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very close aero wise.
Zipps are more money
And lighter.
and a bit more comfortable to ride.
Hed3’s are strong like bull, a bit heavier.
Hed 3’s look way cooler.
neither
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FLO60 , flocycling.com
(but if you’re actually set on those, H3s are cooler and consistent across yaw angles, 404s are versatile for road cycling and have the benefits of spokes (tunable). H3s are reputably bombproof but could go irreversibly out-of-true. So if you’re going to race road, I’d go with the Zipps. That being said, I’m still for getting a set of FLO60s and then putting the saved money towards whatever
powermeter Rappstar recommends).
I’ve owned both recently sold of the Hed 3 so that I could ride a 404 front 808 rear Pt combo, reason comfort the spoked zipp is much smoother. Aero, hed 3 probably slightly faster but not the differentiator, can’t get a PT on a HED 3. And there was not much off the shelf availability of a HED JET PT wheel otherwise I would have gone for that and people at HED would not answer my enquiry about getting a Jet PT
Depends:
404:
-) Road racing (where the H3 might be illegal)
-) Climbing (lighter)
-) want to run 23mm tires
-) beter resell value
-) possible to use a wheel cover
H3s
-) want to run 20mm tires (maybe higher rolling resistance - I doubt that though)
-) cheaper
-) easier to clean (especially after rainy races)
I run a H3 front and like it.
I wonder how many more years we are going to get an obligatory “Flo wheels!” post in every wheel thread when when they still don’t exist and still have no comparative data or firm pricing.
I wonder how many more years we are going to get an obligatory “Flo wheels!” post in every wheel thread when when they still don’t exist and still have no comparative data or firm pricing.
Does anyone know if they’ll have any wheels available for this season?
I was just going to post that. I certainly hope they do come out with aero wheels at an affordable price, but why does everyone say to wait for wheels that don’t exist? Even if you wanted to waited the list to get them may be more than the company can handle and you will be waiting even longer.
To the OP: Both seem like great choices. Zipps, from what I see on the classified etc…, seem to hold a decent resale value if you plan on dumping them after a couple of seasons.
Will you ever road race these wheels in bike races? If so, HED3s are illegal. That’s the biggest thing preventing me from buying a set. I do really like disc in the rear and HED3 up front for triathlons.
I race with a ZIPP disc and a HED 3 up front. I used to race with a ZIPP 404 on the front. In my experience, the HED3 is faster. (n = 1)
Hed 3 clincher if you can find a Bontrager RXL Aerowing 19mm tire for the front. They don’t make them anymore, so you’d have to find it on the used market.
Will you ever road race these wheels in bike races? If so, HED3s are illegal. That’s the biggest thing preventing me from buying a set. I do really like disc in the rear and HED3 up front for triathlons.
Where do you race? They’re legal in the U.S.
Will you ever road race these wheels in bike races? If so, HED3s are illegal. That’s the biggest thing preventing me from buying a set. I do really like disc in the rear and HED3 up front for triathlons.
Where do you race? They’re legal in the U.S.
I’m not an expert on the rules, and don’t even frequently road race, but I’ve always been under the impression that UCI requires minimally 16-spoked wheels in mass race events. I do read of people racing HED3s, so this rule may be grey area, or arbitrarily enforced.
404s, they are much more stable in crosswinds than H3s. I’ve only ridden H3s a few times but didn’t care for their handling in windy conditions, ironically that’s where they do best aero-wise.
I’m not an expert on the rules, and don’t even frequently road race, but I’ve always been under the impression that UCI requires minimally 16-spoked wheels in mass race events. I do read of people racing HED3s, so this rule may be grey area, or arbitrarily enforced.
UCI rules don’t apply for U.S.A. cycling sanctioned races (with a very few exceptions).
I’m not an expert on the rules, and don’t even frequently road race, but I’ve always been under the impression that UCI requires minimally 16-spoked wheels in mass race events. I do read of people racing HED3s, so this rule may be grey area, or arbitrarily enforced.
UCI rules don’t apply for U.S.A. cycling sanctioned races (with a very few exceptions).
You’re right. HED3’s are only illegal for UCI sanctioned races, and not USOC. So someone who only races USOC need not worry about it.
If you look at the wind data on HED’s site, and I don’t know if you can trust their data on other makers, but across their wheel line, the HED3 does better in strong crosswinds that spoked deep-rim wheels.
The spoked ones (like the 404/808) do better at low-wind conditions.
Don’t know for the firecrest 404s though.
If you’re in the midwest or preparing for a known very windy race course (IM Cozumel, IM Wisconsin, etc), the HED3s are noticeably superior in those conditions. I’ve seen it in race conditions.
If you are in the 20-23mph speed average, IMO the HED3 is the better wheel for most triathletes. It’s also very durable.
I wonder how many more years we are going to get an obligatory “Flo wheels!” post in every wheel thread when when they still don’t exist and still have no comparative data or firm pricing.
jackmott, have you learned nothing from the lavender room, you need to have more faith
.
according to the company 1st quarter this yer 
.