Opening for valve in wheel cover

[Deleted User]

Hi everyone.  How important is it to cover the opening in a wheel cover for the valve?  The wheel cover comes with some sticker-like things that I figured were intended for that purpose.  Bet after an overnight shower before Rev3 Quassy last weekend the one I had would not stick and was useless.  Rode without it.  Does not covering the opening mess up the aero qualities of the wheel cover?

Coach Rich

Posted By Jim Daley on 05 Jun 2012 03:51 PM

Hi everyone.  How important is it to cover the opening in a wheel cover for the valve?  The wheel cover comes with some sticker-like things that I figured were intended for that purpose.  Bet after an overnight shower before Rev3 Quassy last weekend the one I had would not stick and was useless.  Rode without it.  Does not covering the opening mess up the aero qualities of the wheel cover?

 

Not sure what the answer is but I just use ductape

John Withrow

I think you get almost all of the same benefit of the wheel cover even without the small valve hole covered, but it looks way cooler when it is covered. Rich, I hope you at least use black duct tape? You can't be representing EN with ghetto silver duct tape on your wheel cover??? The next thing you're gonna say is that you're gonna wear 'gasp' black bike shoes...

Dino Sarti

I have used the stickers, but have seen folks on my Tri club use everything from black electrical tape to a sort of black kind of fabric tape. I think any thing will work as long as you can quickly peel to fix a flat.

[Deleted User]

Rich while fiscally prudent that does not sound very 'pro' ;-). I am sure whe wheelbuilder guys can hook you up!

[Deleted User]

 I leave mine untaped mostly because I'm lazy . I would imagine though that it would mitigate the effects of the disc cover to some degree, but no idea how much...

robin sarner

 There may be a risk of cover shifting.

Coach Rich

...it's unobtanium duct tape?

mgraffeo

Almost always have left it open. Tried using the sticker once, it fell off in less than 30 seconds. The disc cover still makes me scary faster than without it.

William Jenks

I put electrical tape over the screws, since they tend to hold less well with wear. I've lost several over the years while on the road when I haven't done that. Several parallel lengths of electrical tape with a bit of overlap will also neatly cover the stem opening and is not eye catching at all while riding.

mancona

it looks ugly but I used to use the blue painters tape. It goes on and comes of the easiest when you want it too and does not come off in the rain.

Keith Wick

I use the clear packing tape for boxes. Sometime one strip covers it and other times I do two so there is more overlap and contact on the edges.

mgraffeo

William, that's interesting. I've never lost a screw, and would never have thought of that. Wonder if they changed vendors along the way. Seems worth an email to Wheelbuilder...