Specialized 700c Tri Spoke Carbon Wheels - using a rear wheel up front?

DuoTech

Retro Guru
These carbon wheels were attached to a very nice racer donated to my local community bike charity. Initially we assumed it was a wheelset but it now appears to be two rears that were being used as a front and rear pair? The right has a freehub, whilst the left has threads for screwing on a freewheel and was being used as a front wheel. Was/is this a thing in the world of tri spokes? Using a rear up front? Or was the previous owner just a mad man? Also any comments on potential value appreciated.
 

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There were some early carbon wheels where the same hub (inc freewheel thread) was used front and rear, but different axles fitted, to give say 100 front and 126 rear
 
HED disc wheels with screw-on freewheels could be used as fronts with a narrower axle and shorter end caps.
 
Thanks gents. Makes sense. Axle measures 110mm so definitely looks like it's been switched out for front use.

Any ideas what kind of price these go for?
 
Specialized developed the wheel (with hed?) then sold the process on to HED.
As a rule early specialized (late 80s) all had the freewheel thread front and rear, with 2 different axle lengths - then later as freehub became standard, HED introduced a freehub version and a specific front wheel. So your 2 wheels are different ages.
Top dollar for a good pair is 400 iirc low price 250?
 
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