HED has just announced its first pair of carbon clinchers. The all-carbon, disc-specific Vaniquish 6 wheelset differs from HED's existing deep section clincher wheels – which pair an aluminium bead hook and brake track with a carbon fairing.
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“While many other manufacturers rushed into making full-carbon clinchers, we prefer a much more calculated approach,” the brand said in a press release.
“We don't use a material (such as carbon, or aluminium, or anything) just to use it. We use the material that is the best application for the product, in order to make the fastest, safest, most reliable product — while also being the best possible value for your dollar.”
The Vanquish 6 is a disc-only rim, and according to HED, this is because carbon doesn’t cool as efficiently as aluminium. HED says that these extreme heating and cooling cycles can not only comprise the structural integrity of the inner tube but they can cause a tire to soften or even melt.
HED has finally released a full carbon clincher
HED also says removing the rim brake from the equation allowed it to make an improved rim profile that wouldn’t have been possible with rim brake calipers.
The rim is made in HED’s Minnesota factory and the brand says it worked extensively testing different tubes, tires, types of carbon, resin and layups not only to improve impact resistance but also to make a wheel that outperformed the brand's benchmark Jet 6.
With a 30mm external width (21mm internal), the 60mm deep rim is claimed to offer supreme aerodynamics when paired with 22-24mm rubber, and slightly less but still good wind cheating qualities with 25-28mm casing. The Vanquish 6 wheels are tubeless ready, too, and HED says the rim will optimise the shape, ride quality and aerodynamics of your gravel and CX tires.
Claimed to weigh 1,589g, (734g front, 855g rear) the wheels are respectably light and are strung with 24 bladed steel spokes front and back.
The rims come with a 90psi max recommended tire pressure and spin around the brand's 545 Disc Brake hubs. These are available in both SRAM/Shimano and Campagnolo freehub versions, and get five pawls and 45-tooth engagement. The hubs are 12mm or 15mm thru-axle ready, with QR adaptor kits sold separately.
The Vanquish 6 wheels are available now and will set you back $2,500. AU and UK pricing is to be confirmed.