tried a tube

Had a brain wave. Bicycle tire. Or rather, an inner tube. Could this be used to surround the custom dew heating element? The rubber could help in terms of insulation, so the metal nichrome wires didn't short against telescope bits. And the tubing would offer some structure and protection for the whole element. Grabbed an old punctured tire inner tube from my racer bike with it's 1" rims. Too small, as an intact tube. Hmmm. What about the other bike?