HED

Ardennes Plus FR Disc Brake Road Wheelset - Clincher

At around 1620 grams for a set, and with a generous 25mm width, the Ardennes Plus FR Disc Brake Wheelset nips at the heels of carbon alternatives. They also get all of the details that you'd expect, such as Sapim bladed spokes, titanium skewers, and a grease port at the rear hub.

And when you factor in the superior braking of an aluminum rim, this wheelset proves that carbon fiber isn't the only option for taking your wheels into the 21st century. The wide scandium alloy rim allows better grip and faster rolling through an improved tire profile that puts more of the tire on the road. At the heart of the Plus FR wheelset are HED's Sonic hubs.

The carbon fiber hub shells are bonded to aluminum flanges in order to provide a stiff, lightweight assembly. The rear hub has an external grease port, which means that you're able to pump fresh grease in there without having to disassemble the rear hub. The spokes are Sapim CX rays, of which the front wheel has 18, and the rear has 24.

The spokes are drawn from stainless wire like most, but the CX Rays are forged, which makes them considerably stiffer than traditional options. Additionally, they're bladed to reduce aerodynamic drag. A wheelset of this caliber deserves a set of skewers to match, which is why HED includes titanium quick-releases.

The HED Ardennes Plus FR Clincher Disc Brake Clincher Wheelset is available with either a Shimano/SRAM or Campagnolo freehub compatibility and in the color Black. It's worth noting that both freehub bodies are compatible with 11-speed cassettes, and that HED's suggested rider weight limit for these wheels is 190lb.