Bicycle Mechanics - Do I need better rim strips/tape? Mystery flats

I have a 2 month old road bike, with about 125 miles on it. Last week I got a new floor pump, my previous pump did not have a gauge on it, so I probably never fully inflated the tires.

I got the new pump, filled up the tires to 125psi and everything seemed fine. The next morning, flat front tire. I pulled the tuve and inspected it, puncture in the inner part of the tube. Replaced tube, only to have the same thing happen. I could not find why this was happening. Put in a 3rd tube - no problems.

Went for a ride, all was well. Parked the bike. The next day, flat rear tire. Same mystery as to why it's flat.

All I can guess is the rubber-band type rim strips are not thick enough to protect the tube from spoke ends at full PSI? Should I get some thicker cloth/other rim strips? Am I doing something wrong?

I have a 2 month old road bike, with about 125 miles on it. Last week I got a new floor pump, my previous pump did not have a gauge on it, so I probably never fully inflated the tires.

I got the new pump, filled up the tires to 125psi and everything seemed fine. The next morning, flat front tire. I pulled the tuve and inspected it, puncture in the inner part of the tube. Replaced tube, only to have the same thing happen. I could not find why this was happening. Put in a 3rd tube - no problems.

Went for a ride, all was well. Parked the bike. The next day, flat rear tire. Same mystery as to why it's flat.

All I can guess is the rubber-band type rim strips are not thick enough to protect the tube from spoke ends at full PSI? Should I get some thicker cloth/other rim strips? Am I doing something wrong?

First, unless you weigh a bunch or are racing on a velodrome, you have way too much pressure.

If the hole is on the inside of the tube, the most likely answer is the tape. Find the holes and see if they are in the same place and where that is (measure from the valve hole). Is the tape frayed here? Pulled to one side? Does the tube looked bulged around the hole like it expanded down into a spoke hole? Are there two holes (snake bite)?

TF

The holes from the front tire seemed to be in the same place - single puncture wound. I put a strip of electric tape over the rim strip in that area before the final try, and so far the 3rd tube is not having a problem. That's what was leading me to suspect this rim tape is crap.

This is the first time I've had the problem in the rear, but it's the same thing - lines up perfectly with the hole for a spoke nipple. The rim tape is the rubber type, but isn't frayed, split, or worn. It seems to be inline down the center of the rim where it should be. I haven't noticed any bulges like it expanded "down the hole," but that doesn't mean it didn't.

As for pressure in my 23c tires, I used the formula (.33 x rider weight in lbs) + 53.33, which comes out to about 120psi for me.

I agree, that is alot of pressure. You might try reducing it a bit and see if it rolls as well and is cushier.

As to the problem you asked about. I have had trouble sometimes with cheap rubber rim strips. No matter how careully you line them up over the nipples or holes, they sometimes will slip a bit. Sometimes the tube twists a bit as it inflates, and it could drag the strip along with it. Also, is it possible the tire is not seating all the way and the tube is forcing itself out and then blowing? That would not leave a small hole though.

Rim strip seems like the likely cause. You can solve the problem with a few dollars with good tape. Or, you can always use several layers of strapping tape all the way around. Other than making a mess if you want to remove it, it works.

jim

I do not agree hat the pressure is to high. For a road bike if the tire says 125 psi that is what you should put in. Reduced pressure will cause pinch flats, tube pinched between the rim and tire. As for rim tape that is the ONLY way to go. The rubber rim strips are for department store bikes with cheep wheels. If you are doing any amount of miles the extra $2.00 is well worth the expense in less flats. When you mount the tire place the label over the valve. That way you have a landmark to tell where your hole is.

I do not agree hat the pressure is to high. For a road bike if the tire says 125 psi that is what you should put in. Reduced pressure will cause pinch flats, tube pinched between the rim and tire. As for rim tape that is the ONLY way to go. The rubber rim strips are for department store bikes with cheep wheels. If you are doing any amount of miles the extra $2.00 is well worth the expense in less flats. When you mount the tire place the label over the valve. That way you have a landmark to tell where your hole is.

The number on the tire is the maximum rated pressure, not the recommended. I don't see the need for anybody to go over 110. As a Clyde+, I run 100 front and rear in 700x23 and have never had a pinch flat except when I hit something hard enough to bend the rim (do not try this at home). If you do get pinch flats, go to a larger tire, not more pressure.

I agree that a cloth rim tape is the way to go IF you do not have one of the more modern shallow rims. The thickness of the tape can make the tire nearly impossible to get off/on.

TF

+1 on cloth rim tape, it;s cheap and the most effective solution
-1 on the pressure being too high, 120 range is pretty standard for a 700-23

Pull the tube and check the inside of the rim, you may have a metal burr or nick somewhere, especially check the valve stem hole.

i would look into some 17mm wide velox rim tape. shids the bomb

I would get some Velox Rim Tape- I have both old and new on my bikes- some is from about 1995 on one wheel and still works fine :D so it must be good quality stuff

+1 on cloth rim tape, it;s cheap and the most effective solution
-1 on the pressure being too high, 120 range is pretty standard for a 700-23

Pull the tube and check the inside of the rim, you may have a metal burr or nick somewhere, especially check the valve stem hole.

"...120 range is pretty standard for a 700-23" Unfortunately, correct. Another myth that won't die. Just makes you slower and more uncomfortable. - TF

Rim tape cost next to nothing and easy to replace.
Make sure you get the right width, or a little wider if not available.

"...120 range is pretty standard for a 700-23" Unfortunately, correct. Another myth that won't die. Just makes you slower and more uncomfortable. - TF

Here is a pressure chart. Use your tire size and weight to find the correct pressure. The front and rear pressure may be different.

Chart (http://www.precisiontandems.com/arttiresbymark.htm)

Here is a pressure chart. Use your tire size and weight to find the correct pressure. The front and rear pressure may be different.

Chart (http://www.precisiontandems.com/arttiresbymark.htm)

A ridiculously inaccurate and useless chart. For a rider my weight 125lbs + bike 16lbs = 141lbs says i'm supposed to be using 70 psi in my 700x23c tires.

This is obvoiusly false. The entire chart is too low pressure wise and has been discussed before. It's from bicycling magazine from almost 20 years ago ffs.

A ridiculously inaccurate and useless chart. For a rider my weight 125lbs + bike 16lbs = 141lbs says i'm supposed to be using 70 psi in my 700x23c tires.

This is obvoiusly false. The entire chart is too low pressure wise and has been discussed before. It's from bicycling magazine from almost 20 years ago ffs.

Here's a Michelin chart which would put you at about 95psig. - TF

Stopped in at the LBS yesterday to have a star-nut installed in a new fork (for a different bike). Picked up 2 rolls of Velox tape to redo the wheels that have the stupid rubber-bands on them. While I was talking with the guy as he hammered the nut into place, he thought the problems I described sounded like a case of bad rim tape too. He said he removes the rubber-band types whenever he comes across them, because "they suck."

So, I'll retape those wheels, hopefully tonight, and see if that solves the problem. If not, there must be some other way I'm being an idiot to cause flats. If it's not the rim tape though, it would be ironic that it's only happening on this bike, and not on either of the other 2 I've been using (my older bike, plus my wife's bike).

Beware the old tubes from the previous rim stripe tape. When I had some crappy rimstrip tape, it would create little crack on the tubes that would not leak yet... The only way I found them was streching the tube. I then noticed a row of star shaped micro cuts that had not failed yet alongside the largeer one that had failed.

Eric

+1 Velox or PerformanceBike Forte 17mm are identical and excellent.