disc brakes are dead: the [shorter] sequel (Ritchey road logic)

HED Ardennes

you wont be disappointed, they are fucking great! Which model year?

@r_mash get those wheels: http://www.hedwheels.com/proddetail.asp?prod=ARDPLUSGP

HED keeps saying they are going to be £549 soon but thats not the fact .. I got mine 3 months ago for £499 and they are still same price. Great value IMO.

they weren't very well listed so don't actually know-think the hubs are 10 spd only though which would make them 2013/14? will be delivered tomorrow so as with all ebay experiences will just hope and pray that they're not actually a steaming pile of broken shite.

will be good motivation for getting back into it anyway-current status is fat and diseased : /

i've got martin (@broken_777) building me an h+son/hope rs4 combo.....are these better?!?!

HED, yeah better. Wider.

I never get this, modern wide rims = good, hydraulic disc brakes = bad, amiright?

looks en trend but a tad too late. built already....

and I like more spokes :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3-TVSzIgH0

He knew what he was talking about.

good to be en trend only with some trends, but only few who know which and when....

"I think disc brakes thread is that way"

Ive got cable disks and narrow rims. what even are trends.

Woke up gf because of last sentence. Thanks for the laugh!

HEDs turned up today. The cynic in me expected them to have been to the fucking moon and back, but surprisingly they are as sold-pristine and very very sexually arousing if you like hubs that revolve longer than a veteran stripper's nipple tassles.

If I'm honest, they're basically the same if a tad lighter than my DT Swiss/Hope Pros but with far less longevity because of the silly thin walls, but when did that petty shit ever matter?

Still not quite sure I understand £500 aluminium wheels

Do you understand £500 aluminium wheels when they are lighter, cheaper and less inclined to be wrecked on UK potholes than 90% of all crabon offerings? Or do you mean that everyone should just just honk around on a pair of RS10's?

My favourite aluminium wheels are in fact second hand £600 aluminium wheels that are in mint condition and cost me £250 anyway. #nonbuyer

£600 aluminium wheels

The problem with Alu wheels is over about £300 you have to spend £100 to lose 100 grams. £600 wheels are nice, but it can be hard to justify saving 200 - 300 grams over some £300 wheels.

My hed's weigh maybe more than their nearest comparable product in terms of rim width which are DT R24.

I think my real issue is that as much as I'd love some 1200gram carbon American Classics or a set of Zipp firecrests, they would set me back about a grand then promptly get fucked by the first coffin sized pothole they hit.

Anyway, even with alu it's not all about the weight-well built wheels made from nice rims on light, well put together hubs that don't need their bearings serviced every three months are a joy to ride on compared to a set of Fulcrum/Shimano whatevers.

For sure, the way I see it, if you're buying wheels under £300, generic decent wheels around 1600 grams like the Fulcrum 5's, then great. If you go over that it's worth getting some built because they will be better for the money. Also it depends what you're using them for, I wouldn't use carbon rims for an every day bike with calipers, but would be happy to do so with disc brakes. £1k wheels have their place but it's a very specific place, like racing.

I agree, which is why I'm a stingy cunt when it comes to bike gear generally. £250 for some mint HED's is pretty reasonable vis quality anyway, non? It's the cunt that bought them new then never rode on them that should be embarrassed.

I had been looking out for some nice hubs as I've switched from Campag to Sram but I saw the HEDs and they turned my head just as I'd decided to bite the bullet and get some cheap superstars or visions. Pro-Lite Braccianos are also some of the best factory wheels I've ever had, even compared to supposedly boutique handbuilts so goes to show it pays to keep an open mind when it comes to #buying

Anyway, PARKLIFE! etc

they would set me back about a grand then promptly get fucked by the first coffin sized pothole they hit.

Carbon rims are significantly tougher than aluminium rims.

🇧🇪

Let the real discussions begin...

Bottle cages?

Nothing beats bontrager xxx from ebay for price, weight and reliability. Ive been using them a couple years and never dropped a bottle or broken one