Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Velo Plugs

In two words: LOVE THEM. I got some velo plugs to see if using them would make taking my tires off my Mavic A119 wheels any easier. Wow what a difference it made. I no longer have to worry about busting my hands on the wheels when using my tire tool.

Who ever the genius was that developed these little beauties should get a Nobel Prize for one of the best inventions ever, well as far as bikes go, I mean, really, there are a lot more inventions that have made the world a better place, but as I see it, if it is 1 AM and I have a flat and I can pull my tire off easier and get back on the road in just a few minutes and not have to struggle to get the tire, then at that point in time, best invention ever. :D

what are they?

what are they?
Google is your friend
http://mostpsp.googlepages.com/i_will_use_google_before_asking_dumb_que_31.jpg (http://www.google.com/search?q=Veloplugs&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a)

what are they?

They are a handy little plastic plug that you put in the rim holes so you don't have to use rim tape (velox).

http://www.veloplug.com/index.php?http://www.veloplug.com/intro.html

They are nice but they do not fit onto all rims. If you have the chance to try before you buy....

oh yea for sure. 8mm holes only. I had a couple that were a little large, but nothing that a ultra small strip of painters tape didn't fix.

Who ever the genius was that developed these little beauties should get a Nobel Prize for one of the best inventions ever...
I *think* his name is John Black, and he has posted here in the past, though I haven't seen him on here in a couple of years.

Make sure you put one in each hole, they are pretty useless if you don't plug each hole. :o. Again everyone together, plug each hole so you don't feel as stupid and embarrassed as I did.

I got about 10 miles out today and got a flat, since it is very hot and humid, this was not a happy moment in my life. :mad: I pulled my tire and realized that I forgot to put this lovely item in one of the holes. I wondered why I had 3 extra plugs left after I installed them. Luckily I had some paper money on me and used it as rim tape. I pulled my front wheel just to make sure I didn't miss one there as well, but all was good. Finished my ride without further issue. The tire was so easy to get off with the plugs compared to when I had the rim tape on it.

Humpf! I've never had an issue with spoke holes/rim tape. Hopefully I never will.

Well the only reason I moved to the plugs was due to how tough it was to get the tires off with these Mavic Rims. It's not a problem now.

Really dumb question and I hate google. How do they work? The hard part for me seems to be the last few inches going over the top of the rim. I'm wondering how they help. Thanks.

Really dumb question and I hate google. How do they work? The hard part for me seems to be the last few inches going over the top of the rim. I'm wondering how they help. Thanks.
They help by taking less room on the rim as rim tape. It helps mostly when mounting the tire not taking it off. Another advantage for weight weenies is that they are lighter than rim tape. Also if a spoke has to be worked on instead of taking off half of the sticky tape you just remove the one plug, then put it back in. I have been using them for about a year. I noticed I was getting some flats around the stem area of the tube from time to time of my rear wheel (of course). The plugs don't cover the stem hole so I punched a hole in about 1" of standard rim tape and put it over the hole. I haven't had a flat since in that area. Standard hole punches for paper seem to be just the right size.

They help by taking less room on the rim as rim tape. It helps mostly when mounting the tire not taking it off. Another advantage for weight weenies is that they are lighter than rim tape. Also if a spoke has to be worked on instead of taking off half of the sticky tape you just remove the one plug, then put it back in. I have been using them for about a year. I noticed I was getting some flats around the stem area of the tube from time to time of my rear wheel (of course). The plugs don't cover the stem hole so I punched a hole in about 1" of standard rim tape and put it over the hole. I haven't had a flat since in that area. Standard hole punches for paper seem to be just the right size.

For my wheels they help the most in the removal of the tire, I never had any issues mounting them. I also put a little rim tape around the stem hole as well.

Ah, I see now. They work on double-walled rims. The itty bitty rims on my 'bent (20 & 16 inch) are a single layer.

re: blackboard image - wonder if they have a version that says "I will play nice when around adults"?

Sounds like some folks need a re-fresher course in flat repair. LOL! It's one of the class I instruct at the shop. For the most part while I am doing Flat repairs on Saturdays (Average about 10-15) there are only about 1 to 2 that I ever have to put a tire iron on. It takes patience and a little finesse to do it with a little luck thrown in to boot. The toughest tires I work on are my own. High Pressure BMX Maxxis Hookwork tires on a 20 inch Recumbent rim. Slightly larger than they should be in width for these wheels, but the carcass is strong and the bead pops and holds on for dear life like no bodies business.

^^ I hear ya, I can't tell you how many times I rapped my knuckles on the wheel or spokes when the tire tool would slip out. I have absolutely no issues now. This rim tape I was using, Velox, must have been just a little wide and came up on the side of the rim just a bit making the tire just a bear to get off the section of the rim where the flat is.

^^ I hear ya, I can't tell you how many times I rapped my knuckles on the wheel or spokes when the tire tool would slip out. I have absolutely no issues now. This rim tape I was using, Velox, must have been just a little wide and came up on the side of the rim just a bit making the tire just a bear to get off the section of the rim where the flat is.

That is the case with many rims; Shops using the wrong size VELOX Tape! They make a few different sizes and while a slightly wider one will work, as you have found out it can cause fits and aggravation. I have seen some problems with the plugs being slightly loose due to oversize holes in the spoke access. I had a customer that LOVED these plugs, but due to a wheel being made slightly off, he had 2 plugs that were always loose. Lost one during a flat change and the tubes kept puncturing on him. He went back to Velox Tape after that.

High Pressure BMX Maxxis Hookwork tires on a 20 inch Recumbent rim. Slightly larger than they should be in width for these wheels, but the carcass is strong and the bead pops and holds on for dear life like no bodies business.
Same tires on the same size rim. They can be removed without tools, but it's difficult. The case is pretty stiff and unwilling to flex.

That is the case with many rims; Shops using the wrong size VELOX Tape! They make a few different sizes and while a slightly wider one will work, as you have found out it can cause fits and aggravation. I have seen some problems with the plugs being slightly loose due to oversize holes in the spoke access. I had a customer that LOVED these plugs, but due to a wheel being made slightly off, he had 2 plugs that were always loose. Lost one during a flat change and the tubes kept puncturing on him. He went back to Velox Tape after that.

Yep, I had a couple of the plug loose on some of the spoke holes, but when I tried them on another they snapped right in but still had 2 that would not fit right. Just used an ultra thin strip of shipping tape to hold in place when I pull the front tire to make sure all the plugs were in my front wheel, the tape seems to be holding well. I did not know Velox came in different sizes. Will remember that in the future when I need to replace on my other bikes.