HED Stinger 6 FR
As far as aero wheels are concerned, the Stinger 6 marks the start of a new era. After modeling the wheel, we made prototypes and spent a full 10 days in the wind tunnel to test and perfect it, and came out the other side with a brand new rim profile. This is not evolution, with just a few tweaks here and an extra millimeter there. It is more like when a comet killed the dinosaurs and paved the way for mammals. At 150 wind angle the new Stinger has 100g less drag than the previous models. When we ran the final prototypes the drag numbers were so low that we asked the tunnel technicians to re-check the calibration on the balance mechanism to make sure the numbers we saw were correct. They were.
Tunnel numbers .... all well and good, but what about out in the real world? What is the effect of 100g drag reduction and a 150 stall angle? Well, -100g drag is easy. The wheels are faster, period. And a 150 stall angle? That means Stinger 6s go faster in a wider range of wind conditions than ever before. When side winds kick up, your wheels will still go fast, and they will handle very well. The new shape is such an improvement that the 60mm deep Stinger 6 handles more like a 45mm deep wheel in a crosswind. This is all made possible by our SCT Tuning.
Our goal with redesigning the Stingers was speed ... duh! We're aware enough to know that the most aero rim in the world does not automatically translate to 'fastest wheel in the world'. Speed, even when confined just to wheels, involves more than just low drag. Tire efficiency, cornering speed, handling, strength and stiffness, and even comfort are important factors for overall speed. All are addressed in the Stinger 6. The C2 tire well secures the tire in a wider and slightly deeper 'cradle'. With increased support of the tire carcass, sidewall flexion is reduced, and less flexion vastly increases cornering stability and general handling. It also improves tire efficiency. One hard corner at speed will show you just how much the C2 well decreases tire wash under heavy loading.
We've said it before, but it bears repeating: Your wheels have to take you across the finish in order to win. They have to be strong and durable. 2008 model stingers performed without failure on the brutal cobbles of Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders. The 2011 stingers are 20% stiffer laterally and 16% more impact resistant, thanks to a layup with 3 separate carbon cloths and a very specific lay-up that carefully controls variable wall thicknesses and fiber orientation.
Pro Tour riders have already given us extremely encouraging feedback on the Stinger 6. We expect nothing less from age group triathletes, or anyone in between. Give them a roll, we promise you will be amazed.
