Bicycle Mechanics - Rim tape

What width of rim tape for a mountain bike wheel? My LBS suggests 17 mm Velox. That looks a little wider than the area where the nipples are but i guess it will be ok?

17 is the most common width. A few rims, like Rhyno Lite's take 22mm rim tape. Ideally you'd like for the rim strip to completely cover the rim from flange to flange.

17 sounds like it's not wide enough. My 23c road rims take 18.

I have no idea what the width is on mine. I use, at the recommendation of the wrench at my LBS (who does it themselves), standard width electrical tape wrapped twice around the rim. That shop is a wheelbuilder, and that is what they use, unless the customer requests something else. It's never caused a problem for me.

17 sounds like it's not wide enough. My 23c road rims take 18.
Lots of mtb rims have a pretty similar width cross-section to narrow road rims. It's not the smartest system with wide off-road tires because it makes them more likely to get pinch flats (the reason for narrower rims is that they're lighter) but it does mean that they'll use narrow rim strips.

I've been using a high grade thin black electrical tape also - put on to it by local LBS - twice around as mentioned previously - then I take a sharp utility knife blade & cut just a small X where the valve hole is - then when you push the valve through the rim hole the tape protects the tube from the sharp edge of the valve hole.

http://www.fisheroutdoor.co.uk/products/main/RTS220B.jpg

Anything else is silly.

I use Curad Waterproof adhesive tape found in the first aid section of any big box retailer. Intended use is with gauze bandages. It looks and works just like bicycle rim tape. I overlap the valve stem hole about 6" either side and use a razor knife to make the hole in the tape for the valve stem. When you remove it no adhesive residue is left behind on the rim like you get with electrical tape.

I wound up using 11mm rim tape on mavic xc717 rims, which don't have a flat interior. I decided, perhaps uninformedly, that I would rather have tape smooth over the flat part of the rim than deal w/ uneven-ness around the sculpted parts of the rim. As this decision moves on to bite me, I will post updates.

I have no idea what the width is on mine. I use, at the recommendation of the wrench at my LBS (who does it themselves), standard width electrical tape wrapped twice around the rim. That shop is a wheelbuilder, and that is what they use, unless the customer requests something else. It's never caused a problem for me.
Is that a joke?

Is that a joke?

Nope

Was it John Tomac or Ned Overend that used packing tape? Look what that cost them.

I bought two 100ft rolls of cloth rim tape. Should last be a while.

I use nitto electrical tape in low-pressure wheels like MTB wheels, never been a problem. Wouldn't do it at the shop though. For pressures over say, 50psi I would run cloth tape or velocity veloplugs (and do!)

- Joel

http://www.fisheroutdoor.co.uk/products/main/RTS220B.jpg

Anything else is silly.
+1

That stuff is the best there is.

I have no idea what the width is on mine. I use, at the recommendation of the wrench at my LBS (who does it themselves), standard width electrical tape wrapped twice around the rim. That shop is a wheelbuilder, and that is what they use, unless the customer requests something else. It's never caused a problem for me.
I used electrical tape once since I didn;t have time for a trip to the LBS, and I can tell you 2 layers is downright dangerous. I used 2 layers and checked it after one 15 mile ride, and the tubes were already stretching the tape and pressing into the spoke holes! A total of 4 layers seemed to work fine, but I replaced it with Velox asap.

Could be worse... at least duct tape wasn't used...

+1

That stuff is the best there is.
At least we Europeans keep together;) Let the Americans fumble with their heavy sticky velox thing.

Could be worse... at least duct tape wasn't used...
Duct tape would actually work better than electrical tape (assuming you can get narrow duct tape) because it doesn't stretch much. Pretty similar to cloth rim tape (e.g., Velox) actually.
I agree that electrical tape (especially high-quality, relatively non-stretch stuff) could work, but I'd only use it in wheels with lower-pressure tires.
I usually use polyurethane rim strips myself (don't know if it's the same as what you Europeans are recommending), as they work and they're lighter than cloth tape. Also easier to remove than cloth tape, and reusable more easily. I really don't get the draw of cloth tape other than its possible retro-hood status.

Is the Schwalbe tape sold in the United States? I did a quick search and could not find a source.

Is the Schwalbe tape sold in the United States? I did a quick search and could not find a source.
Here you go.

http://www.schwalbetires.com/accessories/rim_strips

So what's so great about Schwalbe high pressure rim tape? I'm not necessarily doubting, but I've not heard anything about it that distinguishes it from other types of rim tape (except that it's lighter than cloth rim tape, which is also true of polyurethane rim strips, which have the added advantage of not being tape, so they're easily removable and don't leave sticky residue).

At least we Europeans keep together;) Let the Americans fumble with their heavy sticky velox thing.

I've used a lot of different kinds of rim tape, and they all work. I've used strapping tape too, and that actually works really well, and is probably lighter than any other solution (not that I care a bit about so little weight).

Anyway, back to the width question, you want to cover more than just the spoke holes. The tape needs some material to grab on to at the sides of the spoke holes. Otherwise, it gets pushed into the hole, exposing the hole's edge and cutting the tube.

So what's so great about Schwalbe high pressure rim tape? I'm not necessarily doubting, but I've not heard anything about it that distinguishes it from other types of rim tape (except that it's lighter than cloth rim tape, which is also true of polyurethane rim strips, which have the added advantage of not being tape, so they're easily removable and don't leave sticky residue).
They work well. They stay in place, they don't degrade, they leave no sticky residue, and spokes don't poke through them, even at very high pressure.

So what's so great about Schwalbe high pressure rim tape?

It just works.
It's sort of halfway between rubber and plastic, available in a few widths to match your rim. Forms a loop with a hole for the valve. Put it on and forget it... You can switch it onto different rims or remove to change spokes pretty quickly about one million times, no sticky goo, won't ever think of sliding to the side and exposing spoke holes (electrical tape may). Will easily withstand any pressure your rim will. Nothing spectacular, it just works.

They work well. They stay in place, they don't degrade, they leave no sticky residue, and spokes don't poke through them, even at very high pressure.

It just works. It's sort of halfway between rubber and plastic, available in a few widths to match your rim. Forms a loop with a hole for the valve. Put it on and forget it... You can switch it onto different rims or remove to change spokes pretty quickly about one million times, no sticky goo, won't ever think of sliding to the side and exposing spoke holes (electrical tape may). Will easily withstand any pressure your rim will. Nothing spectacular, it just works.
Right. Sounds exactly the same as the polyurethane rim strips that I'd mentioned twice earlier in this thread. Easily changable, don't break, no stickiness... Performance and Nashbar sell this sort of thing, btw.