Pinch flats: Rim tape versus veloplugs

Christian Rabbat

So I've been through 4 tubes and 3 rim tape on my race wheels in the last month.  I keep getting pinch flats from the tubes herniating through the rim tape over spoke holes.  It happens over differnet spoke holes each time, and I can't appreciate any imperfections on the rim.  I tend to run a pressure of 110 psi.  I was using the plastic type of rim tape, not the cloth stuff like Velox.

I've read the thread form June 2010 about Veloplugs (http://veloplug.com/) and how they render mounting tires easier.  Can anyone comment if they stay securely over the spoke holes and are usefull in preventing pinch flats?  Are they better than Velox rim tape?

Spokane_Al

I have used Zipp rim tape without any problems. As with anything Zipp, it tends to cost a bit more.

Paul Hough

There's a thread on this somewhere. I was considering Veloplugs when I got Zipps, but ended up buying Zipp rim tape after reading a bunch of comments. I've had no problems with pinch flats or mounting my tires with their rim tape.

Al Truscott

I put the Veloplugs in last year. I used them for a total of about 6 months before I had to replace them with tape, as I kept getting flats from the tubes getting rubbed or pinched between the plug and rim. I started using them because of the awful problems I was having taking off and putting Conti 4000 and Michelin Pro tires onto my 650 Zipp 404s. I've since switched to the following three tires which are "hard" but doable when it comes to replacing: Vittoria Evo Corsa 20mm on the front and Schwalbe Ultremo ZX 23 (rear) for races, and TriSports Serfas for training. I still have the plugs, but don't intend to use them again.

I may have been helped by hand strengthening exercises I've been doing over the past 8 months, as well as using different tires. But the flats were real, and stopped when I switched to Bontrager tape (what the LBS had when I asked for some one day).