Don’t think your rim tape is only a decoration. It serves the crucial function when properly in place of protecting your inner tube from your spokes.
For several years I have been riding without worrying about the rim tape. I never touched it and never had to touch it. Flats were caused by chards of glass or other street debris.
Then I went to pick up my bicycle after recently purchasing two new wheel sets. I rode the bike home and had a flat before my next ride.
When repairing the flat, I observed that the puncture was on top of the tube (where the spoke ripped it) and not the bottom where road debris would cause a puncture.
I further noticed that the rim tape was not firmly in place evenly over all the spoke holes. I spent some time “evening” the tape to cover wholly each spoke hole.
I now make checking my rim tape a step in any inner tube replacement. And since then I haven’t had a puncture from a spoke hole.
by sssleder
1 Comment
I use a couple turns of masking tape and recently upgraded my tires for winter. I could see where the masking tape was getting smooshed by 65 PSI (but not cut). So I added one more turn. This is pretty tough 1 inch masking tape. Haven’t had a spoke hole flat in a good long time.