I can't do it! *sob*

[indysteel]

One other suggestion I have is to swap rim tape--if that's what your wheels have--for Velo Plugs. Maybe it's just a marketing gimmick, but I've been told that the plugs make mounting tires a little easier. You might talk to your mechanic about it.

[silver]

One other suggestion I have is to swap rim tape--if that's what your wheels have--for Velo Plugs. Maybe it's just a marketing gimmick, but I've been told that the plugs make mounting tires a little easier. You might talk to your mechanic about it.

Hey! now this might be the trick! Cause I have veloplugs on the American Classics, but don't on the bontrager race wheels. It's the bontrager race wheels that I'm struggling with, I didn't have a problem with the AC's. This didn't even occur to me! Ah, ha! The Bontrager's have the old thick cotton tape.

Need to go order some veloplugs!

[indysteel]

Hey! now this might be the trick! Cause I have veloplugs on the American Classics, but don't on the bontrager race wheels. It's the bontrager race wheels that I'm struggling with, I didn't have a problem with the AC's. This didn't even occur to me! Ah, ha! The Bontrager's have the old thick cotton tape.

Need to go order some veloplugs!

Man, I'm smart. I sure hope they do the trick!

[onimity]

I hear you. I put Contis on my MTB, figured it would be easy since my road tires are a breeze... it took me two hours and caused me a lot of pain. I honestly think that half of my problem was mental, I worked on the first for ages, got really frustrated, so I stepped back and had a glass of wine and approached it as calmly and logically as I could. One I got the first one on I *knew* I was strong enough, and the second was a cinch. Then I realized they were on backward. So I took them off and put them back on, not at all as difficult as the first time. They were really tricky to get on, I tried it with and without levers and in the end found it easier without levers.

Anne

[Geonz]

Hey! now this might be the trick! Cause I have veloplugs on the American Classics, but don't on the bontrager race wheels. It's the bontrager race wheels that I'm struggling with, I didn't have a problem with the AC's. This didn't even occur to me! Ah, ha! The Bontrager's have the old thick cotton tape.

Need to go order some veloplugs!

You better keep us posted!!!

[OakLeaf]

Then there's the ol' soapy water trick.

Not much use when you're fixing a flat on the road... but a little spray bottle of soapy water is easier to carry than an oven I suppose

[silver]

Ongoing saga!

So I ordered the veloplugs. They came in today. And they don't fit the Bontrager Race wheels. The spoke holes are too big for the plugs. I tried splaying the prongs but that didn't work.

And I don't have any rim tape.

I tried slipping the tire on and off the rim with nothing on it. It's VERY difficult to get one edge over the rim, but doable.

so now, it's back to the bike shop for rim tape.

So, what do I do? I actually haven't taken them to the bike shop yet. I wanted to do it myself. I thought that maybe I could with the veloplugs.

I suppose that really I'm going to have to have them do it and then ride on them for a couple of weeks, but what if I flat right away. Will I be able to change the tube?

Should I give up on these tires? Is there another brand that will be easier than these? I know someone suggested folding tires. (I kinda thought these folding tires)

[MyLitespeed]

Have you tried doing the "roll" with the heel of your palm when you need to finish putting on the tire. The very last piece of tire that refused to go on the rim I actually have to roll on with some pressure but it works. I'm sure a mechanic can show you how it's done.

[silver]

Ok, still haven't done it yet. I still don't have the kind of rim tape that I want. It wanted that thin slick kind (?) but all the bike shop had was the cloth tape.

But they did tell me something that I was not doing and no one mentioned here (I don't think)

That I should start pushing the tire over the rim at the opposite side as the valve and then leave that area for last. For some reason, I was doing this opposite. So I'm thinking that this might be the ticket.

Can anyone recommend thin slick rim tape?

This is what I'm thinking about ordering, but I thought I had seen some thin plastic like tape on someone else's wheel.

http://www.bicycletires.com/pcoetp/C...ip/product.htm