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I'm off on a 5 day riding trip next Sunday, and I've just spotted this dent in my rim:
It seems to still be holding air at the moment. It didn't flat at the time of the incident on yesterday's ride (which I didn't notice it at all). But I was running it much firmer than I normally would. By the time it's at comfortable riding pressure, and deforming around rocks, that might not be the case.
Getting a replacement and rebuild at this short notice is probably out of the question. And it looks worse that any dent I've fixed before with a pipe wrench: it seems to be compressed down as well as inward.
So: attempt a fix and risk losing the ability to seal, or leave as is and risk flatting on a ride?
I personally would try and straighten that. If its holding air still it should be fine after its been straightened a bit.
Worst case scenario is you need an inner tube.
The wheel's pretty bad so I'd be planning on replacing probably, but, in the meantime I'd personally try and improve it a bit. I wouldn't even hope for "straight" but I'd expect to at least turn it into a smaller dent.
Usual disclaimers- go slow, work in from the ends, feel and listen for creaking and big changes in feel (like, if it starts to get easier to bend), watch for white marks, stop early rather than pushing your luck... Might be worth adding some heat but I've never actually bothered...
Having said all that, best of all would be to set it to your normal pressures and ride it and see what happens. If it's stayed up so far then maybe it's best just left alone.
Test it with some aggressive riding, if it holds air then leave well alone until after your trip.
I’d be leaving that well alone until I could replace-assuming it holds air as is. If not, I’d use a tube until I could replace the rim.
Leave it as is. Short of smashing it again in the same place, if it's holding air now, it'll continue to do so. If I was swapping tyres I might spanner it out if I could be arsed, but equally I might not)
(and as a former Hunt Trailwide owner, "you call that a dent????")
Given it has the potential to ruin a trip, if holding air, leave well alone until you have a replacement you are certain will fit and can do so in time.
Maybe add some pressure to avoid further denting or burping.
I hadn't even considered the prospect of cracking the rim whilst trying to fix it, but that is definitely a possibility. Better to have a rim I can still ride with a tube, than one I can't ride at all.
Will ride it tonight to confirm it still holds air. Will probably steer clear of trying to fix it whatever the outcome.