HED Jet RCD Black Rim Brake Disc Wheel

The HED Jet RCD Black Rim Brake Disc Wheel is a rear aero disc built specifically for rim brake time trial and triathlon bikes, aimed at riders who want race-day aerodynamics without the price of HED's full carbon flagship disc. It's part of HED's Jet Black hybrid lineup, which pairs a carbon disc body with an alloy braking surface, a combination built to deliver most of the aero and stiffness benefit of a full carbon disc at a more accessible price. As a rear disc wheel, it replaces the open spoke pattern of a standard wheel with a solid cover, and that single change removes the turbulence spinning spokes create at speed, cutting aerodynamic drag right where it matters on a flat time trial or triathlon course.

Hybrid Carbon and Alloy Construction

The disc's sides are built from lightweight, stiff carbon fiber, while the braking track itself is machined alloy rather than carbon, a deliberate hybrid choice that keeps weight and cost down without sacrificing stopping power. HED gives that braking surface a textured, matte finish specifically for better modulation and control under the lever, and the company says the surface can cut braking distance by roughly 25 percent in dry conditions and as much as 75 percent in the wet compared to a standard alloy or carbon brake track. For a discipline where late braking into a corner or a turnaround can cost real time, that's a meaningful difference to have in a rim brake wheel, and it's part of why HED still develops rim brake-specific options even as much of the market has moved to disc brakes.

Aerodynamics and Ride Feel

Beyond the braking surface, the solid disc form also adds stiffness compared to a traditional spoked rear wheel, which translates into more direct power transfer when you put down watts and a more planted feel out of corners or during a hard, sustained effort. HED validates its aero disc shapes in the wind tunnel with tires mounted and inflated to race pressure, since a rim's aerodynamic behavior changes once a tire is actually seated on it, a testing approach the company has pushed as the standard the rest of the industry should be tested against. HED's Jet-series wheels have a documented track record at the highest level of the sport, including wins at Tour de France and World Championship time trials. Worth knowing before race day: a solid rear disc catches more crosswind than a spoked wheel, so most riders pair the Jet RCD Black with a shallower front wheel for better handling in gusty conditions rather than running a matching front disc. On a flat, fast course with manageable wind, that tradeoff is easy to accept for the speed gained; on a hillier or more technical course, a standard wheel may be the better choice regardless of the aero numbers.

Hub, Spokes, and Compatibility

The wheel rolls on HED's 545 Straight Pull hub, laced with bladed steel spokes, and is compatible with Shimano and Campagnolo 9, 10, and 11-speed drivetrains as well as SRAM 1x11 and SRAM XDR 12-speed setups, with freehub options including HG11, Campagnolo N3W, and an XDR driver. The rim itself is a 700c clincher, 25mm wide externally and 21mm internally, built at full aero disc depth rather than a conventional rim profile. The complete wheel weighs 1,255 grams and ships with a titanium skewer, rim tape, and valve hole covers, and despite the aero shaping, full service only requires two 5mm allen keys, so a shop or a mechanically inclined rider can maintain it without specialty tools.

Who It's For

The Jet RCD Black is sold as a single rear wheel, meant to pair with a front wheel from HED's road and triathlon lineup rather than ship as a complete set, which is standard practice for a dedicated race-day disc. HED hand-builds its wheels at its Roseville, Minnesota facility, a company that's been building wheels in the US since 1984, and backs the Jet RCD Black with a 5-year warranty. It's a wheel built for triathletes and time trial racers on a rim brake bike who want a genuine aero advantage on flat and rolling courses without stepping up to HED's full carbon Vanquish Pro disc, and it's the kind of wheel most riders save specifically for race day rather than everyday training miles.