Considering new wheel set - thinking about Hed JetC2's...Have some questions.

I was looking at the Hed's over the 404's due to cost and I see people say 404's are pretty much race wheels and that the guys from Hed said that everyday use of the Jet's would be fine. 

There are not a lot of people who have them.  I believe amiine had some Jets or Alps last year on his bike.  They are a solid alternative to the usual 404 or trispokes.

You can easily ride Zipps as daily wheels.  You run the same risk of cracking them on a pothole as you do any other aero rim.  The pro cyclists are riding more and more deeper aero sectioned rims on a daily basis in their races and they put more of a punishing on their wheels in a season than most of us do in a lifetime.

Once you get away from the "dimples crowd" you are bascially looking at the same sort of wheel regardless of manufacturer.  The biggest difference in quality will be in the hubs themselves.

Before my Zipps I had a set of FSA RD-488's which were somewhat equivalent to 404's with all carbon and hidden spoke heads.  Great wheels and about 1/2 the price of 404's.  I still didn't ride them daily though.  I already have a good set of beater Mavic Cosmics for that.

I wasn't aware that FSA made wheels.  I'm still pretty new to the whole tri/biking thing. Are there other wheels you would suggest?  I'm not really up for the Zipp price range.  If I'm going to spend that kind of money I'm more likely to buy a whole bike. 

Yup.  Those were my choice because of cost.

http://wheels.fullspeedahead.com/fly.aspx?layout=product&taxid=167&pid=289

Another really good alternative would be the Flashpoints - (Zipp knock-offs which are actually Zipp rims with lower cost hubs and not always dimpled).

http://www.flash-pointracing.com/

Edit: And when I sold my 488's after ordering my Zipps they only went for $750 or so.  And I've even found a price like that online close to that for brand new.  But they have all carbon rims, which means you need carbon-specific brake pads and they only come in tubular.  That is why the Flashpoints may be a better choice.

Ok, I've got one last quick question.  The guys at Hed told me to look at their EX/Stallion build  which adds extra spokes to make the rim tougher to handle my weight.  Is this something I should continue to look for in a wheelset, or is it not as important as they make it out to be?

If you were looking for a pure race wheel for climbing and such like a 202 or 303, then I would be pushing towards that.

But you are looking for a decent all around set you can also use for time trialing.  The Flashpoints or the Heds will work fine for that.

I have always bought my wheels for racing and only racing.  I always have an additional beater set for training that I really don't care if they get whacked because they are not expensive to replace (relatively speaking).

Then I will look at the Hed's a little closer.  I really can't afford Zipps.  I will use them for some training to get used to them and make sure they work well, then use my regular wheels otherwise and save the aero wheels for races.  I figure if I decide to buy a tri bike in 2010, I don't have to worry about what wheel set comes on it, since I will already have a nice set.  I have noticed that even nice tri bikes usually come with pretty standard wheels.

That's what I was thinking as well.  I don't have the money to buy both right now, so I'll get the one that will help me the most with my current nice bike.  

By the way, now that this topic will soon die off, how has your season been since Carmel?  I think I met you there after the race was over.  Has it gone well for you? 

The season has gone pretty well, 5 races so far, with number 6 coming up in 2 weeks, another one in Indiana, actually.  I was hoping to get in an Olympic this year, but it looks like that may have to wait until next year.  I finally beat my overall pace from the first race in my last one, for whatever reason all the rest had been slower.  Probably had to do with how flat Carmel was.  

Too bad your HIM became a DU...I'd have a lot of trouble getting excited about that.

By the way, about the Jet C2's, if you want to try a set before you buy them check out echappeonline.com they've got them in for rental and the money from the rental can be applied to a purchase if you like them.  I'm considering doing it, especially since they're willing to get the Stallion wheels in.  

Good luck with the rest of your year. 

I have a set of HED Jet 60 C2's Stallions and I love them. I am 6'0, 200lbs; I considered the Zipp 404 Clydesdale as well but I finally decided on the HED wheels due to several friends riding various HED products and their happiness with both the performance and customer service. I have ridden the wheels for about 200 miles on training rides and just rode them in the Accenture Olympic on some VERY rough roads. These wheels performed flawlessly and kept true during the entire ride. Even at a higher price point, these wheels are a good buy; the price point as compared to Zipps make them an awesome buy.

BTW, I paired the C2s with Maxxis Courchevel tires. Good for both training and racing.

That's awesome.  Thanks!  I am definitely considering renting a set of these for a week around my next race and then buying them if I like them.  I love places that will give you 100% credit toward your purchase from your rental fees.