I’m not so blessed with a budget that would allow me to go out and buy a complete set of new racewheels quite so easily. I have been scoping for good deals on second hand ones for quite some time. I have a friend who will cut me a good deal on a HED 3C front, which I have been hesistant on because I would like to eventually put a PowerTap on the rear wheel and therefore not likely to complete the set with a rear 3C.
I am well aware that I can build a decent quality rear training wheel with the PowerTap and just put a wheel cover on it for races and use the HED 3C up front, and I’m not ruling that out. However, if I find a good deal on say a Zipp 404 with a PowerTap, which incidentally is a possibility now. Other than pissing off fashionistas, how good or bad of an idea would it be to match something like a deep section rear wheel (i.e. 404) with a 3C up front? I know it would be kind of fugly, but would there be serious impacts to handling or performance?
I think most people do it the other way (h3c in the rear and a regular wheel up front) I had a buddy though that was in your exact situation and put the h3 up front and had a 404 or something in the back. it didnt stop him from cleaning up at local races.
I use a powertap so in the back I just have the PT on a training wheel and use a wheel cover for racing. up front I have a few wheels to pick from.
I think if you look through some of the older posts what you will find is that there is a pretty solid opinion that a HED 3 up front with a disc (or cover) in the back is just about the fastest setup you can have. That is my set up for next year…I will be adding a powertap to my rear and then slapping a cover over it instead of getting a full disc…with a HED 3 up front.
How about a 404 with a powertap and a wheelcover? Take the stickers off the 404 and 90% of the population won’t know the different wheel brands, of course 90% of slowtwitch will notice.
I am well aware that I can build a decent quality rear training wheel with the PowerTap and just put a wheel cover on it for races and use the HED 3C up front, and I’m not ruling that out. However, if I find a good deal on say a Zipp 404 with a PowerTap, which incidentally is a possibility now.
Are you also well aware that a training wheel with a cover will almost always be faster than a 404?
The only time it wouldn’t is in a steep uphill race. Then, the 404 may be faster. Mostly because of how much lighter your wallet will be.
see no problem I run hed c3 up front or double deep and renn madiera on the back(because its lighter and cheaper than the hed disk)I have an older hed superlight but quit using it after getting the madiera.
The handling would be fine with the 404 rear, but it will be slower, less durable and more expensive than the training wheel with the cover. IMO it’s sort of a no brainer to go with the training wheel/cover if you are using a PT and have any kind of budgetary constraints.
Well, I think the 1080 would be similar to the HED3D, which really only have a benefit if you are topping the 25mph range…also tough in heavy winds up front (so I understand, I have never had the honor of riding one --little too much $$$)
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Got mine on ST classified. Only reason I am partial to them. I to have not had the honor in riding a HED3D. Would like to! They are not that bad in a cross wind once you get the hang of riding with them.
Are you also well aware that a training wheel with a cover will almost always be faster than a 404?
The only time it wouldn’t is in a steep uphill race. Then, the 404 may be faster. Mostly because of how much lighter your wallet will be.
Steve
I have been told that before although I will admit that I don’t really have anything other than anecdotal evidence to believe one way or the other. I hear it all of the time, I just don’t see many people actually using wheel covers in races. I also do not do many very flat races, I’m doing IMWI in 2010, and my last HIM was not too bad, mostly rollers, but had upwards of 30mph crosswinds. In other words, I’ve been a little cautious about discs and covers, but I’m certainly not ruling them out.
If you are nervous about crosswinds, you should be much more nervous about the H3 front than the disk in the rear. The disk will actually make the H3 front more manageable in crosswinds than a 404 would.