Using Track (Fixed-Gear) Wheels; Chapter 3: Clincher Wheel Set-Up; Installing Traditional Rim Tape - Bontrager WHEEL Owner's Manual

Using Track (fixed-gear) Wheels

With a fixed-gear bicycle, the rider controls his or her speed by resisting the motion of the
pedals with their legs. This requires additional strength, skill, and reflexes. Until you have
mastered the fixed-gear technique, do not ride your fixed-gear bicycle without hand brakes.
Even after you have mastered this skill, do not ride a fixed-gear bicycle on public roads or
paths unless your bicycle has hand-operated caliper brakes; riding without brakes is only
suitable for a velodrome or a special bicycle track. Riding without hand brakes on public roads
may be illegal.
WARNING
A sudden stop in pedaling motion on a fixed-gear bicycle can cause the
rear wheel to skid and lose traction or the cranks to lift the rider up and
forward over the handlebar, which can cause you to lose control and
fall. Do not ride a fixed-gear bicycle at speed or in traffic until you have
mastered fixed-gear riding technique and learned the reflexes necessary to
control the bicycle.
Before every ride, make sure your wheels are correctly attached. Tighten front axle nuts
(Figure 5) to 180-240 Lb in (20.3-27.1 Nm) and rear to 250-300 Lb
•
Figure 5. Fixed-gear rear hub
1. Axle nuts
16
in (28.2-33.9 Nm).
•
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Chapter 3—
Clincher Wheel Set-up

Installing Traditional Rim Tape

The following steps will prepare a Bontrager rim for the installation of a traditional clincher tire
and tube.
1. Orient the tape so that as you unroll it, the tape will cross the valve hole and cover the hole.
2. Attach the initial end of the tape so that it is centered between two spokes but not at the
valve hole (Figure 6).
3. As you apply the tape, center it in the bottom of the well of the rim (Figure 7). If the tape is
centered correctly, the spoke holes will be completely covered. If a hole is not covered, it
could puncture the inner tube.
4. Cut the tape so that it does not overlap itself (Figure 8). If there is tape overlap, the effective
diameter of the rim will increase, so installing the tire will be more difficult.
5. With a Phillips screwdriver or similar tool, create a valve hole through the rim tape by
pushing firmly into the rim valve hole (Figure 9).
6. Follow the procedure to install the tire.
Figure 6. Start the rim tape centered
between the spoke nodes.
Figure 7. Center the rim strip.
Figure 8. Do not overlap the ends of rim
tape.
Figure 9. Push the tool through the rim
tape to create a valve hole.
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