Bicycle Mechanics - taping with electric tape?

i recently acquired a front wheel as a quickie/temporary replacement and it was taped twice around twice with electrical tape. i retaped it with some velox, but was wondering if anyone has ever done this either as a quick fix or practice it regularly? it seems that it would work just fine in theory...but i didn't feel like testing it myself. :rolleyes:

electrical tape doesn't stay supple for very long, I don't think.

Electrical tape is likely to shift from the flexing of the tube and the heat of braking. Also it isn't strong enough to resist cutting by the spoke holes. As a very short term fix it's better than nothing but Velox is the only way to fly for long-term use.

I taped the front wheel of my track bike with elec tape as a temporary measure, and it has laster fine for 8 months now.

Velox is irritating to me because the small size is always too small to cover the staggered spoke holes, and the big kind is always way too big.

I use duct tape all the time. It tears at whatever width you want, so you can get it to fit perfectly.

I taped the front wheel of my track bike with velox as a temporary measure, and it has laster fine for 8 months now.

Velox is irritating to me because the small size is always too small to cover the staggered spoke holes, and the big kind is always way too big.
I beleive that Velox comes in more than two widths.

Electrical tape is likely to shift from the flexing of the tube and the heat of braking. Also it isn't strong enough to resist cutting by the spoke holes. As a very short term fix it's better than nothing but Velox is the only way to fly for long-term use.
+1:rolleyes:

I don't think this would be the place to save a few dollars.

Blow out + speed= serious trouble.

electrical tape will last if you use 3 layers. and use 3M brand tape.

not the cheap stuff. 3M Temflex...period.

It stays supple, it is meant to. It's vinyl.

3 layers needed for the spoke holes.

The only problem is the glue on the tape will become a hassle when you
need to remove it someday.

I am a longtime confirmed user of Velox tape. In fact, I don't have to buy it as much as I used to because I reuse it- a light coat of spray adhesive and you're good to go.

Electrical tape and duct tape are not as puncture proof, and the hassle/mess of the tape's adhesive is just not worth it. JMHO.

I've used 3 layers of electrical tape without problem. I put it on when a rim strip broke on me one day. I needed to get it on the road quick. It's the rear tire on my grocery getter bike. It runs from 60-80PSI with up to 50 pounds on the rack, and never had a blowout after quite a few miles.

I wouldn't recommend it, Isn't like rim tape is prohibitively expensive, but it worked in a pinch and I haven't needed to change it.

i like performance bike rim tape. less expensive and does great job on my vintage rims. i do not use rim tape on my mavic krysium elite rimes though as i feel not needed (no spoke holes).

Never used the PVC electricial tape, but I have used the thick rubber tape used on line trucks in a pinch. Works fine; punch a hole for the valve with a paper hole punch and overlap a few inches.
One of the bikes in the barn has Velox rim tape, the rest have the heavy-duty nashbar plastic rim strips.
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Recently, when replacing tires on one of my 80's bikes, I found the rear had only a single layer of vinyl electrical tape. I had ridden it that way for 3 years, long enough to wear out the tireset with no flats or problems! Still would only recommend it as an emergency fix. Don

i do not use rim tape on my mavic krysium elite rimes though as i feel not needed (no spoke holes).
Right. If there are no sharp edges inside the rim, no tape is needed. Is the valve hole smooth edged?

electrical tape will last if you use 3 layers. and use 3M brand tape.

not the cheap stuff. 3M Temflex...period.

It stays supple, it is meant to. It's vinyl.

3 layers needed for the spoke holes.

The only problem is the glue on the tape will become a hassle when you
need to remove it someday.

I'm using two layers of OFF-BRAND (:eek: ) elec tape on a 700x20 rim on a tire that stays between 80 and 140 psi. Its been good for a 8 months now.

Electrical tape is a very poor choice because it is two soft to do the job and is heavy if you use many layers, the adhesive migrates under the pressure of the tire and will interfere with the tube. Duct tape has the same weight and adhesive problems.

If you can’t afford the real thing then you can substitute Strapping tape. It is the tape with all the parallel filaments.

I used electrical tape for several years on my road bike, with tire pressure of 100-110 lbs, and never had any problems. I only used one layer, and I don't remember if it was a premium brand or not. I read somewhere that it works well and it's light, so I began using it out of convenience (I always have a couple rolls laying around). But a couple years ago I bought a bunch of rim tape on sale at performance or REI (can't remember), so I haven't used electrical for a while. However, my personal sample of 1 says it is OK. No more/less flats, no blowouts, no discernible difference between it and high end rim tape, which I have also used. And one roll will do many, many tires.