I've had a couple of visits from the p*n*t*r* fairly recently on my tourer, on the rear. They've both been on the rim tape side of the inner tube, about 6mm off the centre line, and they look like something has gradually slit the tube. I'm thinking that maybe there's a sharp edge on the rim tape and that's causing me a problem. I'm reasonably certain it's not being pinched (85psi on Vittoria Adventurer tyres) and it doesn't look like I've caught the inner tube when I've been putting the tyre back on. The rim tape that came with the bike is a kind of 0.5mm thick one piece plastic affair. Has anyone else seen this sort of thing happen? I'm guessing that replacing them with Velox tapes isn't a bad idea in any case. What do you reckon?
I've had a couple of visits from the p*n*t*r* fairly recently on my tourer, on the rear. They've both been on the rim tape side of the inner tube, about 6mm off the centre line, and they look like something has gradually slit the tube. I'm thinking that maybe there's a sharp edge on the rim tape and that's causing me a problem. I'm reasonably certain it's not being pinched (85psi on Vittoria Adventurer tyres) and it doesn't look like I've caught the inner tube when I've been putting the tyre back on. The rim tape that came with the bike is a kind of 0.5mm thick one piece plastic affair. Has anyone else seen this sort of thing happen? I'm guessing that replacing them with Velox tapes isn't a bad idea in any case.
I've had punctures on a couple of wheels, both fitted with hard plastic rim tape. As well as having hard edges, which are sometimes folded back on themselves, the tapes also seem to have been applied erratically (presumably too quickly) leaving an occasional spoke hole exposed.
Careful replacement with a cloth tape and an elastic band tape (as available from my LBS) resolved the problems.
I've had a couple of visits from the p*n*t*r* fairly recently on my tourer, on the rear. They've both been on the rim tape side of the inner tube, about 6mm off the centre line, and they look like something has gradually slit the tube. I'm thinking that maybe there's a sharp edge on the rim tape and that's causing me a problem. I'm reasonably certain it's not being pinched (85psi on Vittoria Adventurer tyres) and it doesn't look like I've caught the inner tube when I've been putting the tyre back on. The rim tape that came with the bike is a kind of 0.5mm thick one piece plastic affair. Has anyone else seen this sort of thing happen? I'm guessing that replacing them with Velox tapes isn't a bad idea in any case. What do you reckon?
Chris
I've seen plastic rim tape develop longitudinal (circumferential?)cracks or splits after a few years of sitting between the rim and an inflated tube. The cracks have sharp enough edges to slice the tube as you describe. Velox tape sounds like a good idea to me.
I'm guessing that replacing them with Velox tapes isn't a bad idea in any case. What do you reckon?
Once other cr*p, always Velox...
Wot she said.
However.....
A couple of weeks ago I had two punctures in my front wheel, a couple of days apart. Investigation showed they were rim side and appeared to be caused by the rim tape not being correcctly positioned - it had slipped sideways, exposing the rim well.
<Wild hand waving>
As it was during the extremely hot weather, my hypothesis was that the higher temperatures had softened the glue on the ageing Velox tape, allowing it to shift as I cornered.
I've had a couple of visits from the p*n*t*r* fairly recently on my tourer, on the rear. They've both been on the rim tape side of the inner tube, about 6mm off the centre line, and they look like something has gradually slit the tube. I'm thinking that maybe there's a sharp edge on the rim tape and that's causing me a problem. I'm reasonably certain it's not being pinched (85psi on Vittoria Adventurer tyres) and it doesn't look like I've caught the inner tube when I've been putting the tyre back on. The rim tape that came with the bike is a kind of 0.5mm thick one piece plastic affair. Has anyone else seen this sort of thing happen? I'm guessing that replacing them with Velox tapes isn't a bad idea in any case. What do you reckon?
Chris
I've seen plastic rim tape develop longitudinal (circumferential?)cracks or splits after a few years of sitting between the rim and an inflated tube. The cracks have sharp enough edges to slice the tube as you describe. Velox tape sounds like a good idea to me.
mark[/QUOTE]
Unless you're riding a Dahon with Aero type rims (see previous threads for Elsa's tales of woe) it's Velox all the way
I've seen plastic rim tape develop longitudinal (circumferential?)cracks or splits after a few years of sitting between the rim and an inflated tube. The cracks have sharp enough edges to slice the tube as you describe. Velox tape sounds like a good idea to me.
I use the plastic tape but replace it every year. Velox tape goes pretty manky after a year as well IME if you ever ride in the wet.
