for $1600, how is this superior to, say, the Cervelo P2K? (I don’t own one, just asking the questions)
the Hed is only produced in 3 sizes
there are carbon chainstays, but I don’t think they do anything for the ride
the rear wheel is too far from the seat tube cutout, and it’s not adjustable
the cables aren’t internal on the Hed
and the Hed has a bladed TT, but that’s only useful if the bike is falling off a cliff
Are you planning on using this bike for TT or Triathlon? What’s the geometry of it…I’m assuming it’s the same as the VO3? I spoke with Steve Hed a few months ago and he had said that he would definitely not recommend the VO3 as a regular tri bike, so that pretty much stopped me frmo looking any more at that bike.
“How is this superior to, say, the Cervelo P2K?”
You’ve obviously never seen one in person.
The Aerolab is a Bicycle Pornstar.
The P2K is a nice Blonde, or maybe a model brunette.
Sure a P2K is nice, but when it comes to doing it, I’d take the HED.
Are you serious? Or maybe sponsored by them? It’s a very ordinary frame. And I can’t see a difference between the 03 and the O4 except for different stickers.
I am not sponsored by anyone.
I can not be bribed, cheaply.
MAn, i’m the oppositte.
I may fantasize about the pornstar, but i’d take the classy brunnette model over some ho anyday.
Either way, the hed bike is nowhere close to innovative, and brings his roduct line down. Planet x makes an almost identical bike for the track, and likely will have the same bike out for road use soon enough.
Also, the seat post slips like crazy.
edit: i can also be bribed, very cheaply.
I, too, would take the brunette model. there’s lots of attractive brunettes (some of whom are porn stars, anyway). also, I’m Asian, and all Asian women are (or should be, imo) brunettes.
I have seen neither the Hed Aerolab or the P2K in person. the Hed does look slick. but, like I said, it’s more expensive than the P2K and has fewer features. and I don’t plan to do TTs off cliff edges, so one feature is useless.
Does anyone have the geometry on these bikes? In the V03, the head tube was 115mm, regardless of size. I’ve heard that they addressed this, but have no data.
“I can’t see a difference between the 03 and the O4 except for different stickers.”
Look closely, carbon chainstays for the 04, thats about the only difference, oh, and the $400 addl. pricetag
Still I must ask, why carbon chain/seat stays on an aluminum TT bike?
The Aerolab weighs approx. 1,395g (in size M) like a P3 more or less. The bike is solely intended for TT’s. So they’ve shaved quite a bit of weight off.
I’m pretty sure the geometry is like the Aerolab VO3…slack seat angle. That’s 73.6 for the S; 73.8 for the M and 73.7 for the L size.
As has been said here already…the bike’s a porn star!!! hahahahaha…so, you know what that means…HED.
The VO4 looks very like the Planet-X track bike which I think someone has mentioned previously. Slightly shallower seat tube angle on the Hed and marginally longer seatstays (aluminium not carbon on the X) plus the Hed is around $400 more expensive. No brake mounts on the X but you were interested in going fast anyway weren’t you ?
John
Carbon chainstays, the 03 had only carbon seatstays? LOL… what-ever…
Good question Gary…
I owned a VO3 and recently parted with it to build another bike. IMO, it’s an incredible TT bike, but not-so-much a good tri bike. Basically, the vertical compliance is nill…this sucker is stiff. For me, a 40k TT was about all I wanted to ride it. But, for that short of time, it performed incredible. It made a unique sound when cranked…like a hollow “I wanna go faster” tinny sound. I LOVED the sizing and fit me like a dream. I did have (3) challenges with the bike. 1) Integrated shift guides. I thought it was really cool until I cabled the bike. The rear shift cable gets in the way of of your front brake arm! I’m still wondering why they designed it this way. You can shorten the cables…and it wasn’t much an issue, but did cause me to scratch my hed. 2) Front tire to downtube clearance. This ride is compact! No turning corners while pedalling… 3) Lack of two H20 mounts. Other ways around it, but no prefer frame mounts over rear seat launchers.
Otherwise, my VO3 was a work of art. The tubing, welds, stickering overcoat (whatever that’s called) was all top notch! Contrary to another post, my seat post NEVER slipped and I very much enjoyed the micro adjustment.
I imagine the extra $$$ is due the new production and perhaps quality materials. The Heds have a history of offering too good of product, too cheaply. Perhaps its for the new college fund. They’ll sell out if they already haven’t…
“IMO, it’s an incredible TT bike, but not-so-much a good tri bike.”
Yup…and Steve Hed would probably agree.
Why would steve hed think that it is an incredable tt bike.