PLUS: Prevents damage; lasts for years; easy to install
A puncture on the front wheel on a descent is a horror scenario that you don't want to experience. To prevent this from happening, one product is crucial: the rim tape. The self-adhesive "Fond de Jante" from Velox is the best tape we know of. Once applied to the clean rim base in the correct width, it reliably protects the inner tube from sharp-edged spoke holes and valve holes. It does not slip during assembly, does not become brittle or fragile, does not slip into the spoke holes even under extreme heat from continuous braking, withstands high pressure and is not punched out by the rim holes - fates to which plastic or lightweight fabric tapes have already succumbed.
The only weakness: as the tape is thicker than plastic tapes, it can be a bit of a struggle to manoeuvre a tight-fitting tyre onto the rim.
Reference/Info: Stier; phone 0711/618801; www.stier-radsport.deWidths: 10, 13, 16, 19 and 22 mm
Price: 1,80 Euro
(Photo: Daniel Simon)
