Summary: Wow, this is a horrible product. I started getting flats and it was insidious at first. Then I was able to start to see that the tape was pushing down into the rim, and the pattern of the punctures pointed down at the rim tape.
Forget the weight savings. Once these go after a few short weeks, they are gone.
The time lost and aggravation make this product a zero. If you are keeping to lower pressures they might last.
Strengths: None, that's the problem
Weaknesses: Durability
Performance
Puncture tubes easily after a few weeks
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Bike Setup: '04 Giant TCR with 105/Ultegra & Velomax Tempest wheels.
Summary: Way lighter than the conventional Velox cloth tape. Mounting tires is also easier. Does not get soaked and retain water in wet riding like cloth tape. I've used the Rox tape on my Velomax Tempest wheels for over 1000 miles so far, with even a couple rain soaked rides, and I've had zero problems. Will it last as long as cloth tape? No, but if installed properly it should work fine for...well, don't know yet. I'm hoping to get a years worth of riding out if it. Only time will tell. So far, I definetly prefer this Rox tape over the Velox.
Strengths: Extremely light. Makes mounting tires easier.
Weaknesses: Little more expensive than conventional cloth. Durability is suspect.
Similar Products Used: Velox cloth. Performance brand cloth. Plastic strips.
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Summary: At first glance, you wont believe this tape, which basically looks like reinforced scotch tape, will be able to perform its duty. But I've had mine on for a few months now and no problems whatsoever. It is expensive, but on a weigh weenie price/performance scale, it's probably the cheapest 'upgrade' you'll ever come across.
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Bike Setup: They're just bikes, man. 2 wheels per.
Summary: I've used these on many wheels, and they've always been fine UNTIL...
Do not use these with Velocity rims. They don't have eyelets and do have sharp spoke holes (just as the reviewer noted below re: Rolfs apparently). I had two wheels with high pressure (at about 115 psi) Vredesteins blow while they sat in the pit together, and the culprit was a failure of each strip at a spoke hole. I'd love to have seen the spectators/officials reactions to tires nearly spontaneously blowing out while IN THE PIT. Now, it was hot, but they were on grass. Fortunately, I did not need them.
Strengths: Light.
Weaknesses: Susceptible to rupture on sharp spoke holes, tend to migrate over time (I've taken tires off after long service to find the strips kind of, like, wrinkled. But still covering spoke holes and functioning).
Similar Products Used: Velox. Strapping tape (not good, mine was very heat sensitive). Factory plastic thingies.
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Bike Setup: Currently using the Rox strips on Mavic OPCDs and CXP33s for both training and racing. Tires normall
Summary: Rox strips are very thin adhesive-backed nylon rim strips, woven in a "ripstop" pattern similar to hot weather BDU fabric (i.e., the "camo" uniforms for the Armed Services). They save a few onces per wheelset compared to traditional cloth rim strips. I've ridden Rox strips for years, never having flatted due to a rim strip failure. I suspect, however, that it helps to ensure you pull taught on the strips while installing -- this will ensure zero slack and less opportunity to "slide" across any edges (i.e., spoke holes). I've sometimes had to wrestle a little when pealing the paper from the advesive-backing.
Strengths: Extreme light weight.
Weaknesses: Expensive ~$7/pair. Requires some patience/care to install under tension. Some folks have experienced problems with tearing or cave-in over the spoke holes under high pressure.
Similar Products Used: Over the years, I've also used rim strips from Velox, Michelin, SBI
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