It’s peak trainer season for most of us, and if your bike is mounted up your tires are at risk. Stationary trainers put a lot of wear and tear very quickly into your rear tire because the drum has to be forced tightly into the tire to prevent slipping, and you’re riding in the same spot of the tire the entire time. For most of us, that leaves three options – just deal with accelerated wear to your tires and replace them at the start of the season, mount up one of your old tires to a spare wheel, or go full out with a dedicated trainer wheel and trainer tire which are said to offer better grip on the drum.
Apparently, there’s now a fourth option which involves tape. Yes, Bike Trainer Tape is an adhesive protective layer that is meant to be applied directly to your tire with claims of keeping those pricey tires in good shape…
Sold in 20 meter rolls for $12.95 with free shipping, each roll is said to provide 40-80 hours of protection. That breaks down into about 10 applications of tape that will last 4-8 hours depending on roller pressure and rider wattage. They point out that the higher the pressure and wattage, the faster the tape will wear out. If removed within the recommended time frame, Bike Trainer Tape should not leave any residue on the tire allowing you to remove the tape and hit the road.
