Edited: 06/20/2017
Flipper or rim tape - This is a special layer between the wheel rim and the camera.
In the picture it is the blue stripe number 2.
Flipper is needed for:
What material is the rim tape made of?
Typically, flippers are made of rubber or various polymers, often polyurethane, such as products from Schwalbe. Some types are produced with reinforcement.
It is not recommended to use rubber flippers for high pressure wheels. A chamber under pressure of more than 4-5 atmospheres squeezes it inside the spoke holes of the rim.
For wheels with high pressure, for example, for road bikes, polymer or even reinforced polymer belts are used.
They are sold in many bike shops and online stores. They are not expensive, much cheaper than a new camera.
The main thing when buying is to choose the right size and width.
The size of the rim tape must match. If you don't know it, look at the rim size written on it or on. It is written on the side of it, and find the landing diameter of your wheel in the tire size correspondence table. And then look for a flipper on the wheel.
Rim tape markings
Reputable manufacturers indicate their products
- Who is the manufacturer
- Size: width and mounting diameter of the rim in mm. Sometimes it is written in inches. For example, a rim tape with dimensions of 26”x22 fits a 26-inch wheel. The width of the tape itself is 22 mm.
- The maximum pressure it can withstand
- Production date
How can I replace rim tape?
- Strip of old camera- the good old way since childhood. They took an old tube, cut it off and pulled it onto the rim. Moreover, they tried to take the tube from a wheel of a slightly smaller diameter so that it would fit tightly on the rim, but would not stretch too much and would not tear. This is not to say that this is an ideal option, but it is the cheapest and affordable way. Almost all cyclists have an old, leaky inner tube. This method will not increase friction, but will protect against sharp edges of the spoke holes and the ends of the spokes themselves.
- Insulating tape. You can use polymer tape, but it is best to use fabric tape with a rough outer layer. It is stronger and does not shrink. One layer is too thin, so they wrap it in several layers - from 3 to 5. It will increase friction and close the knitting needles.
- Scotch. Now in office supply stores you can choose a roll of any desired width and thickness and also wrap it in several layers. It's bad because it's too slippery, although it protects the camera well.
- Plain white tissue medical adhesive plaster.
- Place keeper tape on double-sided tape. To do this, it is better to take thick double-sided tape.
What width should I choose for the rim tape (flipper)
The logic for choosing the width is as follows - the main thing is that the tape covered the holes for the spokes and did not move along the rim.
You can install both a narrow one and the entire width of the rim.
My personal opinion is that it is better to take a wide flipper so that it rests against the walls of the rim and does not move.
If the rim has recesses, you can take it both along the width of the recess itself and across the entire width so that the flipper covers the entire inner part rim.
If the tape is narrow, you can put it on double-sided tape, which, on the one hand, will be additional protection from the inside, and on the other hand, will prevent the flipper from moving along the wide rim.
Although today's market sells tapes with an adhesive surface.
A couple more nuances.
- There are quite common yellow flippers from Michelin. They are very rigid and are not suitable for grooved rims, because... its edges protrude from the groove, resting against the chamber and rubbing it.
- When changing the camera, inspect the tape at the same time. If you've had it long enough, it may well tear or fray in some places and pose a potential hazard to your new camera in the future.
Sealing the wheel with rim tape
As mentioned above, you can use adhesive rim tape to seal almost any wheel and turn it into tubeless. This method gives a gain in weight.
Cycling is a great time spent, lifts your spirits, and has a positive effect on your work. cardiovascular system and in general. That is why it is increasingly capturing residents of large cities. But, unfortunately, ordinary skating in the park area is often overshadowed unpleasant situation, which is a banal camera break.
Bicycle manufacturers are working hard to solve this problem. They have created certain ones that can handle minor punctures well, thanks to a reinforced tread or reinforcement with Kevlar inserts.
But their disadvantages are relatively heavy weight, which weighs down the vehicle itself. They also cannot withstand cuts on the sides, which often happens on the road.
A special sealant has been developed for tubeless tires that can heal minor damage and allow you to finish your trip and only then proceed.
But this material is not suitable for ordinary wheels, since rubber tends to stretch, which leads to leakage of the product. Although its use still prevents the immediate escape of air, which allows you to continue the trip for some time.
A special place in the list is occupied by anti-puncture tape, produced in different sizes, suitable for various bicycles, protecting their tires from punctures and cuts. Being a fairly simple, inexpensive tool, it can protect the wheel from small pieces of glass and other debris on the road.
What is
Anti-puncture tape for a bicycle is an interesting and fairly simple solution to the problem of punctured wheels. It has a simple principle of operation, which consists in providing additional protection by placing a special latex strip between the camera and the tire. Stretching to a certain size, thanks to its chemical composition, it is able to withstand slight pressure without tears or punctures, which certainly saves you from small thorns.
It is made to a specified width so that the edges overlap the sides of the chamber. This helps prevent lateral damage. When installed correctly, no additional wheel balancing is required, since its low weight does not affect their balance.
Damage to the protective element can be easily repaired by heating the tape with a hair dryer to two hundred and fifty degrees. A high-quality anti-puncture tape must meet the following criteria:
- Have significant roughness that improves contact between it and the tire;
- Have a self-adhesive layer for reliable and trouble-free fixation of the tape in the correct position;
- The edges of anti-puncture tape, which is no longer a problem to buy today, should be smooth, without sharp corners.
The above properties of the protective tape make installation work easier and significantly reduce the possibility of damaging the tire from the inside.
How to carry out installation work correctly
The ease of installation, which does not require any special knowledge or skills, as well as the protective properties of latex tape, have contributed to its wide popularity among cyclists. The main thing for the high-quality functioning of an anti-puncture tape installed on a bicycle with your own hands is correct selection products in width.
Purchasing a wider tape risks almost instant abrasion of a tube made of thin rubber, since friction will be observed between it and the rim all the time. At the same time, if the material in question is not wide enough, the camera will not be completely covered with tape, which will lead to its failure even from a small thorn on the road.
In order for consumers to avoid such mistakes, color marking of the protective material is provided, when a certain color of the tape corresponds to a certain width.
The list of steps for installing latex tape should include the following:
- Unscrewing the caps to release the air from the bicycle wheels.
- Partial disassembly of both wheels in order to remove the tubes from the tires.
- Checking the correct choice of material in width by applying it to the camera.
- Removing dust and dirt from inside tires, as well as wiping the camera
- Rounding the edges of the anti-puncture tape by cutting them with scissors to prevent punctures of the camera.
- Laying the material inside the tire, it is important that the laying and alignment is thorough and of high quality.
- Easy pumping of the camera, necessary for reliable fixation of the protective element when installing it in its place.
- Returning the entire tire to the rim.
- Inflating the wheels. To create it, it is better to use a pump with a pressure gauge.
There is one small secret in this technology, which consists in gluing the protective material onto double-sided tape. This ensures a strong fixation of the tape on the tire, which prevents the process of friction on the rubber with hard edges. Following the points listed above makes it easy for even an inexperienced cyclist to complete this job.
You should know! At first glance, the products in question are quite simple to manufacture. But it’s not worth installing homemade analogues made from old cameras, since they cannot provide a positive result and will only make the structure heavier.
Only the original branded latex tape, made using special technology, is capable of performing protective functions with low weight.
If you equip your bike with the latest technology, using anti-puncture tape, a high-quality transmission that works like a clock, and much more, then even a long journey will turn into an easy and pleasant one.
A walk in the park often ends with removing and sealing both cameras. It is enough to cut a corner under a beautiful acacia tree, and a solid handful of thorns appear in the tires. And the paths between beautiful trees can add so many different thorns that it is quite possible to collect a collection.
There are several solutions to combat punctures.
- Special ones that hold small punctures well. The downside is that these tires are noticeably heavier than regular ones and do not withstand side cuts.
- A special sealant is a good solution for tubeless cameras. High-quality sealants for small punctures on tubeless tires will allow you to get to the place where you can begin installation. Tube wheels practically do not work, as the rubber stretches and the sealant leaks out. At the same time, the wheel deflates a little more slowly than without sealant, and in emergency cases it can give you a chance to drive a little further.
Bicycle tires with anti-puncture properties are good for places where all efforts to gain speed are taken over by gravity. In all other cases, the need to carry additional kilograms is very doubtful.
Help: Downhill – downhill, from an. Down hill - down the hill.
Another interesting option for solving the problem of punctures is anti-puncture tape, modifications of which are marked in different colors depending on the width. The principle of its operation is simple. An anti-puncture latex tape is inserted into the middle of the tire, which provides additional protection against punctures when cycling on asphalt. Wide, with a sunset side surfaces The camera also provides the possibility of getting side cuts in off-road conditions. Pros: low cost, ability to protect the side surface of the camera, light weight.
Evenly laid tape does not affect the balance of the wheel. The anti-puncture properties of the polymer are not the highest, but they protect quite adequately from small thorns. The latex stretches, preventing the tip from reaching the taut rubber of the bicycle inner tube.
Installing such a tape is even easier than installing solid anti-puncture bicycle tires.
- It is necessary to disassemble the tire without removing one bead.
- Wipe the inside of the tire.
- Process the factory tape - cut to length (according to the instructions, butt or overlap), cut off the corners at the ends.
- Place the tape into the tire without distortion and slightly inflate the tube to secure it.
- Place the tire completely on the rim and inflate the wheel to the desired pressure.
Tip: To fix the tape more easily, you can use double-sided tape. It is important that the tape does not warp in the tire, otherwise its hard edge will quickly fray the tube.
If you have experience installing a wheel yourself, installing the tape does not cause any difficulties.
Many cycling enthusiasts, considering the ingenious simplicity of the idea of anti-puncture tape, show remarkable ingenuity and try to produce an analogue using homemade methods. However, attempts to replace purchased tape with homemade versions from an old tube did not lead to anything other than making the wheel heavier. The anti-puncture properties of latex are much higher, and the weight of the factory tape is noticeably less.
There is no 100% puncture protection. However, there are many ways to minimize the likelihood of a puncture so that you no longer need to.
Method 1: Maintain the correct tire pressure.
First check the tire pressure. Each tire must maintain a pressure range, which is usually indicated on the sidewall and measured in bar or psi. Basically the recommended pressure is:
- for tires - 7 - 10 bar;
- for tires - 2 - 3 bar;
- for touring tires and - 4 - 5.5 bar.
Tires that are below the recommended pressure are susceptible to snakebite punctures. They happen when you hit a pothole at high speed and slam the rim onto the asphalt, leaving two small holes in the inner tube that resemble snake bites. On the other hand, if you overinflate the camera, you will avoid snakebites, but you risk tearing the camera. Therefore, try to inflate tires no higher than the maximum recommended pressure and according to your body weight.
Check tire pressure using a separate or built-in tire pressure gauge. The pressure gauge is built into all high-quality ones. If your pump does not have a built-in pressure gauge, then you can buy it separately, but before purchasing, be sure to ask what type of nipple it is designed for - Presta or Schrader. Presta nipples are thinner and require the nut on top to be unscrewed before checking the pressure.
Method 2: Regularly inspect your bicycle tires.
Periodically inspect your tires for glass shards, pebbles and other sharp objects, especially if you have driven on roads that are dangerous in this regard. The embedded fragments may not pierce the tire immediately, but gradually penetrate deeper into the tire and eventually lead to a puncture. Therefore, try to remove all sharp objects from the tires.
Also periodically check the sidewalls and tread of your tires for wear, damage and cracks, which increase the risk of punctures. If you are unsure about the condition of your bicycle tires, you can consult a bicycle mechanic.
Method 3: Camera sealants.
Some cameras, both with Schrader nipples and Presta nipples, are sold with sealant “already applied”.
What are the disadvantages of sealant? Some of them are difficult to use. Sealant alone cannot protect against large punctures and cuts.
Method 4: Anti-puncture tapes.
Anti-puncture tape is a thin strip of extruded plastic between the tire and the tube. This additional protective layer greatly reduces the likelihood of punctures from spikes, glass and other sharp objects. Anti-puncture tapes are very popular and do a great job, but unfortunately they add 170g of weight. This significantly reduces , which is especially unpleasant in the case of racing tires. But if you live in an area with bad roads, then it is better to sacrifice weight for the sake of comfort.
When installing the anti-puncture tape, place the tire on the rim so that only one bead is installed. Install the tube and pump it until it begins to touch the tire. To do this, you only need to make a few pumps. Then insert anti-puncture tape between the slightly inflated tube and the tire. The camera will hold the tape in place, preventing it from moving. As a result, the camera will be protected from friction and cuts that can occur when the tape moves out of place. After installing the anti-puncture tape, put the tire on the rim. If this does not work, then bleed some air from the chamber. Inflate the tire to the required pressure. All! You can.
Method 5: Puncture-resistant tubes and tires.
Another easy way to deal with punctures is to buy puncture-resistant tires. These tires usually don't roll as well as regular tires. But cyclists who have tried them at least once, especially in the city, will never switch to regular ones.
What reduces the likelihood of a puncture in these tires? Most tire manufacturers simply install an additional layer of Kevlar fibers. Others simply increase the tread thickness, which has an extremely effective effect on the anti-puncture properties of the tires, but unfortunately significantly increases their weight and thereby reduces rolling. Puncture resistant tires are sold under different brand names such as Serfas Flat Protection System, Continental Safety System, Michelin ProTek reinforcement system, etc. An example of a good puncture resistant tire is .
Also try not to skimp on the weight of the cameras and the cameras themselves. A good camera cannot be light or cheap. The thicker (and heavier) the camera, the better. Usually, each manufacturer has a lightweight version of cameras, which it is better to refrain from purchasing.
