HED Cycling (United States) - HED’s 35 years of innovation can now be found in the ultimate cross-country wheelset. The HED Raptor 29 DNA wheels are a perfect storm of durability, lightweight, and science. Built for racing and ready to pick up what you’re putting down, the new Raptor 29 DNA wheels utilize HED’s patent-pending DNA profile and CNC drilling technology.

At the heart of the Raptor 29 DNA wheels is HED’s patent-pending Dual-axis Nipple Alignment (DNA) rim profile. The DNA profile and CNC spoke drilling aligns the spoke bed and hole to match the four spoke angles – pulling, pushing, left and right – that occur in a wheel. With the nipple inline to the spoke angle, spoke path is direct with no uneven strain on the nipple, and no spoke bend to accommodate an angle mismatch. The design allows HED to create a lighter and stronger rim with an even and consistent interface around the entire circumference.

The Raptor 29 DNA rims feature a 25mm internal/31mm external width – ideal for use with 2” – 2.5” tires. The 380-gram rims are constructed with 148 hand-laid sheets of carbon inside HED’s Minnesota’s facility. For complete wheels, the tubeless-ready clincher rims are laced via 28 Sapim Laser spokes to one of three hub options; HED Brick House Hubs, Onyx or Industry Nine Hydra.