HED Belgium C2 or Belgium Plus on my Serotta

[bobdenver1961]

Looking for a few opinions on which HED Belgium rim (Plus or regular C2) to build up for my 2010 Serotta titanium with 9000 Dura Ace. I've done all the searches and read as much as I can.

Belgium Plus (25mm Rim) - I have the rim and mounted a used Continental 4000s II 25mm tire on just the rim. The tire measures 28.8mm. I'll have 3mm clearance between the chainstays on each side. The front clearance is about the same also.
- Brake Performance? I've read that the road bike calipers aren't really designed for this wide rim and brake performance is better with the C2 23mm Belgium? I have Dura Ace 9000 calipers
- Ride Quality - I have Archetype wheels on my other bike with 700 x 25 tires and I like them. Not sure I would even feel any difference with a slightly wider rim like the Plus version. Maybe I could run a bit lower tire pressure?
- I might go tubeless some day, maybe. For now I like my Continental's


I tend to agonize over the details and make myself crazy. Just wondered if anyone has any thoughts.

Thanks.
Bob

[Lovetoclimb]

If you don't see a need to run tubeless tires or any tire bigger than a 28mm, the regular C2 rim should check all the boxes while saving you some $ no? Of course if you plan to swap the wheels between bikes where you may have additional clearance and want to use a different size tire the + model would be more versatile. But for a strictly road application I say the C2 is the nicest rim out there right now, albeit at a hefty cost.

[Tony T]

Originally Posted by bobdenver1961

- I might go tubeless some day, maybe. For now I like my Continental's

I would see this as the only reason you might want 25mm rims.

Originally Posted by bobdenver1961

- Ride Quality - I have Archetype wheels on my other bike with 700 x 25 tires and I like them. Not sure I would even feel any difference with a slightly wider rim like the Plus version. Maybe I could run a bit lower tire pressure?

28mm conti's will work on a 23mm rim.

[Bruce K]

Watch your clearances

I am not sure the + will create a profile with enough clearance

C2s fit fine

BK

[Black Dog]

Run the plus of you have the clearance, it will not have a big effect on your braking. It all comes down to the tire width. If they both fit then it really does not matter. Toss a coin.

[PacNW2Ford]

One thing to look out for is front brake shoe clearance in the fork. With 6800 calipers, I would have needed to space the caliper out in order to run the C2 Plus and maybe the C2's. This is with a Mike Lopez fork which is similar to an F3.

[weisan]

bob pal, a similar thread here that you can glean from.

http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=178884

[beeatnik]

Plus is a sluggish beast compared to the Belgium. Crazy wide rims (19mm plus internal) only make sense if they're carbon.

[PaMtbRider]

Originally Posted by beeatnik

Plus is a sluggish beast compared to the Belgium. Crazy wide rims (19mm plus internal) only make sense if they're carbon.

HED lists the + rim as weighing 10 grams more than the C2. I can't imagine the extra 10 grams make much difference. Other than weight what else would make the rim sluggish as compared to the C2?

[bobdenver1961]

Thanks for the comments and links.

I think I might go with the standard C2. I think I could make the Plus work but worry about having the tight clearances. Especially if I break a spoke or something while out an a ride and have the wheel go out of true a bit.

Bob

[R3awak3n]

I wish they updated the C2 to be tubeless. As soon as I am done with my tire backlog I am switching to road tubeless because tubeless imho is pretty great.

[chasing120]

Originally Posted by R3awak3n

I wish they updated the C2 to be tubeless. As soon as I am done with my tire backlog I am switching to road tubeless because tubeless imho is pretty great.

Same - I'm parting with my C2s after I struggling to set them up tubeless for 'cross. Otherwise, positively brilliant tubed road wheels.

[stien]

I'll be the hoarder of C2 HEDs then because the + don't fit my bike. Send me all your jets and ardennes!

The + and Conti tires end up being huge. Had to ditch brand new GP4KS2s in 25mm because they were too big and rubbing on fork (wife's bike).

[chasing120]

I'd have done better leaving them on a road bike. C2 width was an issue with Vs with new pads.

[Mark McM]

Originally Posted by beeatnik

Plus is a sluggish beast compared to the Belgium. Crazy wide rims (19mm plus internal) only make sense if they're carbon.

Could you elaborate on this? What makes a wide rim sluggish, and why does it not affect carbon?