How to install rim tape?
05-26-12 | 01:57 PM
#2
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 30,225
Likes: 649
From: St Peters, Missouri
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
Velox is the gold standard of rim tapes. It comes in 3 widths. Most, if not all, road bike rims take the 17mm width. It's important that the rim tape covers every bit of every spoke hole. Ideally, the rim tape should fit snugly from rim flange to rim flange.
Installation, aside from that, is pretty much intuitive.
Installation, aside from that, is pretty much intuitive.
05-26-12 | 02:16 PM
#3
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 33,657
Likes: 1,119
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
+1 on using Velox. It is self adhesive and very strong. Be sure to start and end the tape between spoke holes, not over one, and line up the prepunched hole in the tape over the valve hole. You can trim the tape so the beginning and end butt tightly together or just overlap the ends slightly. It doesn't seem to matter which one you do.
05-26-12 | 03:41 PM
#4
Experienced
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,039
Likes: 0
I love me some Velox! I miss using it since I switched to Road Tubeless.
While it might not be necessary, it's a good idea to spray some Brakleen on a clean rag and wipe down the rim surface before installing, just to be sure there's no grease or anything on it. That's not a big deal, but it can't hurt.
While it might not be necessary, it's a good idea to spray some Brakleen on a clean rag and wipe down the rim surface before installing, just to be sure there's no grease or anything on it. That's not a big deal, but it can't hurt.
05-26-12 | 04:15 PM
#5
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,224
Likes: 6
Brakleen is nasty stuff. If you have to clean the rim surface, common isopropyl alcohol is good. Much healthier too!
