New Wheels (Technical Idiot Thread...)

CHRISNOIR
CHRISNOIR Posts: 1,400
edited August 2009 in Road beginners
So, I finally took the plunge and upgraded my wheels to Camagnolo Zondas and decided to get some Pro-Race 3s on there as well. Dumb as it may sound I'm already operating on the outer limits of my technical knowledge here... :oops:

There's numerous things puzzling me at the moment - the tyres (700x23) seem way bigger than the wheel, the instructions on the tyre packet suggest I need to put some tape (?) around the inside of the rim and the tyres are much more shapeless than any other tyre I've ever changed.

Would it be out of order to ask my LBS to fit the job lot bearing in mind I bought the tyres / wheels elsewhere? Or do I need to MTFU and get learning?

Comments

  • Diogenes
    Diogenes Posts: 1,628
    Its very straightforward and good practice for when the dreaded puncture fairy strikes. You do indeed have to fit "rim tape" as they call it, this stops the tube being forced into the spoke holes as you inflate (or stop the spokes rubbing on the tube). The wheels should have come with rim tape, if not your LBS will sell you some.

    The shapeless feel of the tyre is normal on many foldable tyres, once you have the tyre fitted and the inner tube inflated the tyre will look like any other.

    A couple of tips:-

    Put a lttle air into the tube when fitting it.
    Don't use metal tyre levers. (sometimes you can get the tyre on without levers).
    Make sure there is no tube showing anywhere, check again after inflating a little.
    Wiggle the valve up an down inside the tyre before inflating.
    Inflate to your required pressure.

    D :D
  • kingrollo
    kingrollo Posts: 3,198
    nothing to worry about, I fitted some pro race 3 's this week - its all much easier when you get started. and believe -me, fitting the pro 3 was well worth the effort - the difference was staggering
  • skyd0g
    skyd0g Posts: 2,540
    It's better that you learn to do it in the comfort of your own home, where you can take your time over it to get it right. Rather than having to do it for the first time out on the road, if the p*!!^"&~#!} fairy strikes. :wink:
    It will probably be raining too! :lol:
    Cycling weakly
  • CHRISNOIR
    CHRISNOIR Posts: 1,400
    Great stuff, thanks all! I'll get some tape later and (while listening to soothing dolphin noises) give it a go. I think I just had a vision in my head of how the process should be. On opening up the tyres this vision was shot to pieces.

    Cheers again!
  • gkerr4
    gkerr4 Posts: 3,408
    it'll be OK - I fitted my first 'folding' tyres at the start of spring - they were certainly different - they dont look like they could possibly turn into a tyre - and yet, they do! - when you get them on roughly, put the tube in and fold the rest of the tyre into the rim then put a little air in the suddenly change shape and become all "tyre-like" again!
  • CHRISNOIR
    CHRISNOIR Posts: 1,400
    gkerr4 wrote:
    it'll be OK - I fitted my first 'folding' tyres at the start of spring - they were certainly different - they dont look like they could possibly turn into a tyre - and yet, they do! - when you get them on roughly, put the tube in and fold the rest of the tyre into the rim then put a little air in the suddenly change shape and become all "tyre-like" again!

    Yeah, that was the main thing that threw me; "But this tyre's way too big! And it doesn't even look like a tyre!" Good to hear it's not just me.
  • gabriel959
    gabriel959 Posts: 4,227
    I don’t think you need to add rim tape to the Zonda’s rims (if my Fulcrum Racing 3s are anything to go by). It is much better like this anyway as it makes fitting tyres much easier than when having rim tape.
    x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
    Commuting / Winter rides - Jamis Renegade Expert
    Pootling / Offroad - All-City Macho Man Disc
    Fast rides Cannondale SuperSix Ultegra
  • gkerr4
    gkerr4 Posts: 3,408
    ^^ yeah - I was going to say this - I have Eurus and I thought zonda were in the same design - do they actually have holes in them (inside the rim) where you can see the spoke nipples?

    The inside of the Eurus rim is smooth and the only hole is the valve hole - so no rim tape needed. Don't add rim tape if you don't need to - it will only cost more, weigh more and make tyres harder to fit!
  • CHRISNOIR
    CHRISNOIR Posts: 1,400
    Yeah, the only hole is the valve hole - I'll have a go without the tape then. Cheers!
  • CHRISNOIR
    CHRISNOIR Posts: 1,400
    All is good and a big 'Nuff Respec' to all you guys! Cheers for the help.