Applying rim cement is seriously a pain.
If you ask a shop to do it, it’ll cost you a lot.
In cyclocross, tubular tires are a must-have.
But applying rim cement is insanely annoying.
There are tubular tapes made specifically for cyclocross.
(Instead of cement, you stick the tire with double-sided tape.)
However—
- Mud weakens the adhesive, and low pressure means you rely heavily on glue.
- Because the tires are wider compared to the rim, they’re more likely to peel off.
In the end, rim cement is still the only truly reliable method.
But I really want to avoid that smell and sticky mess.
You could ask a shop, but the labor cost isn’t cheap.
And if the shop doesn’t know cyclocross, the tires often peel more easily.
You can’t think of it the same way as road tires.
There was actually a solution to all this.
That’s when I found construction-grade double-sided tape.
Nitoms Extra-Strong Waterproof Double-Sided Tape.
- No bad smell.
- Not sticky like glue.
- You can do it yourself.
It’s strong enough to hold heavy materials like wall panels.
Sure, it’s still sticky, but totally different from rim cement.
The biggest point
Waterproof
Moisture and drying are the main reasons adhesive loses strength.
This tape beats both problems.
In fact, even after several years, the tires I taped on have never come off.
Why tubulars are worth it
Pros and Cons of Tubulars
Terrible maintenance.
Tubulars are notoriously bad when it comes to maintenance.
Basically, if you puncture, they’re not repairable.
(Yes, you can fix them with a needle and thread, but…)
By the third year, rim cement dries out and loses adhesion.
So you have to remove the tire and reapply.
And rim cement isn’t cheap.
If you try to save money and use less, it’ll just cause the tire to peel off.
That’s a painful mistake to make during a race.
But tubular tires offer advantages that outweigh all this.
Huge Benefits
In cyclocross, you get way more benefits from tubulars than in road cycling.
You’re riding off-road at super low pressures—sometimes just above 1 kPa.
The design of tubulars makes pinch flats almost impossible.
Unlike MTB tires, the knobs aren’t that tall.
You rely on low pressure and tire deformation for grip.
If you ran clinchers at that pressure, you’d flat instantly.
Clinchers always carry the risk of pinching the tube.
Tubeless is getting popular in Japan, but overseas it’s almost non-existent.
With narrow 33C tires, tubulars are absolutely essential.
But they’ve also got the reputation of being a maintenance nightmare.
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Rim cement vs. rim tape
The reality of rim cement
You can’t really do it indoors.
You could, but the smell fills the room.
So you end up working outside.
Hot in summer, freezing in winter, and pollen season in between.
Outdoor maintenance work is tough.
Can you trust tubular tape?
I once tried a “cyclocross-specific” tubular tape from a certain brand.
I lifted the tire sidewall just a little—and it peeled right off.
The moment I saw that, I lost all faith in tubular tape.
If your front tire comes off mid-corner, I don’t even want to imagine.
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Rethinking rim tape choices
Tape technology has advanced
These days, double-sided tape holds all kinds of heavy-duty stuff.
If you look into it, you’ll find weatherproof and waterproof types.
Perfect for cyclocross tubulars.
It doesn’t have to be bike-specific.
Unlike road descents, there aren’t long, brake-heating downhills in CX.
So you don’t really need heat resistance.
What you do need is waterproofing and resistance to drying out.
Nitoms Extra-Strong Waterproof Tape doesn’t dry out or crumble, even after years.
With rim cement, it would be completely hardened by then.
This tape survived four seasons of racing, countless mud baths, and even hot summers in outdoor storage.
About 10 races a year.
The material is butyl rubber.
It was originally made for attaching things like siding, tin sheets, and artificial turf.
It’s 30 mm wide, so you just cut it in half with a utility knife.
No strong odor, so you can work indoors.
The adhesion strength is plenty.
With
Nitoms waterproof tape, I’ve never had a tire peel issue.
Downsides
Adhesive tape is primarily made up of a base material and adhesive. To make the tape easier to use, some types also have a primer layer or backing treatment layer.
Double-sided tape has a base material at the center, adhesive applied to both sides, and a separator covering the surface. The base material, adhesive, and other components are determined by the application.
The release liner—the sheet protecting the sticky side—is just paper.
Cycling-specific tapes usually use film, so they don’t tear as easily.
With paper, the liner sometimes rips during removal.
Normal: Inflate the tire and center it.
↓
Alternative method: Keep it uninflated, check the overhang, and center it before peeling the liner.
By pulling out the liner with the tire uninflated, you can avoid tearing issues.
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Conclusion
Why tubulars?
Because cyclocross has unique demands.
Rim cement vs. rim tape
One is messy, the other unreliable.
Rethinking tape choice
Turns out the wider tape industry has already solved these problems.