General Cycling Discussion - What's the best, quickest, easiest, and strongest patch kit?

Just got a flat from a monster thorn today in my road tires. :( I have a mini pump on order and have extra tubes, but I'd like to invest in a quality patch kit as well. I've heard of some glueless patch kits, but how are they? My current clenchers go up to 110psi, but I might get higher ones in the future. What patch kits can hold up to this and are quickest for a patch job that I'd need to do while I'm out on the street? Thanks.

Those old Tip-Top ones in the lil' green box with the glue and sandpaper, etc. Accept nothing less!

If you want a quality enduring patch use the best, use Rema.

Yeah I think they're called Rema now, same thing, that little green plastic box.

Awesome. Thanks for posting back. I appreciate it. :)

Oh. One more thing. I know that it is most desirable to allow these glued patches to dry on the tube for a few days before using the tube again, but is it possible to use these Rema glued patch kits while out on a ride? Do they hold well enough that you would be able to ride on that tube after patching it right then? If not, and you had to use glueless (pre-glued) patches, what brand would you recommend just to get you home? Thanks.

Patches are evil. I have so many new tubes I will never run out......but I do carry some of those damn patches with me.....just in case. :D

I tried using glueless patches about 7 years ago. My success rate with them was pretty low (like 60%?) Most of the time they'd slow down the leak rate and get me home, but would not be a permanent fix. Seem to recall the Performance brand glueless patches work better than the Park brand. Again, this was 7 years ago though.

Ironically, I was getting the best results with those generic non-feathered patch kits one can get at Longs Drug, Orchard Supply, Walmart, etc. They were coming in square or rectangular shapes one could cut to size. The rubber was usually a little thicker. My success rate with these was very near 100%, and I had patched at least 30 holes with them. 15 years ago, as a teenager, I remember having 5-7 of these patches on a tube and the tube would still hold air! (so I was getting a lot of flats due to cheap tires) Those patch kits went a long ways.

In recent years I just use new tubes (less risky) though more recently been more consciencious about being wasteful etc. so have tried to patch some. Started using the Performance brand patch kits (with glue and feathered patches) and they seem to work all right.

Oh. One more thing. I know that it is most desirable to allow these glued patches to dry on the tube for a few days before using the tube again, but is it possible to use these Rema glued patch kits while out on a ride? Do they hold well enough that you would be able to ride on that tube after patching it right then? If not, and you had to use glueless (pre-glued) patches, what brand would you recommend just to get you home? Thanks.

I can't remember ever seeing a properly glued patch job that failed. I can't say the same for the glueless ones. If you're a real man, you probably haven't read the directions. They say to clean the tube, apply the glue and wait 5 minutes for applying the patch. 5 minutes waiting for the glue to set can seem like a real long time when you're sitting along the side of the road. Other than that, you're good to go. There's no need to wait a few days.

There are some kinds of flats that can't be repaired with a patch. You can have a valve stem tear or a tear at the base of the valve stem or even a valve failure. Those are all good reasons to carry a spare tube and save the patching for a rainy Saturday at home.

I tried using glueless patches about 7 years ago. My success rate with them was pretty low (like 60%?) Most of the time they'd slow down the leak rate and get me home, but would not be a permanent fix.

... The last thing I wanna do is to have to take out the tube for a second time, and patch it properly, even if it is in the comfort of my own home, thats why I'll stick to glued patches.

Also, I have rubber cement. Do you apply this, leave it to dry for 5 minutes, and only then apply the patch? Would it not stick to the patch if it has already dried, or does it stick better?

Glued patches, and glued patches only.Always,always scuff the tube with sandpaper or something abrasive at the spot where the patch will go or you waste your time.Reason being, there is a waxy mold release substance on the tube which will keep the solvent in the glue from dissolving the tube,and the patch wont stick.Yes,doing it on the road in a hurry works just fine, I did that 23 times in 2004 over the course of about 16.5k miles.How long you wait for the glue to start working on the tube is temperature dependent, if its warm out, 30 seconds-1 minute is fine, if its below freezing, lighting the glue on fire briefly and blowing it out does wonders. (while on the tube,and no im not kidding,it works).

Most of the tme,you dont even have to remove the wheel, just a handful of tube where the hole is, add air and rotate tire with your lips inches from it, they will feel the leak even if its noisy and you cant hear it or actually see the hole or object in the tread.Yes patched tubes will last a long long time, no need to replace if the patch job is done right.

when in doubt, read the tiny little direction booklet in the patch kit.........if that doesnt work, check the operator

I did that 23 times in 2004 over the course of about 16.5k miles.

16,500 miles in a year! If you averaged 20mph that's over 2 hours per day every single day.

16,500 miles in a year! If you averaged 20mph that's over 2 hours per day every single day.

Wow, that is an amazing amount all right. That mileage also is almost 2X the mileage I put on my two cars each year... combined!

... The last thing I wanna do is to have to take out the tube for a second time, and patch it properly, even if it is in the comfort of my own home, thats why I'll stick to glued patches.

Also, I have rubber cement. Do you apply this, leave it to dry for 5 minutes, and only then apply the patch? Would it not stick to the patch if it has already dried, or does it stick better?

It will stick quite well even when it seems totally dry. When I patch, I always make the rubber cement a little bigger than the patch. On my tubes with multiple patches, those areas tend to stick to the tire, even after drying for months and repeatedly removing. Rubber cement is a pretty goofy thing. It doesn't behave like regular glue.

16,500 miles in a year! If you averaged 20mph that's over 2 hours per day every single day.


I ride for a living, dont on a car, so bike is my primary transportation as well.

I ride about 4hrs per day when working out of a 9 hr shift, plus errands and stuff on weekends.So far today has been pretty typical, did 8 delivery runs this morning, now its lunchtime, in about an hour my phone will start ringing again, about 3pm I round up my scheduled picks, and add another 15-20 runs to my day, and finish with around 50 miles total.

It sounds like alot of miles, its nothing really, actually if I was to just ride out in the country somewhere away from traffic and the city it would be quite easy tor rack up even more miles.Flat road,no wind, I usually ride about 24-26mph solo, you rack up miles quick that way vs the sprinting I do while working.I only avg maybe 12-14mph at work with all the stops and stuff, I dont ride that slow, it just averages out that way.

Flat road,no wind, I usually ride about 24-26mph solo

Holy hell. Sustained? Aero bars?

I don't think I could hold 26mph on the flat solo for more than a few minutes. Do you race?

Only races Ive done are alleycats, and if you cant do 30mph for a mile or two in those solo your not gonna make the top 5-10 places at the finish.Best ive done is 10th out of a race with 103 riders.One guy here got 2nd place at the worlds in seattle last year, and one gal got 2nd at the NATS in washDC last year(read im slow).Its flat here, and relatively wide streets and lots of the runs I do are 2miles or more each way, you get fast just from sheer repetition and riding constantly.

No aerobars, dont own any.I do have a set of drop bars I use at a local highschool track sometimes, I have this fascination with my hour time, best ive done so far is just over 26miles in an hour flat.Thats on a fixed gear,drop bars, and a 52/16 gear,no other special equipment, heck the bike cost me about $200.Ive been riding hauling stuff on my back for 5 years, you get quite strong riding a fixie that way all the time.

Only races Ive done are alleycats, and if you cant do 30mph for a mile or two in those solo your not gonna make the top 5-10 places at the finish.Best ive done is 10th out of a race with 103 riders.One guy here got 2nd place at the worlds in seattle last year, and one gal got 2nd at the NATS in washDC last year(read im slow).Its flat here, and relatively wide streets and lots of the runs I do are 2miles or more each way, you get fast just from sheer repetition and riding constantly.

No aerobars, dont own any.I do have a set of drop bars I use at a local highschool track sometimes, I have this fascination with my hour time, best ive done so far is just over 26miles in an hour flat.Thats on a fixed gear,drop bars, and a 52/16 gear,no other special equipment, heck the bike cost me about $200.Ive been riding hauling stuff on my back for 5 years, you get quite strong riding a fixie that way all the time.

I was pacing traffic the other day at 30mph, but that was only about half a mile, although it was on a (very slight) incline as well. I don't know what my hour distance is, but I seriously doubt it's over 21 miles. I just got into cycling about 9 months ago, and I'm about a thousand times better than when I started, but you, sir (madam?) are an inspiration. I haven't gotten too caught up in roadie snob blingery yet, but it's always good to be reminded that it is the engine, not the bling, that makes you go.

Kind of makes me want to become a messenger.

Im a guy, im 39 years old, and work/live in columbus ohio, pleasure to meet you.

It takes time to get fast, and lots and lots of miles and effort, gallons of sweat, and gut wrenching dedication to ride thru the bad times and weather, it isnt unique,anyone can do it, but it does take some effort and willpower.Stay with it, the speed will come.I got back on a bike for the first time at age 34 after 20yrs off the bike, I went from zero to about 200 miles a week instantly, and trust me, the first year was tough, especially the first 6 weeks, there were days I had a really hard time dealing with it.I stuck with it, and it changed my life, now Im car free, and healthy again, I shed 38lbs and feel stronger than ever.Its all a matter of just wanting it bad enough.

I like the brand with my LBS's sticker on the front. Cheap, generic, and they work well.

Oh. One more thing. I know that it is most desirable to allow these glued patches to dry on the tube for a few days before using the tube again, but is it possible to use these Rema glued patch kits while out on a ride? Do they hold well enough that you would be able to ride on that tube after patching it right then? If not, and you had to use glueless (pre-glued) patches, what brand would you recommend just to get you home? Thanks.

I always carried a spare tube and put that in the tire, giving the patch time to really dry... Makes for instant success.

Thanks everyone. I just picked up a couple packages of the Rema Tip Top patch kits. Gonna try them out right now at home.

The Rema patches are wonderful. I was wondering, though. I picked up the TT02 Touring kits. The round patches are a little large. They tend to wrap half way around the tube. I'm running 700-23C. I looked online and saw that there was a TT04 Sport patch kit from Rema, which supposedly has smaller and thinner patches for road tubes. Which Rema kit do you guys use and what tire size? Thanks.

The wraparound shouldn't matter, but I think they do make a more race oriented patch kit. Of course, it comes with fewer patch options...

If that patch is too big . . . cut it in half; works fine. Been there, done that!

I must be weird, but i've had great success with the old Park glueless patches (GP-1). Granted, they were on MTB tubes run at pretty moderate pressure, but they held up fine (i'm talking years for one tube). You have to clean the tube surface well though. I carry around a few individually wrapped alcohol wipes to clean the tube first.

I just bought a GP-2 kit (the new and improved kind, i guess), but haven't had a flat yet.

I've been riding bikes since I was a kid in the early 60's and learned to vulcanize the patch by FIRE to the tube! I also remember when glue-on patches first appeared and for many years everyone said they didn't work either at all or not as well as the fire method...well we all learned eventually that the glue on patches worked just a as well a lighting the patch on fire not to mention the higher degree of safety. The same is true with glueless patches! There are people out there who have that same mindset they had in the 60's and think these glueless patches don't work as well as the glue-on type and thats BS!! I stopped using glue on patches about 7 years ago and will never look back. I have a road bike tube with 2 glueless patches that are over 3 years old still holding air, threw away a tube that had 7 on it and the patches never failed, I have a MTB tube with 5 and their still holding. Sure if you get the glueless patch wet or dirty it's not going to work, but guess what? neither due the glue-on type under those same conditions.

The glueless patches are faster to apply because you don't have to wait for the glue to dry before applying the patch. Also there are no surprise dried glue tubes awaiting your next flat repair far from home. You still have to rough the tube up with fine sand paper or emery paper, and I roughen an area larger then the patch just like I use to do with the glue-on type. Then just press the patch on real firm and it's good to go. I also always try to patch the tube first on the side of the road before using my replacement tube (whereas most people put a new tube in and patch at home), so I know the patch has to work good if I'm using it that kind of environment.

I'm glad to hear that the pre-glued patches do work well. Any particular brand that's better than another?

I have had great success with the Rema Tip Top patches so far. Got two more sticker/thorns in my rear tire today. It's only going to get worse as the summer gets nearer. I'll have to take a photo of the thorns so everyone can see what they look like, if you don't already know. I live in central California and they get bad. I think they come off of the dry weeds that grow in the remaining fields around here. It's crazy. I'm gonna get some GatorSkins, but I don't know if even those will hold up against these things, which are just like sticking a needle through your tire. Dangerous.



I've been riding bikes since I was a kid in the early 60's and learned to vulcanize the patch by FIRE to the tube! I also remember when glue-on patches first appeared and for many years everyone said they didn't work either at all or not as well as the fire method...well we all learned eventually that the glue on patches worked just a as well a lighting the patch on fire not to mention the higher degree of safety. The same is true with glueless patches! There are people out there who have that same mindset they had in the 60's and think these glueless patches don't work as well as the glue-on type and thats BS!! I stopped using glue on patches about 7 years ago and will never look back. I have a road bike tube with 2 glueless patches that are over 3 years old still holding air, threw away a tube that had 7 on it and the patches never failed, I have a MTB tube with 5 and their still holding. Sure if you get the glueless patch wet or dirty it's not going to work, but guess what? neither due the glue-on type under those same conditions.

The glueless patches are faster to apply because you don't have to wait for the glue to dry before applying the patch. Also there are no surprise dried glue tubes awaiting your next flat repair far from home. You still have to rough the tube up with fine sand paper or emery paper, and I roughen an area larger then the patch just like I use to do with the glue-on type. Then just press the patch on real firm and it's good to go. I also always try to patch the tube first on the side of the road before using my replacement tube (whereas most people put a new tube in and patch at home), so I know the patch has to work good if I'm using it that kind of environment.

I just use Park; but once I bought a LBS brand of patches and they worked just as good as the Park...maybe they were Park but just labled with the LBS name? I don't know.

By the way, I just noticed you live in Bakersfield CA. I also lived there for 8 years and just moved from there year ago last January. There's some great riding areas in that area; if your new to the area I can provide you with any info you might need such as where to ride or how to prepare for the heat or how to do deal with the thorns etc. The best bike shop mechanics I found were at Action Sports; it's a busy shop especially during the biking season.

I just use Park; but once I bought a LBS brand of patches and they worked just as good as the Park...maybe they were Park but just labled with the LBS name? I don't know.

By the way, I just noticed you live in Bakersfield CA. I also lived there for 8 years and just moved from there year ago last January. There's some great riding areas in that area; if your new to the area I can provide you with any info you might need such as where to ride or how to prepare for the heat or how to do deal with the thorns etc. The best bike shop mechanics I found were at Action Sports; it's a busy shop especially during the biking season.

What a small world. :) No. I've lived here for quite a while. I've just begun biking, though. I would like any help/suggestions you can provide for the thorn problems, though. It's just now starting to heat up here, so the thorns are out full bloom. Every time I ride out to Walmart in Rosedale and them come back towards the Southwest on Calloway/Old River, I've been picking up thorns. I'm in the bike lane too. Last week (which is why I started looking into the Rema patches) I got thorns on that route for the first time. Three in the front and one in the back! :eek: And then on my ride back from there last night, I got two more in my back tire. Completely insane.

I use 700x23c tires, so I can't find any tire liners to fit that. The orange Mr. Tuffys only fit 25c and higher. My friend said that I should just buy them and cut them down. Think that would work? I already hear that you need to duct tape the edges of the liners anyway because they're known for pinching tubes.

Oh. And about Action Sports. Yeah, I had my bike repaired there just a month ago. Yeah, I know they know there stuff, but I don't get good vibes when I go in there. I don't know much about bikes and they seem to enjoy making me feel like an idiot. It's like going in to a surf shop when you're not some seasoned surfer, or a sufer at all.

You might also want to try a pair of Specialized All condition Armadillo tires. They will be heavier then what you are running now but offer good flat protection.

What do you guys think of the Specialized All Condition Sport tires? They don't have the sidewall protection of the Armadillos, but they have the Flak Jacket protection along the tread. Is this the same protection that Armadillos use along the tread?

Oh. And about Action Sports. Yeah, I had my bike repaired there just a month ago. Yeah, I know they know there stuff, but I don't get good vibes when I go in there. I don't know much about bikes and they seem to enjoy making me feel like an idiot. It's like going in to a surf shop when you're not some seasoned surfer, or a sufer at all.
So I'm not the only one! When I was shopping for a bike a couple years ago they put me on a 63cm Cannondale and I was stretched to the hilt. I'm 6'2" with a 34" cycling inseam. They put like a 60cm stem on it too. Then the guy has the nerve to say "cash, check or charge". I still shop in there, but I get what I want and leave. I don't think I would buy a bike there. They also mark up bikes from MSRP and say it's for lifetime tuneups.

I use the ones they sell at Performance. They held up at 120psi...