Mountain Biking - High PSI+Patch?

Hey everyone,

I've been flatting a lot these days and I've been wondering if putting a patch on a tube that will withstand 50 psi + a 120lb kid going up stair cases (im not super smooth, but I'm getting there), will hold well, I'm talking about the patch being applied as perfectly as possible...the park tool glue less patch kits have not worked well, and my friend doesn't use premade patches. He cuts pieces out of old tubes and supergluing them on. He's 230lb but he's pretty smooth on the trail and pavement. I might try the glue less patches a couple more times (I've 3 left) but I'm probably going superglue soon.

Most of the times I flat, it's a pinch flat, (despite lots of talc) so I have to use 2 patches. Does anyone have any special tips for patching?

Thanks,
Hooligan

Superglue will not work well because it sets up brittle and will eventually crack. Just go and get a proper patch kit. They're cheap and do it the right way. I have run patched tubes at well over 120PSI for years without problems. Forget the glueless patches.

Yup, glueless are pretty useless. They're ok as a temporary repair in an emergency, but the proper patch kits are far better. If anything, the patched area is stronger than the plain tube.

50 psi is not high pressure. However, patched tubes work fine at all pressures. Be sure you use the sandpaper to clean the mold release off the tube before applying whatever type of patch you use.


Park makes excellent glueless patches. If they don't work then you are doing something wrong. Be sure you are using the correct size tubes for your tires. A tube that is too small will stress the patch as the tube expands to fill the tire and may cause a failure.

Thanks guys. As for the superglue setting up brittle, that's what I wondered, but he seemed to have no trouble with it, ever! :O

Why not buy a bunch of new tubes? That way you can just replace the tube everytime you get a flat.

Why not buy a bunch of new tubes? That way you can just replace the tube everytime you get a flat.

Because tubes are expensive compared to patches.

Hoolie, I can't believe you're pinchflatting at 50 psi, especially at your weight. If you're not running them already, high volume tires and/or DH tubes might spare you some trouble until you perfect your stair climbing technique.

Depending on Tubes they should be about 1 buck. Dude Mr. Tuffy Liners are good if you pinch flat. Also wheels and tires have a lot to do with it too.

Dude Mr. Tuffy Liners are good if you pinch flat.

I don't think Mr. Tuffy liners do anything for pinchflats. They do protect against puncture flats though.

patched areas of a tube are actually stronger than the rest of the tube. I have a tube with two patches on it that I run at 85PSI, no problem still.

He cuts pieces out of old tubes and supergluing them on.
Homemade patch pride! This works if you use "Kwik-grip" (a flexible glue used to glue shoe soles back on etc) and works better if the patches you cut are round so there are no edges to lift up at.

Or get a kit. Either way.

Don't use SuperGlue! It actually changes the chemical composition of the latex rubber by 'melting' into it. That's why it works so well on many things. But it will wreck many compositions of tire rubber over time.

Get a standard tire patch kit (with the little patch of screening). Glueless works fine in an emergency, but a good patch should make it as good as new. Pinch flats are an indication of something more systemic than a puncture flat would be. Check your rim tape.

i'd suggest running your psi a bit higher. either that or get wider tires. i used to pinch flat a ton when i was running 2.1s. i'm running 2.3s now and have pinch flatted only once since making the switch.

I patch the tubes on my road bike which I run at 120 PSI and I weigh 155 pounds.. so 50psi and 120 pounds is no big deal.. Like others said use a real patch kit.. those glueless ones don't work very well.

Yup, glueless are pretty useless.
I disagree. My girlfriend ran a patched tube for 5 years with multiple tire swaps (knobbies to slicks and back) over those years. I was going to replace it but never did. The valve's failure is what caused that tube to be removed.

50 psi is not high pressure. However, patched tubes work fine at all pressures. Be sure you use the sandpaper to clean the mold release off the tube before applying whatever type of patch you use.


Park makes excellent glueless patches. If they don't work then you are doing something wrong. Be sure you are using the correct size tubes for your tires. A tube that is too small will stress the patch as the tube expands to fill the tire and may cause a failure.Yup

Can I trust PAX brand patches? I can find these for cheap but I don't know if they'll hold. Does anyone have any experience with these? They look exactly like the park tool patches, but have a different tube of glue (it's still rubber cement). Also, on average, how long should I wait for a "proper" patch to dry?

have alot of bad experience repairing pinch flats. i usuauly replace the tube.

looks like i spoke too soon about my good fortune with not pinch flatting since switching to wider tires haha.

just got home from a great ride (cleared pretty much every stunt i rode today - seems like my fear of bridges is going away :D ), about 5 mins from home i go to attempt a bunnyhop over a pretty high curb... now being exhausted from the ride, legs cramping and all, i get the front up, but the rear doesn't leave the ground. rear slams into the curb, and i ride off a bit... look back to try to see if i've incurred another flatspot... then all i hear is poof ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss. yup, pinched hahah.

anyhow, that's my story. no real point heh.

I have 2.4's and I get TONES of pinch flats. I don't think getting larger tires makes much of a difference really. Oh, and when you glue the patch on the tube, make the glue tacky before you put it on, hold it flat for 3 minutes, then leave it to dry for at least 30 minutes. Leaving a flat book or something on it while it dries can be a plus as well.

I don't think getting larger tires makes much of a difference really.
they help somewhat if they're dh tires. i went from 2.1 kenda kinetics to 2.3 tioga factory dh's. the thicker sidewalls helped a lot.