Triathlon - Aero Race Wheels

I have been looking into buying some good light, aero wheels that I can put on my 2008 Raleigh Gran Sport, and then on my future felt b12. I think the Zipps are a little overpriced, and I narrowed it down to 3 brands.

HED - I would most likely get a HED 90 rear and 60 front. Anyone know if their new "C2" is worth the extra money?

Planet-X - I would prefer clincher wheels, but I found a pair of Pro Carbon 101's for just 599 euros. That seems like a steal ... but they only come in tubular. Does anyone have experience with these?

Flashpoint - These seem to be about the same as the HED's to me, but im not sure of the difference

If anyone knows about or has the planet-x 101's, are they as high quality as HED or FP? Which one of these wheels are the "best, fastest, most aero?" I will be doing mostly sprint to olympic distance triathlons.

EU599 is indeed a steal for the PX 101s. That would probably be my recommendation. If you go over to probikekit.com and spend 2xEU35 on some Vittoria Evo Corsa CX (and 1xEU20 on a cheap spare), you'll be good to go--a deep rimmed tubular with good tires (like the Evo Corsa CX) is just as fast as anything you could get out there.

In general, buy the deepest wheel you can afford--differences in wheel shape tend to be eclipsed by differences in depth, and the 101s of course are super deep.

I am just worried about them not being in clincher. I know nothing about tubular tires.

I hear you on that. I had the same fear before I bought my tubular race wheels--I wanted to go clincher, but the deal I got on my tubulars was too good to pass up.

I actually glued my first set of tires myself, and the gluing job was fine. I have since replaced them with the Evo Corsa CX, which I also glued myself, and there haven't been any problems with these, either. There are lots of resources, on this site and others, to help guide you through the tubular learning curve, including how to pre-stretch tires, which glue to use and how to glue the tires. It's really not that bad :)

Yeah, tubies aren't that bad. Just make sure you have some paint thinner and gloves (or just use TuFo tape).

Have you considered Hed 3 wheels for aerodynamics?

actually, im considering all of them for aerodynamics, and also lightweight and quality. Why are the px wheels so cheap? it makes me wonder about the quality ...

I am a FlashPoint guy by default, because I think ZIPPs are awesome. Others will disagree, but I just bought a FlashPoint 80 front wheel with zero regrets (except maybe that I didn't get a ZIPP 808 or 1080). I thought very long and hard about a HED Jet 90 and HED Jet C2 90, and went with the FlashPoint.

On a budget, I would suggest considering a rear wheel cover, and a fast frontwheel, instead of a pair of fast wheels.

I have been racing for a little while, I've used tubulars, I've used clinchers. I've raced on shallower rims and on Hed 3s. I've raced on a disc.

Here is what I know from experience and hard data(not my feelings and intuition)...
1. I'm 130 lbs and can handle a Hed 3 on windy days, which is one of the hardest steering wheels, it just takes practice and the ability to relax in a gust. If you can afford a deep wheel, get it.
2. When I'm racing I've never noticed a heavy versus a light wheel.
3. TIRES MATTER, I've felt it and the data is there
4. Their are patents that seperate wheel technology. A person with appropriate tire selection can work around this
5. Any aero wheel is better than it's training counterpart.

Some of my feelings/intuitions...
1. A disc feels fast
2. A tubular flatting scares the poop out of me cause I've glued em, but never under stress
3. I hate the presta valve adapters
4. 40-60mm wheels on front never ever make me think twice in the worst winds.

If you had the felt right now, I would recommend to you to go get yourself a rear clincher disc and run the 40mm front until you can afford a different front. Here is why...
a. Looking at the data(Zipp, Hed, BTR, Tour, etc); discs make a huge difference. The difference between a set of 303s and a set of 808s is as big as an 808s and an 808/disc rear. The 303s are somewhat comparable to the felt wheels.
b. clinchers are super easy to install/change. they are cheaper and they are on par in terms of rolling resistance with tubulars if not better in a lot of cases.

The PlanetX wheelset is good on the surface, but if you want to get the most aerodynamically run narrow tires(it doesn't have the Hed/Zipp patent that mitigates 23mm tires), make sure you get fast tires and glue them right, make sure you are confident in your ability to change the tires, figure out how you are going to carry a spare tubular that won't be a complete aerodynamic DRAG.

Flashpoints are slightly heavier than Hed's and at least from what I've seen slightly cheaper. They will be aerodynamically equivalent, and use a Structural carbon rim.

Hed makes good wheels at a good price.

thanks triguy, that helps alot. I came across some wheels made by gray - who I've never heard of, but here's the link http://www.trisports.com/gray-wheels-90-90-wheelset.html any thoughts? I like the HED and Fp's because i've read that they are made in the usa.