Rim tape - does it make a difference?

Chrissz

I recently got myself a set of Carbone SLR rims and noticed that the rim tape was quite thick.

I found fitting the tyres (Pro Race 3s - used not new) was almost impossible - so much so that I am worried about being able to fix a puncture whilst out and about.

I intend changing the tyres to Schwalbe Ultremos but would changing the rim tape to somethin thinner make any significant difference (I have used electrical tape in the past!)?

John.T

Electrical tape will not stand the high pressures from road tyres. I find that plastic tapes make it a bit easier to fit tyres as the bead will slide into the well easier. Most seem to be about the same thickness.

marin_maniac

Velo plugs?

Weight weenies luv them

Chrissz

Marin Maniac wrote:

Velo plugs?

Weight weenies luv them

Never heard of/seen them before!

They look pretty cool though

I've invested in some much thinner rim tape - approximately half the thickness of what's currently on the rims. Hopefully it will make fitting the Ultremos much easier

marin_maniac

Chris how you getting on with the Ultremos?

dennisn

Use Tufo tubular clinchers and you won't even need rim tape or tire levers or expend excess energy struggling getting tires off and on. Plus no more pinch flats. No more worries about whether the tire and tube are seated right. No worries about the tire coming off the rim when you flat. No more worries about sharp rim edges or burrs puncturing tubs. FWIW I don't understand why anyone would use regular clinchers. What a pain and hassle to change and fix. Too much to deal with. Go tubulars or tubular clinchers.

Chrissz

Marin Maniac wrote:

Chris how you getting on with the Ultremos?

They should arrive tomorrow and I'll find out how they ride next week when my cast comes off. Swapping them in from some Pro Race 3s.

First ride in 8 weeks should be interesting - new wheels and new tyres!!

John.T

dennisn wrote:

Use Tufo tubular clinchers and you won't even need rim tape or tire levers or expend excess energy struggling getting tires off and on. Plus no more pinch flats. No more worries about whether the tire and tube are seated right. No worries about the tire coming off the rim when you flat. No more worries about sharp rim edges or burrs puncturing tubs. FWIW I don't understand why anyone would use regular clinchers. What a pain and hassle to change and fix. Too much to deal with. Go tubulars or tubular clinchers.

You just have to carry spares though. Rather heavier than a couple of tubes and more bulky.

dennisn

John.T wrote:

dennisn wrote:

Use Tufo tubular clinchers and you won't even need rim tape or tire levers or expend excess energy struggling getting tires off and on. Plus no more pinch flats. No more worries about whether the tire and tube are seated right. No worries about the tire coming off the rim when you flat. No more worries about sharp rim edges or burrs puncturing tubs. FWIW I don't understand why anyone would use regular clinchers. What a pain and hassle to change and fix. Too much to deal with. Go tubulars or tubular clinchers.

You just have to carry spares though. Rather heavier than a couple of tubes and more bulky.

I hate to say it but I'm going to. That excuse is so, so lame and is always brought up as if carrying a spare was going to deny someone a podium spot at the Thursday night club ride or some local race. Please, enough of the "I'm such a great rider that ANY extra weight is going to cost me my TDF shot". I think you'd get laughed out of the club if you ever used the excuse that the extra weight of a spare tubular slowed you down. I know I'd be surpressing a laugh. Although I do believe that newbies tend to believe this sort of thing for some strange reason.

John.T

More concerned about the bulk than the weight Dennis. Do you carry them round your shoulders a la 30s Tour rider. There is no room in my saddle pack for 2 tubs. And when they are hedge cutting round here 2 is sometimes not enough. Also the extra cost that I did not mention.
I can not help but think that they may be a bit of a mongrel. Neither one thing or the other. They may be very good but as I have never used them I can not comment on their performance. i just don't like the idea.
As for newbies, I am probably older than you and first raced in the mid fifties. (on tubs)

dennisn

John.T wrote:

More concerned about the bulk than the weight Dennis. Do you carry them round your shoulders a la 30s Tour rider. There is no room in my saddle pack for 2 tubs. And when they are hedge cutting round here 2 is sometimes not enough. Also the extra cost that I did not mention.
I can not help but think that they may be a bit of a mongrel. Neither one thing or the other. They may be very good but as I have never used them I can not comment on their performance. i just don't like the idea.
As for newbies, I am probably older than you and first raced in the mid fifties. (on tubs)

To be honest I don't care what anyone uses. The OP was cocerned with rim tape so I offered him an idea to get away from it. Plus it seems the pretty much daily someone is chiming in about difficulty mounting tires, pinch flats, burrs on the rim causing flats, and all other manner of problems concerning clinchers. So my question becomes "why bother with them"? I haven't used them for years and from the sound of things I won't be anytime soon. Sorry if I sound like I'm lecturing but I've got to wonder again "why bother"
with something that works that poorly(or so it seems)?

gbs

Chrissz wrote:

I recently got myself a set of Carbone SLR rims and noticed that the rim tape was quite thick.

I found fitting the tyres (Pro Race 3s - used not new) was almost impossible - so much so that I am worried about being able to fix a puncture whilst out and about.
?

Exactly my problem with PR3 and Campag Eurus.

Contributions to the solution were
1. thinner rim tape; 2. washing up liquid on the beads to allow a conventional lever to slide around; 3. Crank Bros Speed Lever; 4. if you feel the Speed Lever looks insufficiently robust, try a VAR lever (VG for the last few inches of tyre replacement),

I have done successful dry runs in the garden on all 3 of my wheel sets - !x PR3s as mentioned and 2x Gatorskins on Mavic wheels.

desmosedici

Had the same problem mounting Pro 3s on a pair of Cosmic Carbone SLs. Managed to avoid punctures from Aug 09, until a few weeks ago. Surprisingly the tyre came off and went back on easier than I remembered, but still a bit of a struggle compared to Shimano Dura Ace wheels. I find I can slip tyres onto my Campagnolo Shamals by hand, using a lever for that last couple of inches.

Wheelspinner

I have some Ultremo R.1's, the updated version, and they are fantastic to ride. Bonus: they were BY FAR the easiest tyre I have ever fitted to my wheels. I use Mavic SSC SL and often have a tough time with some brands of tyre but the Ultremos were a breeze.

So far, after 1000 + km, they look hardly worn, and no flats or cuts either.

Will definitely be buying them again.

John.T

dennisn wrote:

John.T wrote:

More concerned about the bulk than the weight Dennis. Do you carry them round your shoulders a la 30s Tour rider. There is no room in my saddle pack for 2 tubs. And when they are hedge cutting round here 2 is sometimes not enough. Also the extra cost that I did not mention.
I can not help but think that they may be a bit of a mongrel. Neither one thing or the other. They may be very good but as I have never used them I can not comment on their performance. i just don't like the idea.
As for newbies, I am probably older than you and first raced in the mid fifties. (on tubs)

To be honest I don't care what anyone uses. The OP was cocerned with rim tape so I offered him an idea to get away from it. Plus it seems the pretty much daily someone is chiming in about difficulty mounting tires, pinch flats, burrs on the rim causing flats, and all other manner of problems concerning clinchers. So my question becomes "why bother with them"? I haven't used them for years and from the sound of things I won't be anytime soon. Sorry if I sound like I'm lecturing but I've got to wonder again "why bother"
with something that works that poorly(or so it seems)?

I am not bothered either. I do not know why so many folk have problems with clinchers. I have been using them for years and before that the old style wired ons. Never had any problem getting them on or off and never had one come of the rim so see no point in using something that I can see has disadvantges. Most if not all of the group will be on clinchers so even if the puncture fairy really hates you one day others will have spare tubes but in the UK you would probably be the only one on the Tufos.
Most probably the OP needs to sort his fitting / removing technique.

StrangelyBrown

I use Ultremo r.1s on my Carbone SLRs, with the Mavic rim tape.

Very very easy to fit - you can waft them on with a feather In fact they go on so easily that you wonder if they will stay on when inflated. They do, and they're rock solid.

Very nice tyre as well.