New Wheels

[philhul]

Hi,

I've just bought some new Shimano R500s as the original wheels on my bike were damaged when i had to ride on them after having two punctures on the same long ride, then no spare tubes, and a third puncture which try as I might i couldn't repair. The patch kept coming off when I tried to inflate. I'm looking to buy some better wheels in the spring but these will do for commuting and the winter.

Anyway, the R500s have a blue plasticy strip within the rim. Is that a rim tape that I can use, or am I meant to remove that and fit the fabric tape I bought instead? Or does the fabric tape go on top of the plasticy tape?!

Thanks

 

[rich p]

sounds like plastic rim tape to me

 

[Smokin Joe]

As long as it's covering the spoke holes you are ok.

 

[PpPete]

A lot of plastic rim tapes are blue. How thick is this stuff? Unless it's really thin "peel-off" stuff to protect the cosmetic appearance of the rims then it should be fine on it's own.
I've seen arguments for double-ing up rim tape but IMHO it's not a good idea.

 

[philhul]

Thanks for the replies. It is quite thick and my assumption was that it was rim tape, but i couldn't see anything to say whether the wheels do or do not come with tape. I'll give them a go and if I get punctures it will be the first thing to change.

 

[e-rider]

of course it's the rim tape - what else could it be?

I prefer the plastic type to the fabric anyway.

 

[chillyuk]

You don't say, but check the punctured tubes for where the punctures are. If not "normal" punctures are they being caused by the tube being forced into the spoke holes. I had that last year with new (road) wheels and poor rim tape. 3 or 4 punctures within 5 miles. You could see the indentations in the rim tape where the tube had been deformed. I fitted Velox fabric rim tape and had no more problems.

 

[gbb]

The blue tape is correct phil. I have those wheels, no extra or different tape used, no problems for the two or three years i've had them.
Good budget wheels actually....i've been impressed with them for commuting on the winter bike.