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Aero Wheels for X-Mas

rpickardrpickard
in General Training Discussions

Hello Everyone: For my own Christmas present this year I am looking at purchasing a good Aero front wheel. Currently I use a Mavic open pro rear wheel with a wheelbuilder cover with a Pro + PT Hub.

I have looked and priced up several but I am sure there are goods and bads to all. Ones that have sparked an interest as far as pricing and durability are the HED Jet 6 which I can buy locally for around $600.00 plus tax and I have also checked out the Williams 58? version which is around $500 ish. Williams of course says it has better data than the HED but I have yet to verify or see any such data on that wheel.  Any suggestions will help. FYI I am doing IMAZ in 2012 so if that makes any differance please let me know.

Thanks,

 

 

Comments

  • Paul HoughPaul Hough
    You should read the latest article in Lava magazine on engineering white papers and the tie between engineering and marketing. You might come to the conclusion that all these wind tunnel tests are a bunch of hooie. The manufacturers are well up the curve of diminishing marginal returns in my opinion. There are clear differences in performance if you make a huge jump in $$ spent, but within a reasonable range, the choice of equipment isn't going to make much of the difference. Decent bike + aero helmet + aero wheels + GOOD FIT + LOTS and LOTS OF HARD WORK is what wins the day.
  • Paul StonePaul Stone
    I rode williams 58' s in AZ. LOVED EM! Buying tbe 85s next with pt. At 500 each its a good dea for a good wheel.
  • MattAaronsonMattAaronson
    I've never used the HED or Williams. I use an 808 up front and I like it a lot.
  • William JenksWilliam Jenks
    The advantage of the Jet design is that it's a sturdy aluminum box rim to begin with. (The fairing goes over it to produce the aero effect.) It's at least in theory a little more bomb proof than some other designs because of that.

    It's hard for me to believe that the wheels with a good reputation and the same depth are very different from one another in terms of speed. Maybe measurably, but not likely to be enough to override other considerations, whatever they may be...cost, sturdiness, whatever. I guess I'm saying the same thing as Paul.

    If I could get my hands on a Zipp 808 firecrest I would love to try riding it, but that's deeper and arguably differently enough shaped to be faster. But in the meantime, I'm living with my Jet 6.



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