Cyclocross - HED Jet 60 front wheel, 28 spokes - cross potential?

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Loose Cannon
10-21-04, 09:13 PM
I have this HED Jet 60 front wheel that has 28 bladed spokes. It seems pretty durable, it looks to me like a basic aluminum rim that happens to have a 60mm carbon cover added on. I feel like most Jet 60 wheels have fewer spokes, especially on the front. Could this wheel withstand the demands of cyclocross? I don't need it for the road anymore but want to keep using it. Aerodynamics may not play a huge role in cross but this wheel would at least probably look pretty savage.

ASCracing
10-25-04, 08:41 PM
you should be able to use it for a season or 2. The tall rim profile will help you glide through sand and mud. Many pros use Zipp 404s or similar lightweight carbon rims for cross, but keep in mind one bad drap or crash and their wheels are history. Of course they all just pull new ones out of hat, you might not be able to do that. You shouldn't have any problems if your fairly light weight.
Woofer
10-26-04, 07:04 PM
There's a big difference between the Zipps and Hed, the Hed's use nonstructural, hollow carbon fairings. Ordinarily this would not matter but if it's wet or muddy one could collect an extra payload in your rim.

Loose Cannon
10-26-04, 07:10 PM
that's a good a point, I could see crap potentially getting in there.