General Cycling Discussion - Is Patching Tubes Now Obsolete?

This past Saturday I went for a very nice ride along the Hudson River, from Battery Park up to Piermont, New York. The weather was perhaps hotter than I like, but otherwise all was well. A nice 60-mile out-and-back ride.

On the return leg of the journey, maybe five or six miles for the George Washington Bridge, I was flagged down by a rider. Turned out she had a flat front tire. She asked me if I had a spare tube. She said she’d given away her spare earlier in the day to another rider with a flat (she didn’t have a pump or CO2 cartridges or tire levers, either, so I’m not sure how much good a spare would have done her anyway). I didn’t have a spare tube (and if I did, it might not have fit anyway, because she was riding 700x20 tires, and I was riding 700x28). But I did have a patch kit and CO2 cartridges, so I offered to patch her tire.

We all know the procedure for repairing a tube. The wheel comes off, the tire comes off, you locate the hole in the tube, you spread glue over the area, let it dry, and then slap a patch over the hole, press it on good, mount up the tube and tire, inflate, and put the wheel back on the bike. No problem. While I was waiting for the glue to dry, I told her to check the tire, inside and out, to make sure that whatever punctured the tube wasn’t still stuck in the tire. She didn’t find anything. When I reassembled everything and inflated the tire, there were no leaks, so I put the wheel back on and told her she was good to go.

While I was fixing the flat, we talked about various rides she went on. She enjoyed riding in the Hudson Valley and in the Berkshires. She did a lot of day rides of respectable mileage (60 miles and more). She seemed quite fit. She was a few years younger than me, I think, perhaps 40 or 42, somewhere around there. She was obviously an experienced cyclist. She was riding a nice (and fairly expensive) bike. Carbon-fiber frame with nice Shimano components.

After the flat was fixed, she said something like “wow, I’ve never seen anyone patch a tube before. It looks so easy!” And it is easy, of course. The whole procedure never takes me more than ten minutes, and that’s going about it in a pretty leisurely fashion. I’ve been doing it for more than thirty years, ever since I fixed the first flat on my single-speed coaster-brake bike from Sears.

So here’s my question. Is the art of patching tubes now obsolete? Is it possible that a serious or semi-serious cyclist has not only never patched a tube, but never even seen it done? Is patching tubes going the way of repairing sew-ups, or, say, adjusting points on an older car with mechanical ignition? Am I just getting old?

tubes are cheap. so, i can definitely see why someone with disposable income would just replace them.

not me though, it's wasteful to toss a tube with a pin sized hole in it. i usually replace a tube on the road and patch the old one when i get home.

I patch tubes, but also replace them fairly regularly. I always carry a spare tube. It's a bear to fix a tube during my 3:30 AM commute!

Also, patch kits only last a year in the So Cal heat, so I keep a fresh one in my bag.

I teach the Scouts I take on bike rides how to fix flats too (It's required for Cycling Merit Badge). For many of them, it's the first mechanical repair they ever learn to do!

I will replace the tube on the ride and the bad one I just end up tossing it into the trash when I get home.

tubes are cheap. so, i can definitely see why someone with disposable income would just replace them.

not me though, it's wasteful to toss a tube with a pin sized hole in it. i usually replace a tube on the road and patch the old one when i get home.

Seems to me if you are going to carry a tube and have to remove the tire from the wheel, well, why not patch? If you patch you have to remove the tire from the wheel, but you have room for other things if you carry a patch kit. But really, both ways are valid; it is just what do you want to do? All cyclists should know how to patch and to just replace.

Oh, I forgot, you may have to take just a little more time to patch than if you replace a tube. Also, replacement could be a big plus for all us aging, formerly-listening-to-lotsa-loud-rock-music cyclists, as one may not be able to hear the "hiss" of escaping pressure from a tire on the side of the road. . .

I patch. Husband patches, repeatedly; he;s cheap-wait, he's frugal. Gawd forbid we should waste a couple of bucks more on a new tube. I think the only way he would replace a tube is if the valve blew or he could no longer fit patches on the tube, or as you mentioned, he got a large unpatchable gash in the tube. As far as I know his none of his patches have ever failed.

tubes are cheap. so, i can definitely see why someone with disposable income would just replace them.

not me though, it's wasteful to toss a tube with a pin sized hole in it. i usually replace a tube on the road and patch the old one when i get home.Yeah, let's say a $5 tube takes 6-minutes to repair on average. That's a $50/hr rate there.

All I've ever tried are gluess patches, but they must be worthless because the 3 I've tried to use so far (all on other bikers thankfully) have all failed to adhere.

She said she’d given away her spare earlier in the day to another rider with a flat (she didn’t have a pump or CO2 cartridges or tire levers, either, so I’m not sure how much good a spare would have done her anyway)...She did a lot of day rides of respectable mileage (60 miles and more). She seemed quite fit. She was a few years younger than me, I think, perhaps 40 or 42, somewhere around there. She was obviously an experienced cyclist...
Is it possible that a serious or semi-serious cyclist has not only never patched a tube, but never even seen it done?
Given what is in the OP I suspect the "experienced cyclist" in question has never fixed a flat at all; she just pulls the damsel in distress routine and the tire gets fixed without her ever lifting a finger; or at least that is what her experience has taught her.

We've got goat heads and russian olive (major thorns). Since there is a limit to how many tubes I can carry, and how many disposable dollars are hanging around, I patch. So far, I've always been able to replace a tube, and save the patching for home. Keeping fingers crossed.

Yes, I'd say it makes no sense to patch today. The reason is the
super cheap Chinese made tires & tubes that we have today.

When I could still get good American made "Carlisle" brand tires & tubes
I rarely changed the tube because I knew the tube would hold a patch and
still be a good tube. However, Carlisle is now out of business. (Fricking
Chinese :mad: :mad: )

Given what is in the OP I suspect the "experienced cyclist" in question has never fixed a flat at all; she just pulls the damsel in distress routine and the tire gets fixed without her ever lifting a finger; or at least that is what her experience has taught her.

That's pretty much what I thought. I was wondering if anyone else would come to the same conclusion. It was pretty annoying.

I have 2 nails in the wall in my shop which are reserved for tubes. One is marked "good tubes" and the other "Bad tubes"

I always carry a spare tube on a ride as well as a patch kit. First flat - I switch for the good tube. Second and subsequent flats - I patch.

Normally though, I make all my repairs to tubes in the shop and try to keep a tube or so on the "Good Tube" nail.

I somehow doubt that she gave a tube to anyone that day. She has just learned to say that since being denied help earlier when she actually told a cyclist that she never carries one.

Yes, I'd say it makes no sense to patch today. The reason is the
super cheap Chinese made tires & tubes that we have today.

When I could still get good American made "Carlisle" brand tires & tubes
I rarely changed the tube because I knew the tube would hold a patch and
still be a good tube. However, Carlisle is now out of business. (Fricking
Chinese :mad: :mad: )


shouldn't blame the chinese. you should blame all the americans that line up outside wall mart and k-mart and buy chinese good in mass. all those americans looking to save a few cents have effectively undermined most amercian manufacturing. the chinese are just there to take advantage of it. american manufacturing is a dinosaur for the most part.

tubes are cheap. so, i can definitely see why someone with disposable income would just replace them.

not me though, it's wasteful to toss a tube with a pin sized hole in it. i usually replace a tube on the road and patch the old one when i get home.

Thats my procedure. Although there is always other uses for old tubes. Chainstay protector works well.

I NEVER patch on the trail. Takes to much time compared to replacement.



Given what is in the OP I suspect the "experienced cyclist" in question has never fixed a flat at all; she just pulls the damsel in distress routine and the tire gets fixed without her ever lifting a finger; or at least that is what her experience has taught her


I didn't read that at all. She had given away her spare. That happens a lot here. Not just with girls. Why assume the worst in people.

shouldn't blame the chinese. you should blame all the americans that line up outside wall mart and k-mart and buy chinese good in mass. all those americans looking to save a few cents have effectively undermined most amercian manufacturing. the chinese are just there to take advantage of it. american manufacturing is a dinosaur for the most part.

So many ways to look at it. If americans (and canadians) manufacturers really tried to make it a competetive market people wouldn't try to find the best price.

If tube (a) gets a hole in the same amount of time as tube (b) but tube (a) is 10$ more...why on gods green earth would I buy tube (a) This applies to everything in every industry. NA's perspective is just skewed because we want to maintain exorbant pricing for products in order to offset what is generally ridiculous wages for staff. Just look at the auto industry.

Boutique has a place. If a company can't afford to loose customers because they want to keep their boutique image than they should be prepared to adapt manufacturing based on a lower number of customers.

So women and chinese manufacturers suck? How much more can this thread go in the sewer. Or better yet what other "ism" can we bring into the mix.

Well, I've had horrible experiences with patches (auto-adhesive ones, mind you) in the past therefore I always replace my tubes even though it ain't cheap (3 euros per tube). Still, I usually end up using up the old ones for something or other, whether it be for rubber bands or for a chainstay protector. I might give the proper ones (i.e. non auto-adhesive) a shot sometime in the future but I'll always carry a spare tube around anyway.

I prefer patching, I can do it without removing the tyre, just pop the bead on one side. Just let the glue dry, apply enough to get to the edge of the patch and you're good to go.

I always replace tubes. I've just never had luck with patches. I'm all thumbs. I probably only get about 1 flat per year anyhow.

I didn't read that at all. She had given away her spare. That happens a lot here. Not just with girls. Why assume the worst in people.
She must have given away her pump and tools too, NOT! An experienced cyclist on a long ride is not likely to be caught without such essentials, UNLESS "depending on the kindness of strangers" is her normal modus operandi for on the road bike repairs.

So women and chinese manufacturers suck? How much more can this thread go in the sewer. Or better yet what other "ism" can we bring into the mix.
Dunno. Depends how naïve some posters can be.

Yes. Patching tubes is only for losers. Therefore, in order to avoid the taint of being a 'patcher, please send me all of your punctured 700x25 tubes, and I will dispose of them properly...

(I will patch them and use them!)

I always patch, and always carry a spare tube. I never use the spare unless I have a tube that can;t be patched. I carry a pump, and CO2. i don't know why.

boy scout?

I've always patched, but with these 700x21C tires there's not a lot of area to hold a patch so I bought some cheapo tubes. Haven't had to use them, fortunately. A couple questions:

1) These tubes claim to fit widths from 19 to 27. Isn't that a pretty big range?

2) I've always put newly-patched tubes in the tire and reinflated, reasoning that the air pressure would compress the patch and mould it to the proper shape as it cured. Those of you that patch a tube without putting it back in a tire - do you find that your patches last as long?

3) What's a good (and light) on-road patch kit? I have a heavy one for my off-road bike but I'm trying to keep the road bike light as possible.

I always patch, and always carry a spare tube. I never use the spare unless I have a tube that can;t be patched. I carry a pump, and CO2. i don't know why.
You never know where patching some distressed damsel's tire might lead.

So women and chinese manufacturers suck? How much more can this thread go in the sewer. Or better yet what other "ism" can we bring into the mix.Well, I don't mind women who suck... ;)


When I could still get good American made "Carlisle" brand tires & tubes I rarely changed the tube because I knew the tube would hold a patch and still be a good tube. However, Carlisle is now out of business. (Fricking Chinese )I dont' know... this was the same kind of dribble I heard back in the '70s about Japanese cars and electronics. The American solution was to slap a big tariff on them to allow the American "brands" to survive. So what did the US companies do? Just kept on cranking out the same stuff but with a higher sticker-price. No innovation, no R&D to continually improve their products vs. the Japanese... thinking tariffs will protect them forever... HAH! Look at where American cars and electronics are now compared to Japanese... Lexus & Infiniti are considered alternatives to BMW and Mercedes... while GM posting -25% lower sales last quarter... Sony, Toshiba owning most of home-entertainment market... not a single US manufacturer of LED screens, etc. The Chinese has nothing to do with holes and patching your tubes...

I've always patched, but with these 700x21C tires there's not a lot of area to hold a patch so I bought some cheapo tubes. Haven't had to use them, fortunately. A couple questions:

1) These tubes claim to fit widths from 19 to 27. Isn't that a pretty big range?

2) I've always put newly-patched tubes in the tire and reinflated, reasoning that the air pressure would compress the patch and mould it to the proper shape as it cured. Those of you that patch a tube without putting it back in a tire - do you find that your patches last as long?

3) What's a good (and light) on-road patch kit? I have a heavy one for my off-road bike but I'm trying to keep the road bike light as possible.

1. My Schwalbe tubes fit a range of 28/47 - 622/635. I've used 'em on 32 x 662, 37 x 622, 47 x 622 and 28 x 630 tires with no problems at all.

2. I have used the same method as you for patching tubes for the last 50 years and have NEVER had a patch fail. Although I have had temperatures too cold to patch - the glue was frozen. I learned from that and always carry a spare tube too.

3. Tip Top Brand patches; any brand patch glue.

All I've ever tried are gluess patches, but they must be worthless because the 3 I've tried to use so far (all on other bikers thankfully) have all failed to adhere.

traditional glue-on patches are extraordinarily effective, they actually bond with the rubber of the tube. I have never seen one fail when properly installed.

and it's easy to do.

I patch. Patching is fun. Am I weird?

I prefer patching, I can do it without removing the tyre, just pop the bead on one side. Just let the glue dry, apply enough to get to the edge of the patch and you're good to go.

And if you patch you have to use the good German patch kits. Those things are all we ever use.

And it is rather wasteful to throw out a tube with just a leeetly pinhole in it. I am sure we aren't going to have cheap rubber forever. And why not save the couple of bucks? It all adds up in the long run. There aint no such thing as a free (or really cheap) lunch.

Glueless patches here. And replace the tube at home. It's easier to patch on the road. You can do it most times without removing the wheel or tire completely. I don't have a great deal of faith in the quality of tubes these days, so; a new one goes on at home.

boy scout?

Motto.

It will never fail you...

The problem with patch kits is that they can only fix pin holes, not tubes torn at the seams. So, that means you not only have to carry the patch kit, but extra tubes as well. Pretty soon the bag is pretty chock full of stuff. Also, in my experience with other inflatables such as pool toys and matresses, patch kits just don't work very well and they are messy.

the only time I'e EVER had a problem with a patch was when the hole was right at the seam. I didn't rough it enough and it leaked. Other than that never had an issue with a glue patch.

The problem with patch kits is that they can only fix pin holes, not tubes torn at the seams. So, that means you not only have to carry the patch kit, but extra tubes as well. Pretty soon the bag is pretty chock full of stuff. Also, in my experience with other inflatables such as pool toys and matresses, patch kits just don't work very well and they are messy.

vinyl and rubber are two different things. have you ever patched a tube before? it sounds like you haven't. how often do your tubes get "torn at the seams"?

vinyl and rubber are two different things. have you ever patched a tube before? it sounds like you haven't. how often do your tubes get "torn at the seams"?

Ya beat me to it! I agree. . .

And if you have only used glueless patches, try real patches with glue. . . they take a licking and keep on sticking. :)

If I've ripped a tube, I'm happy to have ridden it out without crashing. You lick your patches? Sicko :lol:

Thats my procedure. Although there is always other uses for old tubes. Chainstay protector works well.

I NEVER patch on the trail. Takes to much time compared to replacement.



I didn't read that at all. She had given away her spare. That happens a lot here. Not just with girls. Why assume the worst in people.

I rarely patch on the road. But it can happen. over 10 years ago I gave away one of my 2 spares only 20 miles into the Grand Tour (the short option only 200 miles) to a rider who had also started with 2 spares and was already on his 3rd flat. So I am ready to patch on the road. But in general I save up the bad tubes and patch 4 or more at once.

I think the conclusion that she never had a tube was in large part based on the fact she did not have a pump or co2 and also no tire levers.

In a post here someone pointed out that at 6 minutes per tube and $5 per tube you are in effect being paid $50 per hour to patch. I want to point out these numbers are low if you save and patch. More like 6 minutes for the first tube and 1 minute for each additional tube. Oh and even if we go with $50 per hour those are after tax dollars. (e.g. you get to keep all of them). And of course if you ever do end up in flat H3ll being able to patch may save you hours sitting at the side of the road or walking your bike.

- timely topic here... just had a flat this morning after a quick 25-miler w/my riding buddy... it's a good thing i carry a spare tube, as the leak was at the base of the valve stem!

- of the four times i've flatted in the last six months i found it impossible to locate the source of the leak in two instances; for the other two cases, one was a faulty valve, and today's was the rip at the base of the valve stem...

- ergo, i carry a spare tube and patch at home...

All I've ever tried are gluess patches, but they must be worthless because the 3 I've tried to use so far (all on other bikers thankfully) have all failed to adhere.

I've tried em, just didn't seem as dependable or terribly time saving to me, my patch jobs almost always hold, and though I didn't try for long enough to know for sure it did seem I had a higher failure rate with glueless. I only ever bought one package of glueless patches.

Besides, peices of patch kit often outlast other peices of patch kit. At home when patching punctured tubes from the road I often use old unfinished tubes of vulcanizing fluid & cut up tubes for patching. Takes a lil more care but they'll hold rock solid if done well.

Maybe I've just never had an American made cycling tube, but I've found that the only real factor in how well a patchjob holds up is dependent entirely on the person doing the patching. There are different grades & qualities of tubes & patches & fluid I'd guess, but application is the real tell, a half ass job and you'll be flat again shortly.

On topic, I know folks that won't patch, I see it as a waste of resources regardless of whether or not they can afford it, it's a waste of landfill.

- timely topic here... just had a flat this morning after a quick 25-miler w/my riding buddy... it's a good thing i carry a spare tube, as the leak was at the base of the valve stem!

- of the four times i've flatted in the last six months i found it impossible to locate the source of the leak in two instances; for the other two cases, one was a faulty valve, and today's was the rip at the base of the valve stem...

- ergo, i carry a spare tube and patch at home...

I carry both as a second flat can leave you out and the kit ain't large.

Lick the over-inflated tube in suspect areas to find the leak if you can't find it holding each section next to your ear. Traffic noise can often make it hard to find a leak, a bit of sensitive skin can find a small leak too.

vinyl and rubber are two different things. have you ever patched a tube before? it sounds like you haven't. how often do your tubes get "torn at the seams"?


Yes, plenty, a long time ago. Maybe my kit just sucked, but I wasn't impressed. I don't get flats very often(knock on kevlar!) But last week one tube exploded at the seam shortly after being inflated. I thought it was seated well, but who knows.

The bottom line is, on a ride, I am just not in the mood for arts and crafts and I don't feel like carrying both a set of tubes and a patch kit, and three water bottles, and food, and a CO2 inflator, and an allen set, and a phone, and mace, and tire levers.... It gets out of hand pretty quickly. Since I live in a rural area there are no stores to get water(I am not filling my water bottle at the sheep trough) or food so I have to carry everything I may need on a ride.

Like slowandsteady, I'm not into arts and crafts, either, but if I've room for a tube and tire levers, I've room for a patch kit. Still, I hope to do the patching at home. I wouldn't think much of a repair that had dust blowing on the glue while I'm waiting for it to dry. I'll get as many as two patches on a tube, then toss it, on general principles.

The problem with patch kits is that they can only fix pin holes, not tubes torn at the seams. So, that means you not only have to carry the patch kit, but extra tubes as well. Pretty soon the bag is pretty chock full of stuff. Also, in my experience with other inflatables such as pool toys and matresses, patch kits just don't work very well and they are messy.

I have two patches in my kit that are about 3 inches long and 1 1/2 inch wide... those can cover a pretty damn big hole.

At that point, I'm more concerned with the whether the tire will hold the tube than if the tube will hold air!

And yes, tube patches and vinyl patches are different. :p

So here’s my question. Is the art of patching tubes now obsolete? Is it possible that a serious or semi-serious cyclist has not only never patched a tube, but never even seen it done? Is patching tubes going the way of repairing sew-ups, or, say, adjusting points on an older car with mechanical ignition? Am I just getting old?

Heck no!

I have a long held method for patching that works very well. Can't find the old TipTop patch kits any more (cool little boxes) but there are still patch kits available. Heck, used to be that bike shops threw in the patch kit and pump as part of your first ride with a new bike.

I don't get the whole CO2 thing... frame pumps work pretty well and never seem to run out of air. ;)

And BTW my old VW still has a mechanical ignition... points can be set with a matchbook in an emergency. :D

You aren't that old... just the kids that seem to have an attention span of microseconds. BTW, I gave a tube patching "seminar" at the office the week before bike to work day. Figured someone ought to teach 'em.

shouldn't blame the chinese. you should blame all the americans that line up outside wall mart and k-mart and buy chinese good in mass. all those americans looking to save a few cents have effectively undermined most amercian manufacturing. the chinese are just there to take advantage of it. american manufacturing is a dinosaur for the most part.


The trade agreements that permit Stalino-capitalist China to take advantage of the US market are inked by US politicians, who represent big business. In a time of economic plundering in which only the upper 5% in the US are benefitting from the status quo, we can hardly blame uninformed working class Americans for buying Chinese.

The US economy will never be able to compete with slave & semi-slave Chinese labor, or super-cheap labor elsewhere in the world. US business gets rich while we US workers are kept in submission, not even recognising the source of our impoverishment & unfreedom.

I used to just pitch tubes when the guys got flats (I maintain our police "fleet" of about 16 bikes), but the bike shop where we buy 'em charges 4.00 apiece now, and that adds up in a year. I usually slap a new tube in, then repair the holed one to use the next time.

Forget about who patches what.


Was she cute?
Did you get a date?


:)

I only patch if its my second flat of a ride, since i only carry one spare tube.

I don't carry a spare tube... just patches and a pump. and $1.50 for the bus, if it comes down to that.

I've never had a flat on the road that couldn't be repaired. *crosses his fingers*