I am finishing up putting my new race wheels together and stopped by my LBS to get some rim tape. They suggested I try using Veloplugs by Velocity instead of the rim tape. The concept looks pretty nice and was wondering what people’s experience has been using them.
Sometimes getting tires on with the thicker rim tape can be a real pain in the ass so I would be open to a new an improved solution.
Here is a little more information: http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/reviews/velocity/veloplugs/
I’m really curious too as they sound like a great solution. Just taught a flat changing clinic last week to a bunch of new triathletes and man some of those tires were soooo tight. Sorry no experience here though.
I had to put on a new 650c 20mm Bontrager XXLite tire the other day. Thank god I have a pair of those Park heavy duty tire levers…
Back when I had 650’s I broke levers several times, even the blue plastic park ones. I did however enjoy watching a shop mechanic struggle for 20 minutes trying to install a Vittoria on a 404 clincher, we tried to get him to just use a screwdriver or big pry bar but he just refused to listen:)
Those plugs look like a good deal to me, lightweight, high blowout pressure, no additional bulk in the rim. As a side bonus I bet they would handle any small burrs left in the holes (by accident of course) much better than rim tape.
I am confused.
Why would rim tape make it more difficut to get a tire on? The tightness of the tire and the diameter of the rim are the factors in that equation.
The rim tape usuall covers the entire rim bed effectively increasing the rims inside diameter by the thickness of the rim tape x2 (both sides, top and bottom of the rim). Using thinner rim tape will often make mounting a difficult tire a LOT easier.
I just went through this situation a month ago…the tape makes a tremendous difference. You wouldn’t think it, but switching from thick Velox to very thin Rox rim tape made getting a tire onto a wheel go from absolutely impossible to rather easy.
I didn’t quite believe it either until I tried it.
mm
I’m with you on this. The Velox rim tape I use does not go the width of the rim bed. Not sure how that impacts tire install. My only question with these inserts is will they somehow trap moisture inside there? You know water is going to go down the spoke and nipple so can it get out if plugged in?
Wouldn’t you have the same problem with some of the plastic rim rings that are used instead of rim tape on some wheels? I would think they would hold moisture in the same way with the tire pressure up against the plastic.
I picked up a bag of them and are going to give them a try.
I wanted to use the Veloplugs. I bought a new set of wheels. It even came with Veloplugs. However on my wheels, the plugs wouldn’t stay in place. If I changed the tube and had to put another in, I wouldn’t feel confident that all the plugs would still be intact. I ended up going back with the rim tape.
I have a set of Dave Thomas’ wheels (Velocity Arrowhead rims) that have Velopugs on the front wheel and thin plastic rim tape on the rear. He said that he liked them, but that they just didn’t fit well in the Arrowhead rear rim. I think because of the offset.
I’ve had them since May last year and haven’t had any problems with them. They seat pretty well in the spoke/nipple hole. If I remember correctly, the Attack/Force tires were pretty damn hard to get on both but the front was slightly easier. Pro Race’s were a little less of a struggle.
A little over 3000 miles on the wheels and no flats or any other maladies from the Veloplugs. I normally coat the inside of the tire with enough talc to choke a horse.
the veloplugs are super light, way lighter than velox cloth tape, especially when you only use 18 on one wheel and 24 on the other. the plugs stay in very well in zipp clinchers.
not sure about other wheels, as i just use rim tape on my training wheels.
Is there a weight penalty? How much do 36 of those little plastic plugs weigh?
Less than the tape. But it’s too small to matter either way.