? Go read Josh@Silca posts on trying to show pros how wrong they were on tires, wheels, and air pressure. I don’t care what pro cyclists are riding.
https://www.swissside.com/blogs/news/rotational-drag-the-neglected-resistance
Watts to spin is a real thing fyi
http://www.biketechreview.com/index.php/blog/148-aero-torquewatts-to-spin
Perhaps the most noticeable feature of this graph is the very high wattage of the round spoked 46mm deep wheel. Requiring more than 10 additional watts to spin when compared to the almost identical bladed spoke 46mm deep wheel, with which it shared nearly the identical drag curve!
Spoke count and spoke shape matters.
I know it matters. I’m simply asking if it’s so awesome why have no other companies but HED and Shimano released these wheels?
There was the Nimble Crosswind and Zipp also had a tri-spoke. Also Corima has a tri spoke was well as a four spoke ( more is better, right).
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Both of those wheels were pretty much dogs. But the Trispoke wheel is absolutely still a contender. Maybe not the fastest but it is still right up there in the mix. And, there is something about the H3 that doesn’t show up in wind tunnel testing, maybe it’s ‘‘watts to spin’’ something but it’s a fast wheel.
And then there’s the ‘‘bad ass factor’’;
