Bicycle Mechanics - Rim tape

I have to install new rim tape. How tight should I pull the tape when installing it. It seems that the last I installed has slipped some and allowed a series of flats to pleague my ride today!

Using Velox, I pull it pretty tight. Not crazy, strain-my-@ass-off tight, but I keep it pretty snug all the way around. After a week or two, it dimples in where the spokes are, and shows the outline of the bushings, but still prevents tube damage.

Be sure you have the right width for you rim. It should completely cover the bed and may even look a little too wide before you put it in. Hope this helps.

You want to make sure before you put the tube on that none of the spoke ends are poking through because these could pop tubes really easily.

I don't have any spoke ends poking through. It just seems that the rim tape that I have in now has shifted to one side a little too far. In one place it even has folded up on its self some. The flats where caused by the edge of a rim hole being exposed.

Velox is self-adhesive. As long as you clean the surface, it wont shift. Why use anything else.

I put the salsa brand rim strip on and it also has and adhesive back. This was the first time I had ever insalled this product so I was thinking maby I didn't pull it taught enough on the initial installation. It looks to be the same as the Velox, just that it's red.

I trust the velox. Make sure it is wide enough tho, it comes in three widths and you want it to go from bead to bead. Some rims have a film of lube on them from manufacturing and you want to wipe them down with rubbing alcohol(or something similar) I keep it snug when I pull it on but not to tight because it can cock the stem as it "returns".

Velox Fond du Jaunte is my personal choice for a rim tape and like Rev said as long as you clean the rim bed and snug it up you'll be fine.

Another vote for Velox!

Velox is what we use in the shop; Ritchey has some light stuff that I've had good luck with as well.