Carogna - Double sided tubular gluing tape

Carogna double sided adhesive tape is a fast, clean and safe way to glue tubulars, matching the best mastics in terms of gluing performance and heat-resistance.

• Very reliable adhesion, in any condition and temperature
• Extremely easy to use: fast and clean, even for beginners
• Works for road and off-road riding
• Four widths available, to fit any tubular rim and application

CHARACTERISTICS:

Why we created it

As tubular lover ourselves, we started developing Carogna (pronounced “car-own-ya”) double sided adhesive tape with a clear and ambitious goal: to match the gluing performance and heat-resistance of the best mastics, while retaining all the advantages of tapes. In addition to this, we looked seriously into cyclocross (read the specific how-to guide here)  and off-road riding in general (mountain-bike, gravel), where specific features are needed from the tubular gluing standpoint

Safety first

Carogna is designed and has been tested to perform flawlessly on any rim material (aluminum, carbon), with any tubular (seamless, handmade, vulcanized sew-ups; with flat of raised-center-seam base tape), on and off-road.
Adhesion is very strong and uniform across the whole circumference of the rim for all tubulars and it is also uniform across the tubular base tape. 
One short-coming of other gluing techniques is the limited adhesion at the edges of the base tape, or in the center, depending on the shape of the tubular and of the rim. Carogna solves this problem with specific adhesive properties on rim and tubular side.

Carogna tape has two application-specific type of glues:

• Semi-structural but removable on the rim-side: 
 adhesion is guaranteed by industrial-grade acrylic glue. When removing the tubular (breaking its bond with the rim), the acrylic glue will stay on Carogna tape, not on the rim. Acrylic glue has a reliable adhesion on both aluminum and carbon.
• Permanent on the tubular side: 1 mm-thick layer of high-viscosity, permanent glue (originally issued for underwater applications) will plastically deform and adapt to the tubular base tape shape when the tubular is inflated, ensuring an optimal contact surface for gluing. This glue adheres well to any kind of base tape material (nylon, cotton, poly-cotton) or external finishing (raw, brushed, or coated by neoprene).

Wide temperature range resistance (while in use)

IMPORTANT: when gluing a tubular with Carogna tape, the workshop temperature should be between 21°C and 38°C (70 to 100°F). At that temperature, 80% of the adhesive strength is reached after 8 hours, 99% after 24 hours. Proper adhesion cannot take place at temperatures below 10°C/50°F.

Once adhesion is set, riding the tubular at low temperatures (down to -40°C/-40°F) is not a problem. Thermal resistance of all materials used in the manufacture of Carogna was a high priority: Carogna will provide a perfect bonding at 150°C (302°F) for extended periods (hours), exceeding the heat-resistance of even the best mastics.
We recommend cleaning surfaces (rim and tubular base tape) using isopropyl alcool or mineral spirits See the instruction leaflet for detailed mounting instructions (click here).

Turn a multi-day into a five-minute job

Looking at the mounting video below, gluing a tubular with Carogna tape takes five to ten minutes and is in fact a simple task, not a “black art” as with mastic (involving several coats of liquid glue on tubular and rim, the associated drying times, smells, drips etc.).
Because of its simplicity, gluing tubulars with Carogna is an easy task, even for beginners.

Time is saved even once the tubular (glued with Carogna) has been removed, as the tape leaves the rim ready for the next gluing, without additional cleaning. Eventual traces of Carogna glue on the rim are very thin and can be left in place, and a tubular glued on top with a new Carogna tape.
A tubular that has been glued with Carogna can also be re-glued: just slowly peel the bulk of Carogna tape leaving the (permanent) Carogna glue on the tubular base tape, and glue again with a new Carogna tape.

Available sizes and rim width

Carogna is available in the following versions:

• “S” (16,5 mm wide) for traditional/legacy tubular rims (width of the gluing channel between 15 and 18 mm)
• “SM” (20 mm wide) for common tubular rims (width of the gluing channel between 18 and 22 mm)
• “M” (25 mm wide) for some aero or cyclocross tubular rims (width of the gluing channel between 22 and 26 mm)
• “L” (30 mm wide) for super wide and/or gravel-specific tubular rims (width of the gluing channel between 26 and 32 mm)

Rolls are 2 m (for one-wheel) or 16 m, Shop size (for 8 wheels).

Why the name “Carogna”?

In several areas in Italy, “Carogna” (meaning: carrion, corpse in putrefaction) was the traditional name for tubular glue, as mastic smells bad and is gooey. Carogna: a historical, funny name for a modern product that serves the same purpose of smelly old mastic in a clean, fast and odorless way!!

The big question: does it work for cyclocross?

Carogna tape works for cyclocross. 
However, not surprisingly, it turns out that knowing the correct gluing procedure is much more important for cyclocross than for normal road use: similarly to mastic, an average gluing job won’t survive cyclocross racing. Because of the low inflating pressure, tubulars totally rely on the glue to stay on the rim, so adhesion has to be state-of-the-art.
Here below some tips we learned from team mechanics, in years of cx racing with Carogna and tubulars:

1. AVOID SANDPAPER ON THE RIM
 We know this is common practice when gluing with mastic, but tapes are different. Sandpaper will create small grooves on the rim, reducing the effective bonding surface for the tape. A smooth rim bed offers the maximum surface of contact for Carogna: we recommend completely removing residual glue from the rim with Carogna Remover before applying Carogna tape, then degreasing it properly with isopropyl alcool or mineral spirit.

2. CAROGNA WIDTH MUST BE THE CORRECT ONE FOR YOUR RIM
 If Carogna tape is much wider than your rims (for example Carogna “M”, 25 mm, on a 20 mm rim) there will be excess tape on the side that isn’t properly glued (just because it can’t be “compressed” between tubular and rim). That area is a potential entry point for dirt and mud, that could then get underneath the glued section of Carogna… not immediately, but within the third or fourth weekend of races. It’s better to trim the eventual excess with a razor blade, before mounting the tubular. Using a wide Carogna and cutting the excess is the best way to take full advantage of the whole gluing surface.

3. DON’T LET YOUR TUBULARS OUT TO FREEZE BEFORE THEY ‘STICK’
 When gluing a tubular with Carogna tape, the workshop temperature should be between 21°C and 38°C (70 to 100°F). At that temperature, 80% of the adhesive strength is reached after 8 hours, 99% after 24 hours. Proper adhesion cannot take place at temperatures below 10°C/50°F.
Once adhesion is set, the use at low temperatures (down to -40°C/-40°F) is not a problem.

4. LOWER INFLATING PRESSURE MIGHT REQUIRE LONGER GLUING TIME 
Carogna glue is pressure-activated, so it bonds very strongly when it’s pushed down against the rim by the tubular pressure (for this reason, for road tubulars, we recommend inflating tubulars to their max pressure and allowing some time before riding: adhesion reaches 80% of its maximum strength after 8 hours, the optimal value of 99% after 24 hours). As most cyclocross tubulars don’t allow a very high maximum pressure, Carogna might need a longer time before the optimal adhesion takes place. This depends also on the finishing/surface of the tubular base tape.
We’ve been reported cases where cyclocross tubulars were not glued yet after 8 hours, but perfectly so allowing one more day at maximum pressure.

5. SURFACES SHOULD BE PROPERLY CLEANED/PREPARED
 Especially when using tubulars with a raw cotton/unprotected base tape, extra care should be taken to clean the gluing surfaces. We recommend our Eau de Carogna gluing primer for the tubular base tape, to make sure adhesion is not hindered by dust or humidity.


The quality of the adhesion should be checked by completely deflating the tubular and gently pushing it on the side. If the tubular is still not perfectly glued, inflate again and wait longer. Time will normally address the issue.

Made in Italy.

TECH VIDEO

REVIEWS

FAQ

What is Carogna double-sided adhesive tape, and what are its benefits?

Carogna double-sided adhesive tape is a fast, clean, and safe solution for gluing tubulars. It matches the performance and heat resistance of the best mastics while offering ease of use, making it suitable even for beginners. It works well for both road and off-road riding and is available in four different widths to glue tubulars to different rims.

How can I check the durability of my Carogna tape for tubular tyres?

To assess the durability of your Carogna tape, follow the same procedure you would for tubulars glued with mastic. At the beginning of the new season, deflate the tubular tyres and gently press with your thumbs around the entire circumference on both sides. If the adhesion feels strong, you can continue using the tubular. However, if you find any spot that feels unglued, remove the tubular, peel off the Carogna tape and re-glue the tubular using a new roll of Carogna. This will ensure that your tyres are safe and secure for your races.

How do I ensure proper adhesion when using Carogna tape?

To achieve optimal adhesion with Carogna tape, ensure that the workshop temperature is between 21°C and 38°C (70 to 100°F) during application. At this temperature, the adhesive strength reaches 80% after 8 hours and 99% after 24 hours. Proper adhesion cannot occur at temperatures below 10°C (50°F). Once set, the tape can withstand low temperatures down to -40°C (-40°F).

Can Carogna tape be used for cyclocross tubulars?

Yes, Carogna tape is suitable for cyclocross tubulars. However, it’s crucial to follow the correct gluing procedure, as proper adhesion is vital for performance in cyclocross racing. Key tips include avoiding sandpaper on the rim, proper tubular and rim cleaning, ensuring the correct width of the tape for your rim and allowing adequate time for adhesion, especially at lower inflating pressures.

How do I remove and reapply Carogna tape, using the same tubular tyre?

If you plan to use again a tubular glued with Carogna, you should peel off Carogna tape from the tubular (it’s no problem if some of the permanent glue remains on the tubular base tape, as long as Carogna tape is removed). Carogna tape normally leaves very limited traces of glue on the rim, so it will be ready for the next gluing without requiring additional cleaning.
You can then apply a new roll of Carogna tape on the rim and proceed to mount your used tubular.

Why is it important to clean the rim and tubular surfaces before applying Carogna tape?

Cleaning the surfaces is essential to ensure strong adhesion. Residual glue, dust, or moisture can hinder the bonding process. 
If you start from a new rim and new tubular, use isopropyl alcohol or mineral spirits to degrease the rim and tubular base tape. Avoid the pink cleaning alcohol, as it leaves a dry residue that hinders adhesion. Finish the cleaning step by rinsing with water and drying the surfaces with a dry, clean cloth.
If you start from a used rim and used tubular, make sure to eliminate any old glue from the rim surface, before applying Carogna tape. We recommend Carogna Remover from that task. Instead, there’s no need to remove old glue from the tubular base tape, as it actually provides a good surface for adhesion of Carogna tape: just make sure the layer of glue is even, eventually adding more mastic on empty areas. Let dry completely before proceeding to install the tubular with Carogna tape.