Which disc should I buy and why? Zipp/HED?

Triathlon Forum
1

I am looking at a dimpled Zipp Disc or a HED Jet tubular disc. Which should I buy? Is there a significant difference?

I have a Specialized Transition, will one work better on the bike than the other?

2

with what kind of budget?

3

I can get the Zipp disc for $850 or the HED Jet for $900.

4

I think a low end disc (misnomer?) with ceramic bearing upgrades would beat a high end disc with standard bearings.

However, drag coefficients have strong importance with disc speed.

5

I’m not a fan of disc wheels.
Normally I can spin comfortably at 18mph on the trainer. With a disc, it is noticeably harder to maintain that speed on the trainer. They are not worth it. :slight_smile:

6

I would go with the zipp.

7

The HED Jet disc will have ceramic bearings. What about the difference of the flatness of the Zipp compared to the shape of the Jet disc?

8

or one of those two.

http://www.bellatisport.com/shop/product/1036/Lightweight_Disc.html

or

http://www.tri-sports.com/macodi.html

9

What about this?
http://www.trisports.com/gray-disc-wheel.html

10

kinda upping the budget there aren’t ya?

11

You mean you aren’t getting the “sail” effect with your disc on the trainer? Perhaps you need to adjust the yaw angle of your fan so it doesn’t stall out. :wink:

12

The HED Jet disc gives you the option of going either tubular or clincher
The HED Jet disc will be a less harsh ride (more compliant and closed to. Spoked wheel because it is a Hybrid of sorts)
The HED jet disc will have the ceramic Bearing upgrade per your post
If it is a C2 rim the HED jet disc will handle better and offer lower rollng resistance

Ummmmm

Its a “No brainer” really

13

Further…if you believe the zipp marketing machine and their apparent claims of the aero benefit of the bulging rim shape closer to the tire, evidenced by tunnel data by both zipp and HED, then already you know the flat dimpled disc, although still a fast wheel, is not as fast as the rim shape you are going to enjoy with the HED Jet disc by comparison
.

14

I’d like to see drag numbers before committing to an answer. However, I’d take the Gray disc with ceramics over the Zipp (primarily b/c the Gray has a similar design as the Zipp).

If we put ceramics on the Zipp, then I’d vote for the Zipp, but as you can probably tell by the fact that I buy last year’s model (almost always), it really wouldn’t be my personal dilemma.

15

based on what data are we concluding that we care about ceramic bearings?

16

Reduced friction = Increased power transfer (greater watt output).

17

I think a low end disc (misnomer?) with ceramic bearing upgrades would beat a high end disc with standard bearings.
Only if you believe the Zedtech marketing hype…

18

Reduced friction = Increased power transfer (greater watt output).

how many watts does it save?

iirc the original claim was like 4 watts but that was never confirmed, and believed by people in the know to be unlikely to be true.

so, is there any real data anyone is aware of? there may be and I just never saw it posted here.

19

HED has stated that while they could measure the (slight) power difference between ceramic and steel bearings on an UNLOADED wheel, they could not measure any difference in power with a LOADED wheel.

Ergo, just more Zipp marketing BS :slight_smile:

20

Good point, but I think the distance and other factors must be considered when evaluating such statements… Let’s ask Hedfan what he thinks…