Just received a new HED disc wheel for an out of town TT this weekend. While inflating the tube exploded with about 60 lbs of air. The hole appears to have come from a rough edge where there is some ingraving or from a rough edge around one of the holes along the inside of the rim. Sanded it as best I could and then covered with some plastic electrical tape. My questions are:
1) Will this tape interfere with anything. First time I've had a HED disc and was suprised to see the inside of the rim had a number of holes around the entire circumfrance. Not sure what purpose they serve but also cant think of any reason covering them up would interfere since the tube will do the same thing
2) Wont have a chance to test it before the race. It's three hours from my home and time just wont allow me to test it other than a half hour before the race. TT's tough to find in my area so I dont want to waste one with a flat tire. So far it's fine but wondered if anyone else had had any similar experiences and if the sanding and tape should fix it. Thanks.

Just received a new HED disc wheel for an out of town TT this weekend. While inflating the tube exploded with about 60 lbs of air. The hole appears to have come from a rough edge where there is some ingraving or from a rough edge around one of the holes along the inside of the rim. Sanded it as best I could and then covered with some plastic electrical tape. My questions are:
1) Will this tape interfere with anything. First time I've had a HED disc and was suprised to see the inside of the rim had a number of holes around the entire circumfrance. Not sure what purpose they serve but also cant think of any reason covering them up would interfere since the tube will do the same thing
2) Wont have a chance to test it before the race. It's three hours from my home and time just wont allow me to test it other than a half hour before the race. TT's tough to find in my area so I dont want to waste one with a flat tire. So far it's fine but wondered if anyone else had had any similar experiences and if the sanding and tape should fix it. Thanks.

If things truly exploded (as in BLAM!) then it is more likely that you didn't get the tube properly installed and it was pinched under the bead of the tire. The tape should not go into the groove where the tire bead seats, or you may have problems with the tire blowing off the rim, or at least fitting poorly. How big are these "holes around the entire circumfrance (sic)"? Even a very small hole should be covered by something; probably rim tape in this case. If the holes are of any size, the electrical tape will not prevent the tube from extruding into the hole and flatting.

Thanks for your reply. Yes it really did explode. First time it's happened to me in 6 years of biking. It sounded like a gun going off. The holes are about the size of a pencil eraser and are spaced a few inches apart around the entire rim. Based on your thoughts I think I'll contact HED and see what they recommend. Thank again.

Thanks for your reply. Yes it really did explode. First time it's happened to me in 6 years of biking. It sounded like a gun going off. The holes are about the size of a pencil eraser and are spaced a few inches apart around the entire rim. Based on your thoughts I think I'll contact HED and see what they recommend. Thank again.

This may sounds odverous but you do have rim tape in there right? Between the rim (with all the holes) and the tube (assuming this is a clincher wheel).

Yeah, sounds to me like there isn't any rim tape on that clincher...............(?)

No it does not have rim tape. That appears to be the obvious answer but since it didn't come with rim tape I assumed (mistake I guess) that it didn't need any.

I always find it tough to take new equipment to a race that I have never played with. Maybe, you should stick to a current set up and use it in the next race after playing around with it in training. Just a thought.

That's good advice. Its always really tempting to use brand new kit to race on, I'm dreadfully impatient with new stuff, I just want to get it out and use it straight away, but it does make sense. Rim Tape is only about £1 per wheel for high pressure stuff. How much is a couple of new tubes....? Good luck in your next race. You'll have the confidence in your equipment to put in a good time. :-)

Thanks everyone. I just spoke with HED and they confirmed that rim tape is required. (I guess that should have been obvious) They recommend Rox or Data(sp?) Kevlar tape. Also taking the advice from a few of you and leaving the disc at home unitl I can practice on it a few times. Thanks for everyone's input.

I had a problem when I first got my HedJet60 rear. The holes on the rim were sharp in a couple of spots. They ate through the rim strip and I got hit with multiple flats. I used a round file to fix the burrs. Not a problem since. Odd that another Hed wheel has the same issue.

Why would a disc wheel require rim tape? There should not be any spoke holes to deal with....

Flash

It's most likely a clincher with an aluminum rim. If that's the case then you're basically looking at a disc molded around an already existing rim (hence the spoke holes). It certainly does sound a bit odd though, a spoked disc wheel.

It's most likely a clincher with an aluminum rim. If that's the case then you're basically looking at a disc molded around an already existing rim (hence the spoke holes). It certainly does sound a bit odd though, a spoked disc wheel.

Its not spoked they just use a drilled rim for Hed discs.