Tributes paid to aerodynamics pioneer Steve Hed, dead at 59

Tributes have been paid from all over the cycle industry for aerodynamics wizard Steve Hed, the creative driving force behind Hed Cycling, who has died aged 59.

Hed was found unconscious and without a pulse outside the Hed Cycling factory last Thursday, November 20. A member of Hed's staff performed CPR and he was taken to hospital but never regained consciousness or brain function. He was removed from life support Tuesday and died at about 9:30 a.m. local time Wednesday, November 26.

If you have ridden any aerodynamic wheel made in the last couple of decades its design almost certainly owes something to Hed's influence. Far more than just a product designer, Hed's ideas about aerodynamics and testing reached beyond his own products.

Hed got his start in the bike industry as owner of a bike shop called Grand Performance in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area of Minnesota.

In 1985 he founded the eponymous wheel company. Hed focussed on the triathlon market, which was much more open to innovation than road cycling at the time.

"While many of his competitors ebbed and flowed in the ardency of their attachment to aerodynamic wheels, or changed ownership or focus or were absorbed by larger companies, Mr. Hed was not compelled by an exit strategy. He enjoyed doing what he did for a living," Hed Cycling said.

Hed's innovations included the toroidal, bulged rim shape licensed to Zipp for its wheels and the push to wider rims for improved aerodynamics and ride quality.

Many who'd worked with Hed paid their respects via Twitter. Lance Armstrong posted: “Shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Steve Hed. I loved him dearly as did everyone who ever met him. We'll all miss him.”

Multiple champion triathlete Chrissie Wellington tweeted: "So sorry to hear about the passing of Steve Hed, @HEDCycling. A great, passionate, generous, innovative man. He'll be sorely missed by all."

Chris Horner, who had also worked with Hed on aerodynamics, tweeted: “Sorry to hear about the passing of Steve Hed. Thoughts are with his family. He will be missed.”

Britain's most famous time trial specialist Michael Hutchinson posted: “Very sorry to hear of the death of Steve Hed. He made a huge contribution to cycling, and produced some of the best wheels ever made.”

Sprinter Taylor Phinney wrote: "Steve Hed, your passion, your generosity and your genius will not be forgotten. So sad to lose you. Rest in peace my friend."

There were many many more as a Twitter search for Hed's name reveals:

Tweets about steve hed

One of the people who knew Hed best was Dan Empfield of Slowtwitch.com. Empfield got to know Hed when they joined forces to exhibit at a trade show in 1987, Hed with his wheels, Empfield with Quintana Roo wetsuits. Neither could afford a show booth on their own at the time.

Empfield writes: “Steve's business prospered before mine did. In the early years I often relied on the Bank of Steve. But in the very beginning he struggled too. He told me that he helped put food on the table by going out to the Minneapolis airport in the dead of the Minnesota winter, returning luggage carts for deposits. He'd tell me stories of racing the indigents for the carts, but you never really knew with Steve. Every now and then he'd put one over on you - he was one of the great storytellers.”

A crucial product for Hed was the three-spoke wheel, originally developed by Dupont and marketed by Specialized. Empfield writes: “Specialized didn't know what to do with it, and finally decided to exit the project. Steve was one of the very early bike industry wind tunnel experimenters, a regular at the Texas A&M wind tunnel back in the 1980s. He knew the value of this 3-spoke wheel because he'd tested it.

"He managed not only to buy the exclusive rights from Specialized, but to acquired the resin transfer molding factory in Spain where the wheel was made. The success that eluded Specialized with its trispoke flowed to Steve with the HED3.”

As well as a sharp eye for products and product development, Hed gave generously of his time. Empfield tells a story of Hed spending a week helping a complete stranger develop a watercraft, at no charge, after Hed had been cold-called by the originator and invited him up to Hed HQ.

Empield concludes: “Were it not for Steve and Annie Hed I don't know what I would be doing right now, but holding a sign made of a cardboard box at the exit of a Costco is not out of the question.

"And were Steve to see me, a total stranger, as he exited that Costco, he'd have probably yelled out the window, "I can help you make a lighter, stronger sign; jump in the passenger seat and let's go to my workshop," and my new carbon fiber sign would only be the beginning of Steve's largesse.”

Hed Cycling posted this tribute on its Facebook page: