Mountain Biking - any alternative to rim tape??

I just realized after buying new rims that I need rim tape lol..I had no idea why my tires kept going flat..so is the any alternative to rim tape? I don't want to have to wait for tape to get here before I can ride my bike again. Thanks in advance.

I just realized after buying new rims that I need rim tape lol..I had no idea why my tires kept going flat..so is the any alternative to rim tape? I don't want to have to wait for tape to get here before I can ride my bike again. Thanks in advance.

I have heard of folks using strapping tape, duct tape and vinyl electrician's tape. Of those, I think the elec. tape would be best, use 2-3 layers, will remove the easiest when it comes time to put the real stuff on.

Here's my old favorite, Velox, differernt available widths and reuseable: http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/images/products/janteveloxrimtapebig_l.jpg

Thanks man, now I gotta look for some damn electrical tape around the house :lol:

Thanks man, now I gotta look for some damn electrical tape around the house :lol:

Jeez, it's always somethin', isn't it? :)

cant go to your lbs?

I've used electrical tape for years on wheels with no problems.. plus its lighter.

I've used electrical tape for years on wheels with no problems.. plus its lighter.

Hey, how's THAT for a testimonial?!!!

Fiberglass reinforced strapping tape is better than electrical tape, you only need one layer of it on a mountain wheel.

Fiberglass reinforced strapping tape is better than electrical tape, you only need one layer of it on a mountain wheel.

I've dealt with the strapping tape before, it's a real pain if you ever have to remove it, though.

Just use whatever for temporary, then put on good ol' Velox.

Hockey tape works well, assuming you have some.

Velo plugs.

"I have heard of folks using strapping tape, duct tape and vinyl electrician's tape. Of those, I think the elec. tape would be best, use 2-3 layers, will remove the easiest when it comes time to put the real stuff on."

I have used this once in an emergency. It worked well enough to get me out of the woods.

Hockey tape works well, assuming you have some.

Ooh yeah, hockey tape would work well and be easy to remove too, hadn't thought of that one.

Is taping rims just for tubeless tires? I've never bought new rims before...

Is taping rims just for tubeless tires? I've never bought new rims before...

If you have tubes, you NEED rim tape to keep the tubes from getting cut from spoke ends and rim spoke holes. There's air pressure bearing those tubes against the rim.

I have no experience with tubeless.

+1 on electrical tape. just don't use hockey tape or duct tape. seriously, they make the rim all sticky, and really messes them up.

If you have tubes, you NEED rim tape to keep the tubes from getting cut from spoke ends and rim spoke holes. There's air pressure bearing those tubes against the rim.

I have no experience with tubeless.

Ah. I suppose that does make sense, doen't it?

Electrical tape works as good as anything . . . until you go to a NORBA Nat and the guy in the Michelin tent is dismounting your tire for you and finds your ghetto 'rim strip :o.

Say it aint so Doug!

"I have heard of folks using strapping tape, duct tape and vinyl electrician's tape. Of those, I think the elec. tape would be best, use 2-3 layers, will remove the easiest when it comes time to put the real stuff on."

I have used this once in an emergency. It worked well enough to get me out of the woods.


OOooooooooo Don't make me post the palm frond pic.

Electrical tape works as good as anything . . . until you go to a NORBA Nat and the guy in the Michelin tent is dismounting your tire for you and finds your ghetto 'rim strip :o.

In the unlikely event that I would be at a michelin tent at a norba national, they will be more appalled by my kenda tires than my ghetto rim strip.

I think someone tried leaves one time .. don't think that worked out for them.

Say it aint so Doug!It is so. Michelin guy was pointing out to me that my Wildgrippers should be turned around for better braking and offered to do it for me then and there. Of course, it's kinda like trying on a new pair of pants with fart-stained underwear on.

OOooooooooo Don't make me post the palm frond pic.

Oh, no, NOT the palm frond pic! (what's the palm frond pic?) Is it as terrible as the comfy chair?

By the way, Siu , you attributed my post to DogBonz. Credit where credit's due, ya know.

Of course, it's kinda like trying on a new pair of pants with fart-stained underwear on.

Getting a little graphic, aren't we, Doug? Is that 'normal' on your side of the mountains? You know, here in Puget Sound we............oh, never mind.

Oh, no, NOT the palm frond pic! (what's the palm frond pic?) Is it as terrible as the comfy chair?

By the way, Siu , you attributed my post to DogBonz. Credit where credit's due, ya know.


Palm frond


http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o286/Flycrow/fix5.jpg

Very ingenious! But a lotta good that's gonna do me here in Warshington.

Ehh. It didn't work anyway. Only because the tube had too many holes from the spokes and we didn't have enough patches. He already used up my tube from last time and I forgot to put a new one in my bag.

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o286/Flycrow/walk.jpg

Yeah, I guess if you had about 32-33 of the round patches you could have fashioned a better rim strip.

he he, as many ghetto projects as John had attempted in the past, I would have bet the farm, he knew about electrical tape.

he he, as many ghetto projects as John had attempted in the past, I would have bet the farm, he knew about electrical tape.

He had no idea what rimstrips were. That was after he'd been on bikeforums for a couple years.

He makes Cheeto look like a brain surgeon.

^^ I just spit coffee on the desk!