General Cycling Discussion - How many times have you patched an innertube?

What's the most times you've patched an innertube before getting to the point where you say "Eff it, i'm putting a new one in?" :D

[so far i've got 3 patches on my front tube and one on the rear...]

None on my road bike.

Only once on my old MTB.

My rule is three.
Unfortunately, with recent tire issues I have actually had to enforce it. ugh

I'll patch the sh!it out of a tube.

In the last 6 years, 0.

In my 16 years of cycling, I have NEVER patched an inner tube. I wouldn't even begin to know how! I always replace my tubes.

Funny thing though ... I bought a patch kit 16 or so years ago when I started cycling ... and I've still got it!! I bet the cement is as hard as rock by now! :lol:

I also carry those quick patches, and have given some to friends, but have never used them myself.

I patch them until I get a hole in a previous patch.

I don't have very good luck with patches, so I avoid them all together, one time I put a whole kit on a tube, then I gave up.

Until there is a slow leak I can't be bothered to find or until the tube starts failing from age/wear.

I patch them until I get a hole in a previous patch.

+1:D :roflmao:

Same here, throw $10 worth of patches on a $5 tube:eek: :p

Aaron:)

I never patch. I just buy a crapload of tubes when they're like $2.00.

I never had luck with patchs, always end up with a slow leak. I always carry a spare tube, sometimes two, patch only if those go. I only buy tubes online, and stock up when they're onsale.

I'll go to two, and sometimes three.

In my 16 years of cycling, I have NEVER patched an inner tube. I wouldn't even begin to know how! I always replace my tubes.

Funny thing though ... I bought a patch kit 16 or so years ago when I started cycling ... and I've still got it!! I bet the cement is as hard as rock by now! :lol:

I also carry those quick patches, and have given some to friends, but have never used them myself.

How have you managed to never have a ride from h3ll?

I know you do rather long rides. It would seem sooner or later you should have had some bad luck. On my very first double I ended up giving away my number 2 spare after less than 25 miles to a guy who was already on his 3rd flat. On one other long ride (2nd day of the Land Rush) about 150 miles in there was a very bad auto accident with glass everywhere. I'm sure several people flatted in that section.

I recall one other ride where I picked up a pieve of steel belt and went through both spares before I finally found it (yes I do line up the logos on tires, still missed it on the first 2 tries and it took over 5 minutes on the third try).

what the hell is a patch? :D

i couldnt be arsed patching a tube, i just buy new ones. In over 2000km of xc trail riding, many races and lots of road miles, ive only ever needed to replace 1 tube, and that was after hitting a curb at 30km/h

As many as 4 - 6 patches. I have had only one patch fail in about 20,000 miles of riding. I figure the patch is the toughest part of the tube.

7 or 8 on one tube I don't mind patching tubes and can do it very quickly.

How have you managed to never have a ride from h3ll?

I know you do rather long rides. It would seem sooner or later you should have had some bad luck. On my very first double I ended up giving away my number 2 spare after less than 25 miles to a guy who was already on his 3rd flat. On one other long ride (2nd day of the Land Rush) about 150 miles in there was a very bad auto accident with glass everywhere. I'm sure several people flatted in that section.

I recall one other ride where I picked up a pieve of steel belt and went through both spares before I finally found it (yes I do line up the logos on tires, still missed it on the first 2 tries and it took over 5 minutes on the third try).


I've had flats on rides ... I've had multiple flats on rides ... but I just replace the tube each time.

However, in order to reduce the number of flats I get, I do the following:
-- replace my tires and tubes in the comfort of my own home relatively frequently. I don't go out on a ride of any distance (I'm talking a 600K, 1000K, or 1200K) with more than about 3000 kms on my tires.
-- use tires with a decent amount of tread ... I don't use racing tires. In fact, when I bought my Giant, it had racing tires on it. I flatted one of them as I was cycling home from the shop, and flatted the other one about an hour later while I was riding around. I hastily disposed of those tires!
-- ride very carefully. The moment I see anything in the way of road debris, I will do all that I can to avoid it. I have even gotten off the bicycle and cautiously walked it for a while or carried it over certain areas.
-- fill my tires to 90 psi rather than any higher pressure than that. That way I can run over sharpish rocks and they won't instantly put a hole in my tire.

Now, on the Last Chance 1200K last year, I had three flats ... goatheads got me! But I always carry at least three tubes with me (and for that ride they recommended more, because of these goatsheads, so I think I had 5 with me), and I always have a supply of them in my drop bags (I think I had about 5 in each bag).

This year on the BMB 1200K, I pinch-flatted both tires going over a bridge in the middle of the night. I hit a bit of metal that was sticking up. I hit so hard that at first I actually thought that both wheels were on the verge of collapse. On that ride I think I had 3 tubes with me, and about 3 tubes in each of my drop bags.

How have you managed to never have a ride from h3ll?

That's one reason I've gone from carrying only CO2's to carrying a full size frame pump now. On my last long distance ride I flatted 3 times and ran out of CO2's!
As far as patching, I always carry a patch kit in addition to a spare tube.....sometimes two tubes max depending on riding distance.

To all of those who never patch their tubes and throw them away - way to be wasteful.

I patch patches ;)

I have a system. Oh, first the answer to the question; I stop at three patches in one tube. My system is to always have a spare tube along on the ride, either a patched one or a new one. In my garage I have 2 nails in the wall. One is marked "Bad Tubes" and the other "Good Tubes." The system is that I occasionally spend time out there patching tubes and moving them to the "Good Tube" nail. In truth, the Good Tube nail is empty. There's a small stack of new tubes on the shelf nearby. When Performance has a sale, the Good Tube nail just waits a bit longer.

When it rains on a weekend either once or twice a year here in LA, that's when I spend time patching all the punctured tubes I've accumulated during the year.

I always fix them, and fixed plenty when I commuted -- dozens and dozens over the years.
I'm now so good at it that I just fix them on the side of the road, and often
don't even bother carrying a spare tube. :)

I once had 8 or 9 patches on a tube.

I will keep patching a tube until one of two things happens, either I end up with a patch having to overlay on a previous patch, or the tube no longer feels pliable like it did when it was new.

To all of those who never patch their tubes and throw them away - way to be wasteful.

Why is it wasteful? It's not like tubes are expensive or anything, so I'm not wasting money! And I often use the tubes for other purposes (cut them up for straps, etc.) so it isn't like I'm wasting the tube. And most tubes last me about 5000 kms so that's a pretty good return on the my miniscule "investment".

If i'm out then it's a new one immediately - patch the puncture and swap out with the new tube when I get home - seems that 10-15 patchings is about the limit before the oldest patches start leaking and it's time to convert the patched tube into patches :)

however - using specialized armadillos means 1-2 punctures a year so don't expect it to be a problem

Usually four or so. I'm currently running one with four patches now.

I carry patches in case I get a second puncture on one ride. I replace tubes for the first one.

Why is it wasteful? It's not like tubes are expensive or anything, so I'm not wasting money! And I often use the tubes for other purposes (cut them up for straps, etc.) so it isn't like I'm wasting the tube. And most tubes last me about 5000 kms so that's a pretty good return on the my miniscule "investment".

It's not wasteful if it gives you peace of mind to replace the tube. I just fix them because I have peace of mind that once I've repaired it it works.

Around 4 at the most, got lots of old inner tubes in the garage that could be patched up though.

I have gone up to 8 patches when I was younger and money was hard to come by. A h3ll day cured me of this. Today, I will patch a tube twice before removing it from service, that is when it needs a third patch. I do carry extra tubes with me and put one in when I am in a hurry, which is often nowadays.

Never gone past two as I ride tubies and the pulling thread, sewing back up can be quite a pain.
also, the ride gets awful bumby even when using cut up tubes as they are usually latex base not butyl.

Man! Even you guys who patch give up way too soon. Most I've had on one is 25 (24 on the other wheel). The only reason I didn't have 26 was because the valve stem tore. If I get 10 flats per year, I consider that a pretty low year for flats...we have goatheads and right now is harvest season :eek:

The worst ride I every went on had around 25 puncture for 8 people. I was pulling a trailer and pulled it through a goathead plant and didn't notice. We counted 125 goatheads in on tire before we gave up. I just threw those tires away...wasn't worth digging out the thorns.

What brand of tubes and patchs are you guys using? I've tried a few different kinds but no luck, but they all leak slowly.

To all of those who never patch their tubes and throw them away - way to be wasteful.

I actually reuse the rubber for other things, so STFU.

I always fix them, and fixed plenty when I commuted -- dozens and dozens over the years.
I'm now so good at it that I just fix them on the side of the road, and often
don't even bother carrying a spare tube. :)

I once had 8 or 9 patches on a tube.

Yeah this is how it is for me too. I do carry a spare tube, but it has patches on it. I always patch the flat and then let it "rest" while I use the other tube. And then just keep cycling through them as I get further flats.

No big deal.

I usually throw the tube out after 3 patches. The reason being, I tend to get leaking patches and it's hard to determine which one is the problem. However, if the hole is next to the valve, it's discarded right away.

I always fix the patch at home with loads of glue. I let the tube dry and the next day, I'll fill it with air to see if the patch holds without leaking. If the tub holds air for a week, it's fixed and ready for use.

What brand of tubes and patchs are you guys using? I've tried a few different kinds but no luck, but they all leak slowly.

Rema TipTop. Just like the Topeak Road Morph, don't mess with anything else, you'd just be wasting your time.

Once patched I've seldom had a tube leak unless I did something stupid. The procedure is very simple.

1. Find the damned leak (not necessarily easy :rolleyes: )

2. Mark it and buff it with the sandpaper in the kit.

3. Apply the cement...unless the cement is dried up. Then go get new cement and apply a generous amount in a nice circle about the size of the patch.

4. Allow the cement to dry until it is no longer shiny.

5. Apply patch and use your fingers to knead it into place.

You should be good to go at this point. Places where you can go wrong are in applying the patch to early, i.e. the glue isn't dry or touching the patch or the glue area. Grease and the patch don't go together very well.

I usually throw the tube out after 3 patches. The reason being, I tend to get leaking patches and it's hard to determine which one is the problem. However, if the hole is next to the valve, it's discarded right away.

I always fix the patch at home with loads of glue. I let the tube dry and the next day, I'll fill it with air to see if the patch holds without leaking. If the tub holds air for a week, it's fixed and ready for use.

That may be why you get leaky patches. The patch needs a little more time to cure completely. If contained in the tire, it will hold just fine under pressure but if you stretch it before it is cured, like blowing up the tube without a tire, the adhesive won't cure completely and the patch will move on the glue.

+10 on the Tip Top.

cyccommute has the procedure down pretty well. I go one further and don't even use that recently patched tube... I put it away and use the other tube I carry. That gives the glue plenty of time to do it's thing.

I think that ten is my limit so far. After that I begin to get nervous. And usually after that it's time for a new tire, and while the tire is new, I spring for a new tube. Some will call me spendthrift.

I have a system. Oh, first the answer to the question; I stop at three patches in one tube. My system is to always have a spare tube along on the ride, either a patched one or a new one. In my garage I have 2 nails in the wall. One is marked "Bad Tubes" and the other "Good Tubes." The system is that I occasionally spend time out there patching tubes and moving them to the "Good Tube" nail. In truth, the Good Tube nail is empty. There's a small stack of new tubes on the shelf nearby. When Performance has a sale, the Good Tube nail just waits a bit longer.


I do pretty much the same. Except I have 4 nails for 2 different size tubes. Patch several tubes at once and keep pacthing until I can't patch anymore. THe most I have reached is 6 patches on one tube. Then the pump head got stuck and I pulled the stem off of the tube. No more patches for that tube. I have several tubes and just rotate them as I get flats.

But I always carry at least three tubes with me (and for that ride they recommended more, because of these goatsheads, so I think I had 5 with me), and I always have a supply of them in my drop bags

Yikes!
5 tubes, over 1200k?

I don't think I've gone thru 5 tubes in 5000 miles!

Basically, I buy new tubes at the beginning of the year, and once I've patched the rear (it's ALWAYS the rear) 3 times, I swap front with back - once that one is patched 3 times, I buy new ones.

I don't find it any more time consuming to patch a tube than replace it -- especially since where I find the hole in the tube helps me find the culprit embedded in the tire.

I actually reuse the rubber for other things, so STFU.

Tell me you don't make clothing out of them...

That may be why you get leaky patches. The patch needs a little more time to cure completely. If contained in the tire, it will hold just fine under pressure but if you stretch it before it is cured, like blowing up the tube without a tire, the adhesive won't cure completely and the patch will move on the glue.

I suspect the reason he gets leaky patches is because he uses "loads of glue". The glue isn't really a normal glue which sticks, it 'melts' the tube rubber instead and only a thin layer should be used.

I only give my patches a 5-10 minutes to dry (I'm impatient, and just blow on them) and I get maybe 1 in 20 leaking.

Has anyone tried glueless patches?

I've been using Park glueless patches for over 8 years and NEVER had a leak; and if you've read my previous post here then you know that I keep my tubes for a long time, even with multiable glueless patches and NEVER a leak, NEVER a problem, and their faster to use.

Yes, you still have to sand the tube lightly.

Yikes!
5 tubes, over 1200k?

I don't think I've gone thru 5 tubes in 5000 miles!



I didn't USE 5 tubes on that randonnee ... I used 3. But I CARRIED 5 tubes because I had been told that there was a very high probability I would have a lot of flats on that ride because of those goatshead thorns. And I had a bunch more tubes in drop bags to replace the ones I used.

Lots. Not hitting the guy with 25 there, but 7-8 easily. I tend to forget how many are on it - once it's patched it's as good as new. Never had a problem with a leaking patch but maybe someone can explain this...

One time on tour I had a repaired (patched) puncture where the puncture blew a hole _through the patch_. Air pressure was nothing crazy for the tyre rating - we were using a mini-pump, and quit before it got very difficult to pump.

It blew a hole through the next patch, then 2 patches glued together. We checked the tyre, the rim, the spoke ends, completely taking off the tyre for inspection - nothing.

I eventually glued 4 patches one on top of the next, and applied this super-patch to the puncture and it held finally. That was a tough 2 hours spent in the cold patching! And even I, who carries 16+ patches everywhere, was worried about running out!


Rema TipTop. Just like the Topeak Road Morph, don't mess with anything else, you'd just be wasting your time.

Again +10, these are the business. I've messed about with other ones, particularly the glueless which seemed quite appealing, but nothing beats the Remas.

Why is it wasteful? It's not like tubes are expensive or anything, so I'm not wasting money! And I often use the tubes for other purposes (cut them up for straps, etc.) so it isn't like I'm wasting the tube. And most tubes last me about 5000 kms so that's a pretty good return on the my miniscule "investment".


I think what Operator meant, was not so much the money, as the waste of rubber/tube for a small hole that can be patched.

Some people have a higher comfort level with patches, others have no tolerence for a patch, arguing it can fail and potentially be dangerous or unreliable. I can't argue with that logic, 'tis better to be safe that worry about 'wasting' that rubber/tube.

As far as tubes go they are somewhat inexpensive. Here in Halifax I bought a Specilized tube (700x23) at my LBS for $17 once, my jaw dropped to the floor! So now I buy them at MEC. But I will reuse a tube with patches however:


I NEVER put a patched tube on my front tire, it's always a new tube.

I NEVER carry a patched tube as a spare, it's always a new tube.

I WILL use a patched tire for the rear and the amount of patches on THAT tube depends on the condition/age of previous patches i.e. when I go to patch a tube if other patches (even if there is only 1 other) looks kinda shakey, I toss the tube. No I will not remove that patch and redo. If patches have to overlap, I toss the tube. If the hole is not a hole but rather a tear, it's tossed. If the hole is near the valve and I cannot apply it securely, it's tossed. To put it another way, if I don't feel comfortable with that tube - it does not go back on the bike.

When volunteering as help for a ride, I will carry a few patched but safe (I hope) tubes to give to anyone who needs them, so they may finish the ride. I don't expect or WANT those tubes back. I also tell them that the tube should be replaced once the ride is complete.

I carry only one extra tube and one patch kit. Only once did I ever have more than 1 flat on a ride in over 20 years of riding, in which I needed my patch kit.

So.....IMHO, patched tubes have a place, but limited, as safety comes first.

Digger