Tubes and Rim Strips
While I haven’t bought a whole lot of bikes during my lifetime — I prefer to get as good as I can afford and keep it as long as possible — I have noticed something about the tubes and rim strips that come on new bikes:
They tend to be really cheap.
My $1,500 Trek mountain bike (bought about 12 years ago) came with tubes so cheap they failed at the seams.
The rim strips on my more modestly priced Marin Novato (the base for my Xtracycle conversion) have been giving me flats on the spoke side of the rim. The thin rubber is evidently stretching so much into the spoke holes that the tube is getting getting cut there.
So unless you’re spending really big bucks on a bike and your shop upgrades some of the stock parts, expect some problems in these areas.
Cloth rim tape is much better than a rubber rim strip. I actually use 1/2 inch first aid tape; it’s cheaper.
Posted in Bicycles & EquipmentTags: flat tires, flats, new bike, rim strip, tubes
23. April 2009 at 3:52 pm :
Electrical tape, maybe? Cheaper ……
24. April 2009 at 7:18 am :
I couldn’t find half-inch cloth electrical tape; actually cloth electrical of any width. Vinyl tape will stretch too much, just like the cheap rubber rim strip.
26. April 2009 at 3:36 pm :
I read on the internet where some guy recommended carrying a roll of duct tape around the seatpost and using it as rim tape and as a temporary fix to tape up tire holes and rips. Maybe the later is more important for tubeless tires.
26. April 2009 at 5:50 pm :
I’ve never seen half-inch duck tape, and it would be overkill as rim tape anyway. It’s so much tackier than first aid tape or actual rim tape that it would be hard to handle. Rim tape is not something one needs to carry around. Duck tape WOULD make for a decent boot in the case of a large gash on a clincher.
26. April 2009 at 6:16 pm :
The author of the duct tape comment on the internet added that it like zip-ties and other time-tested emergency items had uses far exceeding the original intention and so was a good idea to carry around (and didn’t add much weight). If people make car repairs and prom dresses as well as many many other things out of duct tape…it can’t be a bad thing.
27. April 2009 at 12:41 pm :
I have used the Velox cloth rim tape for years. It is well worth the ~$3.50 per wheel for peace of mind. My LBS uses it on the wheels they build up. I can also remember when you used to get a new rim strip with every inner tube you purchased, try to find one now!
Aaron
4. May 2009 at 7:10 am :
Which tires on the Xtracycle (front or rear or both) are you getting the flats on. Yuba Ride’s Mundo Bike longtail has extra spokes on the rear tire because of the expectation of oversized loads. The loads on your rear might be putting pressures in excess of the rear rim and tires design. Perhaps you might be able to squeeze a broader/wider tire into the rear (an MTB tire and rim) which may give you better support?
4. May 2009 at 8:15 am :
I’ve gotten flats on both tires. The spokes themselves come nowhere near the tube, since they are deep section rims. For the last flat it was clearly the tube rubbing against the edge of the spoke hole.The tires are 1.5″; ample, thought I might go a bit wider when these wear out.
Since I weight 140 lbs. and my loads are usually no more than 50 lbs, standard spoke wheels are quite adequate for me. (Our tandem has 36-spoke wheels and we have no problems.)
4. May 2009 at 10:38 am :
I managed to finally build up a wheel that also has the deep section with the well recessed nipples. In the process of collecting the parts, I found velo plugs (http://veloplug.com/) which provide protection beyond the usual rim tape.
I haven’t put the wheel into service and the plugs I purchased were the wrong size, but it appears to be a good solution to box-section rims.
4. May 2009 at 12:39 pm :
I never understood why some bike riders can get away with using no rim tape at all? It seems like you have things pretty much under control, so if I were you I would stick with the 1.5inch tires and not even bother with anything wider. For the last…flat it makes me wonder why the tires rubbing against the spoke hole would create so much devastation.
16. June 2011 at 2:35 am :
Ive got to write about this for a class I am taking, well similar to this. This really made it easier for me , so thanks you A TON.Take care, Shawnta Edelstein