I have been reading on Tri-spokes and have come to the conclusion that they are “bomb” proof, but looking at the performance there seems to be some difference of opinion, many say its the best single set of wheels for all conditions. I am hoping someone that has been using them and real life experience. I know that many use a front tri-spoke and a rear disc, but I think I would be moving more towards a front and back tri-spoke combination… At this time it would be my only real set of wheels.
Since the beginning of this forum a Hed3 and Disc has been the most recommended wheelset. Other combinations have come to try and unseat the king, but so far it hasn’t happened. H3 front/rear can be a real handfull on a windy day. H3/disc; steady as she goes.
I’ve been using them for two seasons. Don’t use any other wheels anymore. Apart from the trainer naturaly. Got some decent speed, maybe 2kph more. Not a good bikehandler, and I have some problems in hard crosswinds. I’m 140-145 so that might be part of the problem. Had one race screwed up because I couldn’t stay aero due to large open fields and hard crosswinds. No problems in other races and just a few times during training. Apart from that I love the wheels. Feel fast, are fast and look awesome. And they feel more stable than regular spoled wheels so I don’t feel a need to keep trainingwheels anymore.
I used the Hed 3 (old style) front and back for Challenge Penticton on my QR Cd 0.1 back in 2014, as well as on my road bike (Scott Foil) in a Gran Fondo. A great all purpose setup, albeit not great for climbing. This year for IMC I am going back to a disc wheel (cover) and the HED 3 - with a Conti Supersonic 20 up front.
Other combinations have come to try and unseat the king, but so far it hasn’t happened.
I unseated that combo about 7 years ago…
With?
Zipp 808FC for a while. Flo now.
The old H3 just doesn’t quite do well enough to make up for having to roll with skinny tires, e.g. per the below. Even factoring in some wiggle room for “watts to spin.” So it’s a bit slower and you have to deal with super-skinny hard-to-get tires pumped up super hard.
It could be that the H3+ leapfrogs back into first. I just haven’t seen any evidence that it does yet.
I guess my comment would be to learn to field test, borrow one, and test it yourself. IMO wind tunnel testing of wheels is pretty misleading because of watts to spin (negative for H3, positive for spoked wheels, not counted in wind tunnel tests), interactions with the frame/rider, and tradeoffs between rolling resistance and aero. Field testing is way better for wheels.
I’ve been using them for two seasons. Don’t use any other wheels anymore. Apart from the trainer naturaly. Got some decent speed, maybe 2kph more. Not a good bikehandler, and I have some problems in hard crosswinds. I’m 140-145 so that might be part of the problem. Had one race screwed up because I couldn’t stay aero due to large open fields and hard crosswinds. No problems in other races and just a few times during training. Apart from that I love the wheels. Feel fast, are fast and look awesome. And they feel more stable than regular spoled wheels so I don’t feel a need to keep trainingwheels anymore.
+1
This is my experience too. I bought my set from the Classifieds here in 2011 and ride them 100% of the time. The look awesome, ride awesome, and are awesome.
