HED Ardennes RA Black: High-Performance Aluminum Hoops for Rim Brakes

Whereas disc brakes could also be taking up street biking, not everybody has given up on rim brakes, myself included. Whether or not for older rim brake frames or the small handful which might be nonetheless being produced, rim brakes are nonetheless related and most well-liked by many riders who nonetheless aren’t satisfied that disc brakes are the one solution to decelerate your street bike. 

That’s the place the HED Ardennes RA Black wheelset is available in, which, for my part, is the head of aluminum rim-brake design, and among the many finest street wheelsets out there, no matter materials. With excessive efficiency, beautiful seems to be, and an incredible construct, these wheels lack lots of the compromises and shortcomings that I really feel have an effect on many carbon wheels that may be as a lot as double the worth. 

What units these wheels aside from different rim brake fashions and maybe essentially the most placing characteristic of the Ardennes RA Black is its namesake – a textured floor with a everlasting black coating that’s machined and anodized into the brake monitor. Dubbed Turbine Braking Know-how by HED, this patented textured floor goals to cut back each the space required to cease, and the pressure required on the lever to take action. HED claims that in dry circumstances, the Ardennes RA Black will cease as much as 25% sooner than different rim-brake wheels, and in moist circumstances, a staggering 70% sooner. 

For context, these figures characterize testing carried out in opposition to a full-carbon clincher with a carbon braking floor. Identical to these stealthy full carbon wheels, HED’s Turbine brake monitor will stay black, creating a brilliant stealthy search for your street bike. HED engineers did point out that routine using in soiled and moist circumstances could trigger the anodization to slowly fade. Additionally, it’s essential to run black brake pads, in any other case, the Turbine monitor will finally match the colour of the brake pad, as pad materials is transferred throughout onerous braking.

Specs and Construct

The Adrennes RA Black rims are created from aluminum and have the aforementioned Turbine Braking Know-how brake monitor. The edges have a 24.5mm depth and measure 21mm vast internally and 25mm vast externally. The hooked rims are tubeless-ready as soon as sealed with the included rim tape. HED’s tire strain chart reveals values for tires between 23 and 32c, though we really feel the 21mm width is healthier optimized to be used with tires between 23 and 30c. Plus, narrower tires will make it simpler to get by the brake calipers when wanted.

Shifting in from the rim, HED makes use of Sapim Bladed CX-Ray spokes, that are a benchmark spoke within the trade, famend for his or her power, low weight, and nice aerodynamics, however most of all for his or her journey high quality. The entrance wheel is radially laced utilizing straight-pull spokes whereas the spokes on the rear wheel are 2-cross with conventional J-bend type, which means replacements shouldn’t be too onerous to supply if the necessity arises. That mentioned, I’ve been using Ardennes for years, and have by no means needed to true them, not to mention exchange a spoke. 

HED makes use of their very own hubs within the type of a HU216 entrance and Sonic 545 rear. The hubs use a brilliant sturdy 5-pawl freehub physique, 12mm axles for added stiffness, and high-quality sealed bearings in metal. Freewheeling sounds aggressive however refined and is beneficial for passing on the bike path, however not too loud for a dialog together with your using associate. They’re out there with both Shimano HG or SRAM XDR freehub our bodies and are offered as a set for $1,300, or they are often bought individually at $585 for the entrance and $715 for the rear. Our check pair weighed in at 1475 grams with out tape and valves. All HED wheels are handbuilt of their manufacturing unit in Minnesota. 

Evaluate of the HED Ardennes RA Black

Organising tires tubeless on the Ardennes rim was a cinch, utilizing a flooring pump, with the valve core eliminated. HED gives tubeless tape within the wheel field to get the rim sealed hermetic and provides high-quality tubeless valves individually on the HED web site. The Ardennes rim is hooked, so it ought to work with any tubeless tires and retain compatibility with clincher tires that require an innertube. 

Stopping energy is crucial and one of many major highlights of those wheels, however the Ardennes RA Black is simply as targeted on enjoyable and efficiency. The journey high quality of the Ardennes rim is top-shelf. The design and building course of is tailor-made to ship a vigorous however comfy really feel, and the width of the Ardennes on the brake monitor means you’ll get one of the best grip, vibration damping, and aerodynamics, no matter tire quantity you select, from 23-30mm. I discovered that relative to different rims, I used to be in a position to run smaller tires and stay comfy and assured always whereas having fun with the aero and weight-saving advantages of much less rotating mass. 

In comparison with deep-section carbon rims, there’s surprisingly little distinction in how briskly the bike feels when geared up with the HED Ardennes RA Black. Tremendous discerning riders would possibly discover a small fall-off in high-speed effectivity in comparison with a 40-50mm deep rim, however it’s truthful to say that 60mm could be the place the apparent variations could be felt. In fact, with a rim that deep, these effectivity beneficial properties come on the expense of consolation, cross-wind stability, maneuverability, and fast acceleration. So, for leisure using and even many group rides and racing situations, the 24.5mm deep rim with a 23-28c tire is perfect. 

Out on the street, the ability of Turbine Braking Know-how was verified as an enormous improve, simply surpassing the stopping energy of any rim brake wheelset I’ve ever used, and providing aggressive ranges of energy and modulation to hydraulic disc brake setups. The textured floor does produce an audible however pleasing whirring sound because the bike slows. It took a short while to get used to it after which I finished noticing it in any respect. 

As you might have guessed, the textured floor will speed up the damage of brake pads. The excellent news is that no particular pad is required for Turbine Braking Know-how to work at its finest and stay black. To protect the black end, nevertheless, it’s important to exchange the brake pads when putting in the HED Ardennes RA Black wheels in your bike. It’s additionally smart to routinely verify your pads for harsh particles that has lodged itself within the compound and will scratch the black anodized coating over time. I additionally discovered that toe-ing in each pads prevented some vibration and a groaning sound which could be generated by the Turbine monitor when the pads are arrange parallel to the brake floor.

Whereas stopping confidently is good, using street bikes is about going quick and having fun with the journey. That is the place not solely the RA Black, however all HED Ardennes wheels actually shine. For my part, the journey high quality, responsiveness, dealing with, and tough street consolation are unbeatable in an aluminum wheelset. Even in case you are on the lookout for a cheaper rim brake improve just like the Ardennes RA Professional or an aluminum disc brake wheel improve just like the Ardennes RA Efficiency, nice worth runs all through your complete Ardennes wheel line. The Ardennes RA Black should not finances wheels, however when evaluating their efficiency and rugged reliability in opposition to carbon wheels at double the associated fee, this high-quality aluminum wheelset turns into onerous to withstand. 

Who’re the HED Ardennes RA Black for? Properly, me, that’s who. And lots of different folks I think, who’ve a rim brake bike that received’t be retired anytime quickly. Save the rim brake! It’s inconceivable to disregard that these wheels are trendy. Black brake tracks look professional, stealthy, and refocus the attention on the body of the bicycle, by serving to the edges sink into the background a bit. It’s onerous to think about going again to a shiny brake monitor on my Speedvagen after it wearing these beautiful rims for just a few months. 

That mentioned, my location within the Pacific Northwest makes stealthy carbon clincher rims a legal responsibility from a sturdiness and security standpoint. I’ve witnessed just a few rims delaminate on steep descents, and it’s not one thing I ever need to expertise. Neither is being unable to cease in time when the sudden occurs. Not often does a know-how tangibly enhance street biking as of late. I’d argue that almost all new tech nets no actual profit for 99.9% of riders, and even degrades the expertise barely. However, for my part, Turbine Braking is legit. It improves the efficiency of the tried and true rim brake system whereas additionally enhancing aesthetics. Packaged into what has lengthy been a benchmark wheelset, I feel the HED Ardennes RA Black is a winner.

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