I’ve been thinking about upgrading the trainers to a set of aero wheels. Been doing my research and have been looking at a number of sets. What I cant figure out is the major difference between some of the cheaper sets like Hed Jet 60’s & Spinergy Stealths vs. more expensive ones like 404’s, Reynolds or Mavic Carbones . Do the benefits of those costlier sets really amount to that great a monetary difference? Hoping someone w/ experience between the 2 sides can chime in. Thanks.
Joe
More money gets you better hubs (all of the wheels in group “2” - Zipp/Reynolds/Mavic, better build quality (again, all wheels), better aerodynamics (404’s definitely), lighter weight (except for maybe the Mavic’s).
The Spinergy’s have round spokes, which is a no-no.
404’s are the most aerodynamic on your list. That’d be my #1 off that list, followed by the Mavic’s & the Reynolds (tie between those two. Mavics are slightly more aero than Reynolds, Reynolds are lighter than Mavics).
A wheel that costs twice as much is not going to be twice as fast. As far as being “worth it,” that is totally personal. The cost is higher for a very marginal improvement. If you want the best, you have to pay for it. You will get most of the benefit with cheaper wheels. But you are settling.
Hed 60’s have more spokes and are heavier than 404’s or Alps.
Here are some options for race wheels on a tight budget:
$400 Renn Disc - hopefiully you have a decent front wheel.
$900 Renn Disc, Hed Alp Front - IMO the most aero wheel combo under $1000us
$900 Jet60 Pair - About the same weight as the Renn/Alp but much less aero
$1100 Alp Pair (300g lighter then the Renn/alp but less aero) -
I just ordered the Disc and when money allows I will look for good front wheel.
Comes down to technology, complexity and materials which then results in differences in weight and price.
HED jets are basically an aluminum wheel with an aero carbon fairing attatched to it. Downsides are the fairing isn’t structural so it just ends being a heavier wheel. It also doesn’t use the patented rim shaping (the rim bulge) that is supposed to make other HED wheels and most Zipp wheels (they share the patent) more aerodynamic. The upsides are that they are probably still pretty damn aero, they are cheaper as they are easier to manufacture and with the carbon being non-structural I’m guessing grade of the carbon and lay-up are a lot easier and cheaper to manufacture. They are a little dated technology wise but a bargain for time trialing, a little heavy for road racing or crits though. Basically they are solid wheels that have kinda grown out of thier sex appeal.
They Spinergies seem pretty nice to me although again their weights don’t come close to the higher end full carbon wheels. They are foam filled which makes them a bit heavier and the hub quality, at least in my brief experience with them isn’t quite up there with HED or Zipp. For the prices you can sometimes find them though they are definetely a bargain.
404’s and Reynolds are all cutting edge technology and that means they are lighter, probably a bit stronger (for something that light at least) a little more aero and undoubtedly more sexy:) They are harder to make as the rim is a structural rim versus the HED Jets and a lot more engineering has to go into thier rim design to keep it lighter than the next wheel out there while still maintaining a tolerable factor of safety. Also the carbon brake surfaces on these rims means higher tolerances have to be kept as you can’t just machine the braking surface like on an aluminum rim. The hubs are higher quality (not that you’ll notice I’m guessing) and they are usually laced with a lot more expensive spokes, usually aero spokes, for instance Zipp uses super expensive (well expensive in the spoke world) Sapim spokes. Basically you’re paying for the newest, the coolest, the lightest, etc etc.
If you can’t afford the boutique expensive wheels don’t sweat it. Get yourself a nice pair of Spinergy Stealths or better yet a pair of used Jets or something on Ebay. Maybe a pair of used American Classic 420s as those are nice all around yet aero and light wheels. Or the all carbon HED Stinger 5.0s look sweet, I’m waiting for my pair to show up. Later when you are wishing for something new and fun to spend your money on, go all out and get something with dimples:) Lifting your bike up with light wheels, damn that feels good! Once you’re at 25 mph though I doubt you’ll be able to tell one wheel from the next.
Oh the Mavics, unless you really like stuff made in France, you’re paying a premium for the name or something, never quite figured out why they are so expensive. A guy has a pair in the classifieds though for like $800…
get to 10% body fat and then get a decent coach. learn to swim sub 1 hr without being tired. get your nutrition spot on so as you don’t stop to go to the toilet any mumber of times. Spend less than 2 min in each transition. When you have maxed all of them out worry about your wheels.
Oh snap! You got us. 
It’s so much easier just to buy wheels and fool ourselves! I think quick transition times are the easiest and well, “free-est” (costs you nothing!) way to get faster.