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High-tech rim tape saves weight / fingers
Rim tape is an invisible partner to all recumbent trike and bike riders. Rim tape protects the inner tube from sharp hole edges on double-wall rims and spoke-ends on singlewall rims.
On double-wall rims, the rim tape has to withstand extremely high forces, particularly with higher-pressure tires. In addition, its adhesive must resist migration and yet be easily removable when necessary in the future, even years after it was first installed.
Traditional rim tapes dominate in the bicycle industry, and these tapes employ thick woven fabric for their protective qualities. However, the thickness of the tape actually makes the rim well larger and hence makes tire changes more difficult. On the smaller recumbent wheels, this increase in the interior rim diameter is a significant factor causing headaches (and sometimes pinched fingers) for recumbent riders who have to remove their tires and fix their tubes. In addition, the additional weight of the thick cloth is unnecessary and wastes rider energy each time the wheel accelerates.
We have been experimenting with a new high-tech rim tape that uses a super-strength polyester film with amazing rigidity characteristics to keep it from stretching or puncturing under the high-pressure conditions on the inside surface of a bicycle wheel rim. Furthermore, it uses a silicone-based adhesive that has a perfect quality of staying in place while still allowing the tape to be easily peeled off years later.
Three years ago, we installed the tape on our own bicycles and field-tested it ourselves. The results were so good that two years ago we started building all double-walled wheels at AlphaBENT with this tape.
When we had the occasion to rebuild one of these early wheels for very different reasons, we got to see how this new rim tape has been working in regular real-world application for the past two years. The results are an absolutely amazing. The tape shows no degradation, even where it has been pressed at high pressure against the sharp interior edges of the rim continuously since it was first installed. There has been no migration of the tape, and when we peeled it off, it came off readily making our job of rebuilding the wheel easier.
Here are some pictures of the tape before we removed it from the rim.
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A fire in the early morning of 5 June 2024 destroyed our neighbor business, MidCentury Sacramento. AlphaBENT escaped the worst of it and is back up and running.
This event has taken place and the notice is simply part of our articles archive
Face-time with ICE. Ask all of your questions. Find out what happens behind the scenes. And, try trikes, trikes, trikes... including the fully automatic ICE Adventure electric trikes.
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PBW
Wheels - This is the ONLY workshop of the year on wheels. It is a bit on the technical side: to satisfy the need for more knowledge.
How to build a wheel; true a wheel; make it round; calculate spoke lengths; smooth out bumps inside your drum brake. When can't a wheel be saved? Why are good spokes important? How and why to dish a wheel. How to make or true an unconventional (single-sided) wheel. Replacing wheel bearings.
Come with a thirst to learn.
Caffeine and morning snacks provided. Workshop starts when the caffeine kicks in. Cost: FREE
PBW
Come out and learn about adjusting your own shifting.
Enjoy beautiful, crisp shifting. Eliminate pesky trips to a bike shop to get rid of that clunking. Take charge of your handlebars. We'll show you how to do all this and more. Covering twist shifters, bar-ends, internally geared hubs, as needed.
Caffeine and morning snacks provided. Bring a shifting conundrum for our version of Stump the Chumps. Go for a ride on the beautiful American River Trail afterwards.
Where: 1114 C Street, Sac'to.
Cost: FREE
Come out and learn about chains.
When to lube and how. Lube options. How to measure the wear on your chain. How to open quick-links (power links). How to use a chain tool.
We'll show you how to do all this and more concentrating on conventional multi-speed bike chains.
Caffeine and morning snacks provided. Bring a chain conundrum for our version of Stump the Chumps. Go for a ride on the beautiful American River Trail afterwards.
Where: 1114 C Street, Sac'to.
Cost: FREE
PBW
Explore the elements of a tricycle drivetrain from the pedals through the cranks, chain, rear cog or cassette, and into the wheel.