General Cycling Discussion - Patches

Ok, so apparently if you have a calcualtor and too much free time you come up with stuff like this...

http://www.helium.com/tm/148063/should-think-globally-locally

apparently I should quit my job and just start patching tubes.

Don't worry Flanderflop. The new minimum wage increase should put a stop to these cost validation analysis pieces. I could break it down for you mathematically, but I'm paid too much where there is no economic incentive for me to do so.

Don't worry Flanderflop. The new minimum wage increase should put a stop to these cost validation analysis pieces.

Perhaps this will be a good passtime/side business for all the teenagers without work next summer.

Hah! I've ran with that same idea when it comes to driving faster, or fixing crap around the house. It's almost always cheaper to DIY. For instance, going 70mph compared to 50mph results in paying an extra ~$7.50 an hour to drive someplace.... I won't even touch auto repairs. And 40 cents a patch is hella expensive, I just picked up a set for 10 cents a patch, shipped to my door. I wonder if they could be found locally for 5 cents a patch. Not that I'm actually making any money, just that I'm limiting the hemorrhaging of cash over some time period.

just that I'm limiting the hemorrhaging of cash over some time period.

I've been doing that for many years now, I used a minute fraction of that money saved, and put it towards flat prevention. The flat prevention measures then pay for themselves in the manhours and material costs in repairing flats, and very few cyclists find pleasure in getting and repairing a flat tire.

I had a old pair of wally's world mtb tires that I cut and placed in my 2.25" slicks for protection from goatheads, since they seem to go through anything, but have spines smaller than the knobs on the cut mtb tires.

Some economist got too soned. bk

The analysis gets skewed if, as happens in real life, you put the patch on and the tube still leaks. After the 3rd patch or attempt ... out it goes. Maybe I'm the only one that happens to (and yes, I do check the tire for remaining shrapnel).

There's talcum powder on/in some to prevent sticking to the tire. I went through about five patches before I figured this out and cleaned thoroughly with alcohol.

And what if you virtually never have flats?

I have never had a flat caused by anything external during a ride. I did have one that was caused by not using proper rim tape. I've also destroyed a couple of tubes mounting or dismounting tyres.

I learned that too, lyeinyoureye. You can get about a lifetime supply of alcohol wipes that you can carry in your seat bag for around $3.00 for a box of 100.

There's talcum powder on/in some to prevent sticking to the tire. I went through about five patches before I figured this out and cleaned thoroughly with alcohol.Per instructions, I always roughen up with the included sandpaper. Wouldn't that remove most talcum powder? It appears that some holes, when they reach a certain size, can't be readily patched. Unfortunately all holes look small when the tube is deflated.

Where are people getting alcohol wipes these days? Seems like all the newest handi-wipes have gone to some non-alcoholic anti-bacterial chemical. I felt more confident with the alcohol based ones. At least I could tell the alcohol was really there, plus it gets grease off.

I had a old pair of wally's world mtb tires that I cut and placed in my 2.25" slicks for protection from goatheads, since they seem to go through anything, but have spines smaller than the knobs on the cut mtb tires.

I "Booted" the tire on my Bob trailer like this and haven't had a flat since. I actually just cut the bead off the old tire and put it inside the new one.

Also if you want to spend even less than 10 cents a patch, I'm told you can cut up an old tube and use peices of it at patches with some rubber cement. Never tried it, but they say it can be done.

Where are people getting alcohol wipes these days? Seems like all the newest handi-wipes have gone to some non-alcoholic anti-bacterial chemical. I felt more confident with the alcohol based ones. At least I could tell the alcohol was really there, plus it gets grease off.

The Diabettes section of your local Pharmacy.

I dunno about the alcohol wipes I use. Somewhere in the pharmacy secton of WallMart.

Per instructions, I always roughen up with the included sandpaper. Wouldn't that remove most talcum powder? It appears that some holes, when they reach a certain size, can't be readily patched. Unfortunately all holes look small when the tube is deflated.

Where are people getting alcohol wipes these days? Seems like all the newest handi-wipes have gone to some non-alcoholic anti-bacterial chemical. I felt more confident with the alcohol based ones. At least I could tell the alcohol was really there, plus it gets grease off.

I always washed it off with water after scuffing it, but the patches would still fall off after a bit, and since I've used alcohol (bottle) to clean I haven't had any trouble. Some CPU thermal compound I just bought came with a bunch of alky wipes, maybe you could email one of the sellers on ebay regarding it?

crazy. someone actually found this...