Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Gaaah! Or, how long do your tubes last?

I was all psyched up to go for a ride this evening, but when I got the bike out the rear was flat. Turned out to be a crescent-shaped tear in the tube. Patched it and reinstalled, but while I was inflating it, at about 80 psi it blew. BIG noise. Popped the Conti Gatorskin off the rim! Complete failure of the 1-year old tube, at the valve stem, about 4-6 inches on either side of the stem. What the heck is up with that? After all was said and done and I explained to the wife that no one was shooting and the adrenaline wore off a bit, it set me back about 40 minutes. I had another tube that I bought at the same time I bought the one that blew and used it. Guess I need to pick up a new spare.

How often do you guys replace tubes? I'm using Nashbar 700x28 Prestas, but I'll probably hit up the LBS for my new spare - can't see making a $5 order for just one tube. And I hate riding without a spare, which I just reaffirmed is a good idea.

When you replaced the tube you might have pinched it between the tire and the rim. When you inflated it, it blew.

When you buy a spare, but 3 or 4 and keep them on hand.

I know that some people will shudder, but I don't patch tubes. To me life is too short, and riding time is too hard to work into the family schedule to fool with patched up tubes. One of the LBS stocks Bontrager tubes for $5 a piece, and sometimes runs them on sale for 3 for $10. I will stock up when they are on sale. With that being said, my front tube was on the bike when I bought it 13 months ago. My rear tube has been replaced multiple times.

I know that some people will shudder, but I don't patch tubes. To me life is too short, and riding time is too hard to work into the family schedule to fool with patched up tubes. One of the LBS stocks Bontrager tubes for $5 a piece, and sometimes runs them on sale for 3 for $10. I will stock up when they are on sale. With that being said, my front tube was on the bike when I bought it 13 months ago. My rear tube has been replaced multiple times.

I've been buying tubes for $3/ea from Licktons, but I have been saving the punctured tubes, rather than pitching them.

I just ordered 8oz Rema Vulcanizing Fluid, and 100 Rema 20mm patches for $12 + $16 + shipping ($7) = $35.
That works out to $0.35 per flat. vs $3.00 (+shipping).

On the road I carry the Park GP-2 self-adhesive patches, which work flawlessly for temporary use, but (as others have reported), do not hold permanently.

...was the crecent shaped hole on the inside or outside of the tube (tire side or rim side)...

I had a rims strip slip and kept getting holes in the tube... took about 3x before I figured that out...

I was all psyched up to go for a ride this evening, but when I got the bike out the rear was flat. Turned out to be a crescent-shaped tear in the tube. Patched it and reinstalled, but while I was inflating it, at about 80 psi it blew. BIG noise. Popped the Conti Gatorskin off the rim! Complete failure of the 1-year old tube, at the valve stem, about 4-6 inches on either side of the stem. What the heck is up with that? After all was said and done and I explained to the wife that no one was shooting and the adrenaline wore off a bit, it set me back about 40 minutes. I had another tube that I bought at the same time I bought the one that blew and used it. Guess I need to pick up a new spare.

How often do you guys replace tubes? I'm using Nashbar 700x28 Prestas, but I'll probably hit up the LBS for my new spare - can't see making a $5 order for just one tube. And I hate riding without a spare, which I just reaffirmed is a good idea.

Typically I put on a new tube with a new tire, and the old tube goes into the spare pile. Unlike some people, I find that replacing a $4 tube when it can be repaired with a 20¢ patch is kinda silly. Mind you I will repair a tube only 2 or 3 times, before it gets retired. I keep a minimum of 3 spares, one on my bike, one on my wifes bike, and one in the garage.

I replaced my front tube for the first time after 7 months this week, and only because the tube was stuck to the rim strip when I repced the front tire. The front tire needed replacing had developed cracks on the sidewalls due to being ridden with not enough pressure in the tube.

The rear I was replacing way too often until I finally understood I wasn't riding at anywhere near the pressure I needed to be at. Once that finally registered I resolved the issue by getting a bicycle tire gauge and keeping good pressure in the rear tire specifically. The front seems to be ok at less, but I'm going to get that up to par today too.

I boogered up a new tube just the other day putting it on. I couldn't believe it, new tube, air hissing out quickly when I pumped it up. I must have pinched the tube between the rim and the tire on the last little bit of putting it on. Grabbed another new tube and very carefully put it on the tire. I may patch it when I get around to it and put it on one of the junkers I keep around for friends to ride when they come over. Even if I patch it badly, a slow leak is not a problem on a bike that's ridden for 1/2 hour at a time.

Other than a flat and slashing one with a screwdriver (my bad) when putting a tire on, no problems. I had a thousand miles on my wheels, tires, tubes when I finally broke a spoke on the rear wheel. I change the rear wheel for a new one, replaced the tire (no tread) and put the tube back in. Btw, that's me between 326 and 300 and running the tubes at 95 psi. 700cx35.