First bringing you made in the U.S. carbon fiber fat bike rims with the Big Deal, HED quietly showed up to Interbike with an all new option for fat bikes. Called the BFD or Big Fat Deal, the new rim brings their lightweight fat bike rim technology to the fattest of fat bikes. Likely shipping in 2-3 weeks, the BFDs should be ready by the time the snow flies this season.
Full details include weights after the break…
For the most part the BFD uses the same design as the Big Deal, just 20mm wider. After finalizing their carbon process on the 80mm option, the longest part of the BFD development was creating the mold. Along with experimenting with different carbon layups, HED has also widened the spoke holes to stiffen up the wider rim.
HED continues with their Inflato Band tubeless system, but they have changed the slope of the tire shelf to allow the tire to more easily seat. HED wheels seal up tubeless with a strip of Gorilla tape and tire sealant, and with new tires like the 45NRTH Vanhelga, the process is quite easy.
Claiming just 500g for the rim alone, this front wheel built up with the requisite 32 spokes and alloy nipples came in at an impressive 900g. BFD rims will sell for somewhere around $40-50 more than the Big Deal just due to the additional carbon necessary to make the rim.
