Is Velox / cloth rim tape (and similar) still used / recommended ?
Is talc / 'baby powder' (and similar) still used on tubes and inside of tire (for the non-tubeless crowd) ?
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If your not running tubeless, the Velox works now like it always did. Boring. As long as the width is right, you stick it on as straight as you can and forget about it. Still can be peeled back to replace a spoke (or the entire rim) and stick down again. Nowadays, width options might be tighter but you can buy wider and slice the roll to your width with a very sharp knife. I sometimes use baby powder, It helps for laying the tube in straight and I cannot see any harm. Also helps keep the tube from sticking at recent repairs. My bikes are probably illegal now in California but they didn't catch me the one time I ducked over the line. (Talc.)