



After a couple of seasons riding my Norco Sasquatch 6.1 the stock pearly white rim strips were starting to get a little dingy and I really wanted a color change.

I searched the web and the rims strips that were available did not come in the color that I wanted and were a little expensive for my frugal nature. I headed out to my local hardware store to peruse their their selection of tape and found what I was looking for.



The first couple of steps in updating a rim strip is relatively obvious: remove the wheel from the bike, let the air out of the tube and remove the tire from the rim.







I really didn’t want to destroy (cut) the original rim strip in case I ever wanted to go for that dingy white look again. I found that pushing the strip inwards through the rim cut-outs released it from the wheel.







As the rim strip is a little stretchy, with a little persuasion, it will slide right off the rim.







I decided it was a good time to clean the rim of any debris and dirt, especially the inner edges of the cut-outs.







Now comes the fun part, actually adding the new rim strip bling. My product of choice was Now comes the fun part, actually adding the new rim strip bling. My product of choice was Duck Tape - mainly because I found it locally, in the color that I wanted and it was inexpensive.







On most alloy rims there will be one section without a hole. I started at this point for the first round of tape that is sticky side in.







Taking a small piece of tape I attached the first round to this solid section.









Slowly unrolling the tape, I carefully covered the cut-outs and spoke nipples.









When I got back to the beginning I overlapped the tape about 2-3” inches.









The second and final wrap had the sticky-to-sticky (colored side in). I wrapped the Duck Tape in the same direction as before getting a nice double covering of the holes and nipples.







With the new orange rim strip in place, there was one more step before reinstalling the tube and tire – and that is making the valve stem hole. I did this with a small awl poking the hole from the inside out.







This is a super simple project that adds a little personalization to your fat bike. It took me about an hour to do both rims, with one role of tape completing two 80mm rims. There was enough tape left over to easily do another set of wheels (or two).







Since the installation I have had numerous grungy rides and the Since the installation I have had numerous grungy rides and the Duck Tape stayed put and stayed orange. If the strip does get dingy - or my mood changes - I won't hesitate to swap in a new one as it's quick, easy and cheap.







RIDE FAT !



