Probably one of our most visited during Interbike, Hed’s booth seemed to have something new every time we went by. What started with Andy showing us the new 100mm BFD fat bike rims out at Dirt Demo, continued with a new aluminum fat bike rim and finished with Steve Hed himself showing us their new 29″ carbon rim inside. What started with a single 85mm wide carbon rim has exploded into a number of fatter options for fat bikes and 29ers alike.
Details on the new hoops next…
Hed isn’t calling their new 29er rim a 29+, but it is wide. Measuring in at 45mm external and 42mm internal, the 365g rim should fit standard 29er tires on standard 29″ frames. We’re told true 29+ rims may be on the way, but for now the 29er rim is being raced by their team members on regular mountain bikes at pressures as low as 15-16 psi. Using a similar tubeless design as their other wider rims, the wheels seal with normal tubeless tape and sealant. The rims will be offered in both 29″ and 27.5″ and will be available around the first of the year.
To go along with their 85mm Big Deal carbon rim, Hed is introducing an 85mm aluminum rim – the Big Deal Al. The welded rim will be extruded in Iowa with the final rolling and welding to be completed in Hed’s Minneapolis headquarters. Welded and accepting 32 spokes, the rims can be built without spoke washers and will be offered in different anodized colors.
Using what they’ve learned from their carbon offerings, the Big Deal AL continues with the Inflatoband system for tubeless. Our experience is that non tubeless fat bike tires will probably need the Inflatobands, but the new crop of tires with tubeless beads should snap right into place. Due to the ribbed design of the rim, Hed says the rim achieves the stiffness of most dual wall rims while keeping the weight at 760g (actual measured weight). Available soon, the rims will retail around $190 a piece.
In case you missed it, Hed also introduced a 100mm wide version of their Big Deal, the BFD.
Will HED be making an aluminum version of the 45mm rim?
Why can’t they sell just the rims? I honestly don’t care for their hubs, and I have heard their hubs are rather sub-par.
Why not the Big D-Al?
I gotta say I’m really impressed with what HED is bringing to the world of fat bikes/mountain bikes. It’s a new direction for them, but they’re doing it so damn well. And here we all thought they just did aero wheels? Nice job HED. Nice job.
42mm internal width *is* 29+ (whatever that means). The Sarma 29+ rim is 43mm.
BFD, nice!
I have no idea what the hell all the rage is about with HED wheels. They look ghetto-cheap and are not drilled, and waaaay to expensive compared to other wheels. I’m not on this wagon.
@Fatbike…
HE’D offers secure tubeless and the lightest rim weight around. I’d love it if they sold their rims to local shops instead of direct, but I understand the lacing mantra. They look great in person, are made in the States, and can’t be touched for weight, although others come close. They’re not for everyone, but they are impressive for what they are.
Love the forward thinking rims they come out with, and they do make a pretty good stock package road wheel at any level you buy. I know people mean though about wow factor though, they look super plane when the bike is standing still. I would love to see them make a move with through axles though.
This 29″ rims have got one impressive weight !
Is it hookless ?
42 to 45mm, seems like a narrow wall. I wonder how they do with rock strikes.
@jon jon, I’ve been riding on HED road wheels for years and haven’t had any issues with the hubs, nor have I heard of any problems from others. Not sure where you are getting your info from.
What’s the deal with the nearly-flat profile? I get it for fat bikes but for smaller tires it seems like the rim wouldn’t get enough bracing?
I like the HED products and they are doing a lot of innovation but they are extremely hard to get in Canada as there is no distributor. Because of this no shops carry them as they have to pay shipping plus customs and brokerage to get them which prices them way out of the market.