One of the cheaper, good quality discs to be found comes from one of the most experienced aero cycling component makers. The result is a reliably cost-effective, conventional tyre rear end for any bike.
HED save money by essentially carbon skinning a standard spoked rear wheel. The ‘substrate wheel’ is hand built using their top C2 aluminium clincher rim with a broad 23mm tyre-fattening profile that matches the bulged toroidal section created by the carbon-fibre skins.
These flexible ultra-thin skins keep the aerodynamics clean, but allow the rear wheel to suck up bumps more smoothly than solid discs, making this a very comfortable long-haul wheel. It handles well through turns and blustery conditions and, despite the drumskin sides, it’s not as noisy as the full carbon sets. High weight and soft feel mean it is slow to accelerate though.