Mighty High Pressure Fabric Rim Tape £2.50 pair

Let’s face it, rim tape is not glamorous. It is, however, an important part of any clincher rim with spoke holes in the trough, since without tape the tube will either be punctured by a protruding spoke tip or will bulge into the holes and burst.

There are two basic types: woven fabric and plastic, with a further choice between adhesive and non-adhesive. The latter invariably comes as a loop that needs to be stretched over the wall; fitting the former is arguably easier although it usually needs trimming.

There is one non-negotiable; it must be able to take pressures of up to 170psi or more if the tube is not to burst through. Mighty’s tape is specced to do just that despite being a woven high-grade Nylon tape just 0.5mm thick. The adhesive backing keeps it in place under pressure.

It comes with a hole for the valve ready-punched in a pack of two rolls, each weighing just 15g. Weight, of course, is as important in tape as in the rim, tyre and inner tube, while the thin layer minimises trough diameter and makes tyre fitment a cinch.