TfTToT second coat.
Time to mount up!
You have some tires on rims / wheels now strtetching and ready to mount.
Maybe.
Before putting any googoo on any tire please inspect the basetape.
Some tires already have a "rubberized / cement type coating on the tape.
Save yourself time and glue, because you don't need to seal and prepare
any basetape like this as the factory has already done it for you. The
glue you put on the rim will congeal with this coating and stick like h-
er just fine.
When you inspect your basetape and it feels and looks like plain 'ol
cotton, soft and porous, that's what it is.
This is the one you need to coat! Only one coat is necessary. Just like
prepping a piece of wood with a primer / sealer coat so the coat doesn't
soak in and neutralize the adhesion too much.
Some people like to put a thin second coat before gluing to rim, but I
never felt it needed that much glue.
Building layers of coats on tire makes no sense because the key here is
to build up the bed on the rim to stay on the rim when the tire is
removed and a spare is put on to keep riding.
Putting multi layers on the tire defeats the whole mechanical sense of
the exercise. It also gets so stiff that you probably won't be able to
stretch the tire on the rim because it will be too damn thick.
The reason for several layers of thin coats left to dry one or two days
is to allow the best adhesion to the rim and to have it stay there
during removal.
The property of mastic is just that.
Build up a few layers that get tight and fairly dry / hard at rim
surface and then the subsequent layers stay a little softer but very
tough and unyielding to keep tire in place.
The mastic stays just tacky enough to grab the spare tire and hold after
a few revolutions because it isn't exposed to open air while stuck on
rim. Leave the rim exposed to air and in a few days it gets much harder
and dryer making the spare more likely to be less secure.
That's why it's possible for the guys to keep racing or riding right
after changing your tire.
But the secret is to have spares that have been ridden and glued. When
they are folded under your saddle or in a spare H2O cage the tire that
was on a wheel, taken off will have some glue on it and when that little
tacky tire makes contact with the sticky tacky rim, voila! it gets fused
again.
It also is almost straight when put on and inflated because the rim edge
has given the tire a groove on each side that will seat easier. If it's
a little crooked after inflation the tire will "pop" much easier into DA
GROOVE with some sideways palm pressure and you're OFF.
Tire is in it's sticky seat, you're back on your saddle, with your
sweaty seat, what could be better?
I would suggest you wrap a little paper or something around your spare
to keep dust, dirt and debris from disturbing its' repose before being
pressed into service.
Also, I would suggest taking the spare off your bike every month and
putting it on a rim overnight to keep stretched form, check for casing
or tube damage from folded position and then put back before next ride.
Careful when folding so the valve doesn't scrape or cut through your
tire while it's folded or you may be thumbing a ride home.
I usually take my spare off after the ride if I've had a puncture, and
put on another tire, and put the spare back to it's happy spot.
Before putting a fresh tire on, I touch up any spots on the rim from
tire removal on the road and put a thin coat of fresh mastic, let it get
tacky and install, let sit overnight and ready to go for next ride.
If you're out of glue, a light coating of nail polish remover type stuff
will soften and make your remaining rim glue sticky like crazy. Let it
quiet down a little, get real tacky and you get some more life out of
your old glue and put your tire on the rim.
Good as new.
I'll think off a few more tips and some "bed" time commentary to wrap
up our "tubs", unless I get an epiphany and end up with rider's cramp.
How to install tire (best for last), some orange shellac info,
among other tired things of interest.
Ted Ernst
Palos Verdes Estates
CA USA