Correct valve length for tubes for HED3's

Triathlon Forum
1

Rightly or wrongly, I have just purchased a pair of HED 3’s. 650C clinchers. They may or may not be the ideal fastest wheel out there, but they are the right choice for me. I’ve covetted a pair since I first saw them and read up on them, many many years ago. But that’s just me.

Now I have to decide what length valve to buy to be able to blow the darned things up. I had a bunch of 60mm valve tubes lying around so threw them in and immediately recongnized that they would be waaaay too long to used. I also had some old (patched) 48mm tubes so used them instead. I got them pumped up, but I’m not happy with the valve/pump arrangement I have at the moment.

I have a Joe Blow floor pump with a no-name brand replacement head with holes on opposite sides for presta and shraeder valves. It barely works and puts quite a bit of pressure on the valve and the surround of the wheel cutout where the valve goes.

What is the best (or acceptable) floor pump (head) to be using?

I also have a Second Wind, CO2 pump as well (with the cheesy backup hand pump facility) that I have on my bike for on road refills. What is the best (or acceptable) CO2 system for the HED3 wheels?

The other issue I have is that I need some good racing tires. What’s good in 650C. I recently heard that the HED wheels are best with 19mm tires! (I’m no lightweight so I think I’d have to go with 21mm in front as a minimum and 23 at the back) Currently I have some 23mm Kenda tires. Cheap and they feel fast and great on the road, especially compared with past Conti GP, or GP3000s (the GP’s feel really slow and rough, while the 3000’s wear out really really fast, were kinda rough to ride on, plus I never felt safe on them in the wet)

Any suggestions on valves, pumps and/or tires for my 650 HED3 clinchers? Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

2

http://forum.slowtwitch.com/gforum.cgi?post=1376430;search_string=hed3%20valve;#1376430

and

http://forum.slowtwitch.com/gforum.cgi?post=1246527;search_string=best%20bike%20pump%20for%20inflating;#1246527
.

3

If you can;t be bothered witht the links I also have 650 H3s (and they are the ideal fastest wheel btw :)) and use 48mm valves and a joe blow pro pump. Whatever model you get you want the ‘smart head’ as this almost fits in the cutout above the 48mm valve and means you don’t have to stress the valve by trying to bend it outwards. I gave up on using a crackpipe within 5 minutes.

Re the other question I use the Ironman version of the Michelin Pro2Race. They’re readily available, feel pretty good and haven’t punctured to date so I’m very happy.

And finally for on the road flats I just use (or will use as and when I flat) the usual Microflate valve and cartridge system. I’ve used it several times with my training wheels and practiced on the H3s at home and the it fits right in the cutout so it should work well when needed.

4

Thanks heaps for the information. Now I know what to do.

Long Live Slowtwitch!

5

I’m not sure if the cut out for the valve stem is the same in the 650’s as it is in the 700’s, but I’ve found that 36mm valve stems work best in the 700’s. I have to use a crack pipe with my floor pump, but not with CO2. I can fill them sans a crack pipe using either an Innovations air chuck or microflate nano.

6

No probs but on second look maybe 36s as suggested by triceratops are better - I went with 48s as they were the shortest option in my LBS but I think it’s a case of the shorter the better
.

7

I use 36mm tubes along with Michelin Ironman tires. I like the feel of these tires. I’ve used Conti, Vittoria and like the Mich best. For a floor pump, I use the Topeak Joe Blow Pro. I can pump up the tires without a adaptor.