sultanofsuede

considering purchasing some new HED Jet 4 Plus wheels, and looking for some guidance in planning for these:

- they make a version of this wheel that they recommend for people over 200 lbs (more spokes). i weigh about 205 at my worst, and 195 at my best. should i just forgo the weight difference for a little more durability?
- i'm building the rest of my bike in record, and thought some record hubs would be nice. can i ask for that at purchase? is there an upcharge? not sure how bike shops handle that.

any other tips would be appreciated. i've never purchased wheels that didn't come on the bike, so there seem like a lot of factors (some, i might not even be thinking of yet).

thanks!

WhyFi

If you're not buying an off-the-shelf configuration, and requesting a hub of choice is certainly not off-the-shelf, then you're looking at a custom build. At that point, you need to find a person/company that'll configure things to your liking (or, better yet, consult with you on how your wheels should be configured) and has access to parts of your liking. HED Belgium rims are a builder favorite, but I don't know the rims on the Jets - you'll have to do a little legwork and see if they're available for builders.

sultanofsuede

good input - that'll get me started. i see you're in MSP, and i'm going to be there next week, so was hoping to find some HED shops to start the conversation.

WhyFi

I've only popped in to the shop once, but based on testimonials (from customers, other shops and frame builders) and his online interaction with local fb cycling groups, I'd recommend talking to Eric at Northern Rose - he's certainly one of the wheel-builders of choice in the metro area.

indyfabz

The best HED shops are in Colorado. At least that's what I have been told.

sdmc530

this post needs a "like" button!

sultanofsuede

really thinking these hed jet 4 plus' are the way to go, but curious if there are any watchouts i should be aware of.

i think i've heard/read that there is such a huge difference between lower and high end carbon rims that if you don't go high-end, then you might as well go back to alloy style and save some money. not sure if that is entirely true, but if so, curious where this wheelset falls in that spectrum.

anyone have expertise here?
thanks!

WhyFi

Aren't the Jets an aluminum rim with a carbon fairing?

Clipped_in

Yes they are! And I don't think the Jet rim is available to custom builders. As far as I know, you have to go with the two configurations HED offers them in (regular or stallion build). To go custom I think you would need to go with the Belgium+ rim. It is an excellent rim BTW! It is the same as the Jet rim without the carbon fairing.

Clipped_in

OP, unless you are looking for a dedicated race wheel I would definitely recommend the stallion build for you for the durability reasons you mentioned.

I think you'll have to go with the standard HED hubs that come with their wheels. They are good wheels, but not custom. You can buy them through several different distributors/shops however.

zoolzoo

sultanofsuede

so would those be the 'cheap' wheels that aren't really worth buying (vs. alloys)?


and regarding the belgiums - i tried looking into those, but i don't see a deeper cut rim. i might be OK with the HED hub. maybe building my own wheels will be a fun project someday (i mean, paying someone to build out some wheels).

motosonic

For what it's worth, I had a set of HED Ardennes FR a couple of years ago with the Stock HED Hubs and I loved them. I'm around your weight and I didn't have issues.. Although, the Ardennes don't have any carbon to worry about.

As for the question regarding the high end carbon rims vs cheap Chinese, etc. Just my 2 cents.. I am recovering from a crash that happened back in June. I'm still paying for it. The rims were not at fault.. but let me tell you.. After this crash.. I'm not taking any chances.. not after I went through. As far as I'm concerned, if you buy 'cheap carbon' you're taking a risk that's just not worth it. If it fails, you're going to end up like me or worse. And trust me, you don't want that. lol I ride mainly aluminum rims because my weight fluctuates between 180 and 200 depending on the time of year, my gym routine, etc. I do have one set of carbon rims, but they're rated to handle my weight.. and they're made by a reputable company that guarantees their work. If you're going to put carbon on something that's critical to keeping you upright, do it right. otherwise you could regret it. My aluminum rim (rear) buckled in the crash. I hit a series of cracks/potholes and the rim too heavy damage... BUT, it maintaining it's integrity likely saved me from more serious injuries. I can almost guarantee you that carbon (especially cheap carbon) would have broken with that impact. An extra few hundred on a quality wheel is worth saving 80k on hospital bills.

I'm not entirely sure what reasons you have for choosing the JET over something like the Ardennes or Belgium.. is it merely the look? are you racing? Did I miss that somewhere? But, I'd look at those two options because as others have said, HED doesn't offer the JET for custom builds. if you're going to be in MSP area, I am pretty sure that's where HED is Headquartered. Stop by, the folks are really great there.
Just food for thought

Clipped_in

OP, what we are saying is that if you want the HED Jet rim you will simply have to buy the HED Jet wheels. The only customization is regular or stallion build (more spokes), and some sellers offer a Powertap hub option.

Seattle Forrest

I've got a couple thousand miles on a set of Ardennes with HED hubs. Never a problem from them.

sultanofsuede

as always - a bunch of great guidance from the forum. thanks!
couple thoughts on your email: yeah, i do kind of want the look of the deeper rims vs. the ardennes or belgium. maybe its just vanity, but what's why i targeted those. i guess the other question i had, just clarifying that the jet 4 plus rims are NOT the cheap product that i should worry about (you're saying some of the chinese import products are more of that caliber).

hope you're on the road to recovery, and back on the bike more and more!

topflightpro

OP - the Jet is a Belgium/Ardennes rim with a carbon fairing. It is a heavy rim that has some aerodynamic properties and looks cool. If you want that look, it's a perfectly fine rim. And as said, you will have to use the Hed hubs, which are good hubs.

I don't know why anyone is clouding your decision with comments about generic Chinese rims.

motosonic

I don't think HED makes ANY low-quality stuff.. and their support is really top notch. At that price point, the HED's are a solid choice.

sultanofsuede

sweet! this is what i was hoping to see. i think my decision is made.

as for the comments about chinese rims, i think they were trying to answer a previous question about 'cheap' wheels - and i was just making sure i understood it correctly.

now, onto my next research...... pedals!