Road Cycling - Do you ride on patched tubes?

Do you patch your flats and continue to use the tube or do you just replace the tube and throw the flat one out?

Do you patch your flats and continue to use the tube or do you just replace the tube and throw the flat one out?


If it just has one patch.. I'll use it, but if I get a second flat on one tube, I usually toss it...

I was replacing the tube but it got too expensive. Now I patch, having noticed any negatives so far except for it taking time to repair.

Dan.

i flat so rarely. i've gotten one flat in 2500+ miles this year and it was from running over glass that i absolutely could not avoid.

How about an option for:

"No, I'm so new to cycling that I haven't gotten a flat and am dreading the day I do"...

:)

I hate patching tubes, and always have a spare tube with me. I also carry a patch kit for emergencies, but would prefer to patch at home in a more controled environment. I think I have 3 or 4 tubes waiting to be patched.

I hate patching tubes, and always have a spare tube with me. I also carry a patch kit for emergencies, but would prefer to patch at home in a more controled environment. I think I have 3 or 4 tubes waiting to be patched.

Exactly what I do too.

I am hoping my new tires will flat at a rate not more than once a year.
In that case, replacing the tube is not exactly a big expense.
I hate flats, and if the Ruffy Tuffys flat once per 1,000 miles that's too often; and I will get a heavier tire (sigh). 30 years ago I used to ride around without a pump and patch kit. Didn't need it. I have them now, but my goal is to not really need it. I can understand the love of high performance bikes; but I love gliding by roadies with flats even more.

I hate patching tubes, and always have a spare tube with me. I also carry a patch kit for emergencies, but would prefer to patch at home in a more controled environment. I think I have 3 or 4 tubes waiting to be patched.

What he(she) said :p

Also, I usually put the patched tube on the wheel when I change tires so I have the opportunity to notice a leak without being out on the road. IOW, I carry new tubes on the bike.

-murray

I am hoping my new tires will flat at a rate not more than once a year.
In that case, replacing the tube is not exactly a big expense.
I hate flats, and if the Ruffy Tuffys flat once per 1,000 miles that's too often; and I will get a heavier tire (sigh). 30 years ago I used to ride around without a pump and patch kit. Didn't need it. I have them now, but my goal is to not really need it. I can understand the love of high performance bikes; but I love gliding by roadies with flats even more.

With the demise of the Carlise Tire Co. good quality American
Bike & small equipment tire are impossible to buy. I change
tires and tubes much more often now.

Why patch junk Asian rubber??

I haven't had a flat in........... :eek: OH NO WAY am I falling into that trap, I'm keeping my big mouth shut! :p

I'll use a patch tube on the back but seriously shy away from using them in the front. Sometimes when I'm way out there on the north or south forty I may not have a choice, especially if I flat twice on the same ride, I carry only one new spare tube and some glueless patches.

Tightwad,
I like Panaracers. If my Ruffy Tuffy (made by Panaracer) tires don't work out I might try their new Boulevard tire. That looks indestructible, and has a cool 3M reflective tape sidewall.I love my Ruffy Tuffys a LOT, I will even forgive them if they flat. Once :D Definitely not junk , they are great tires, best I have had so far...

FORTY-ONE PERCENT of us throw away tubes when they flat? I would have guessed it was three or four percent.
Somebody who tosses 'em, please explain why. I'm not criticizing, but I've probably put on hundreds of patches--no idea how many, but I've been riding since 1972--and I've had ONE patch failure, when some Slime leaked out of the tube and the glue didn't stick. Just makes no sense to toss a $6 tube when you can fix it in one minute for about a quarter.

FORTY-ONE PERCENT of us throw away tubes when they flat? I would have guessed it was three or four percent.
Somebody who tosses 'em, please explain why. I'm not criticizing, but I've probably put on hundreds of patches--no idea how many, but I've been riding since 1972--and I've had ONE patch failure, when some Slime leaked out of the tube and the glue didn't stick. Just makes no sense to toss a $6 tube when you can fix it in one minute for about a quarter.


well you do now have me thinking about patching more and using the patched tube. I just never thought a patched tube was as realiable as a new tube. I guess I might have been wrong about that

FORTY-ONE PERCENT of us throw away tubes when they flat? I would have guessed it was three or four percent.
Somebody who tosses 'em, please explain why. I'm not criticizing, but I've probably put on hundreds of patches--no idea how many, but I've been riding since 1972--and I've had ONE patch failure, when some Slime leaked out of the tube and the glue didn't stick. Just makes no sense to toss a $6 tube when you can fix it in one minute for about a quarter.

i understand your point, and i'm a supporter of conservation and economy and recycling, but i run $4 nashbar tubes (which i probably bought with a 20% discount, making them $3.20 tubes) and as i posted above, flat so, so, so rarely that it's just worth the piece of mind and convienience.

by that logic, one could argue about cutting corners everywhere. why buy any new components when you could fix up old stuff and run it?

In all my years of cycling, on and off for 35 years, not counting as a kid, it never occured to me that you don't at least try to patch a tube before tossing it. There are definitely circumstances where you wouldn't, if the hole is near the valve or over a seam, or too close to another patch, but there is absolutely no reason to not use a patched tube if it holds air. Isn't this one of those mysterious rites we go through as cyclists?

I have never carried a spare tube, just a tiny patch kit, and I've never had a problem on the road. I've had plenty of flats over the years. I've ridden latex tubes, butyl tubes, sew-ups (different story with those), fat tires, 700x19 clinchers, slick, treaded, kevlar whatever. I've even used the dollar bill trick a couple of times, but the tube was patched and it held.

Its like wood glue, which is stronger than the wood, the patch is stronger than the tube.

I used to and I still would if I needed to for a short period, but I ride pretty hard and I ride in pretty remote locations. I carry spare tubes and self adhesive patches. No way to predict if I'm going to miss a curve and take a 300 foot drop on any given descent, but I damn sure ain't going to do it 'cause I was trying to get more out of a $3 tube. I have a garage full of 40 dollar tires that are waiting to be worn out on rollers because they aren't good enough to risk my life on. I've had two patch failures, actually adhesive failures both times.

Stealthman,
If I could have said it that well, I would have.
It's cheap, it's important, it gets replaced...

I generally dont - patched a tube on the road earlier this year, and lo and behold it didn't hold after about 10 miles.

Performance has a 10 pack of tubes for $19.99 ... apply a 20% coupon code and my 10% Team Performance discount, and you are talking less than $1.50 a tube. That said, I have been keeping some tubes and will probably patch them with a real patch kit some day (ie - the kind with the glue) ....

I only throw out tubes if the valve is damaged, or the tube is not repairable. I ride 10miles/day in all weather and have never had a patch failure. Has anyone had a patch fail?

i understand your point, and i'm a supporter of conservation and economy and recycling, but i run $4 nashbar tubes (which i probably bought with a 20% discount, making them $3.20 tubes) and as i posted above, flat so, so, so rarely that it's just worth the piece of mind and convienience.

by that logic, one could argue about cutting corners everywhere. why buy any new components when you could fix up old stuff and run it?
Yea why don't you? do you buy a new house because of a leak in the roof or fix it?

Just a note to everyone tubes do nothing structural. They can't take high pressures, they don't support any weight and there is no torque applied to them. The tire does all of it, the only thing a tube does is seal the leaks by covering the inside of the tire and rim with a continuous rubber lining.
There is no way for a tube to blowout only a tire can do that, it can leak really fast but thats it and if your paying half a wit you'll know your tire is low and pull over.(unless its old weather checked rubber even then the air has to escape the tire)
If you really think a tube does more than seal try inflating it by it's self and imagine riding on it and check it with a pressure guage when its all swelled up, heck inlate it while its on the rim and test ride it.

I've been riding approximately 3000 miles per year since 1982, and have patched my share of tubes. I have never had a patch fail. I always dust a new patch with talcum powder.
Like MichaeW, I throw out only tubes that are irreparable.

Yea why don't you? do you buy a new house because of a leak in the roof or fix it?

Just a note to everyone tubes do nothing structural. They can't take high pressures, they don't support any weight and there is no torque applied to them. The tire does all of it, the only thing a tube does is seal the leaks by covering the inside of the tire and rim with a continuous rubber lining.
There is no way for a tube to blowout only a tire can do that, it can leak really fast but thats it and if your paying half a wit you'll know your tire is low and pull over.(unless its old weather checked rubber even then the air has to escape the tire)
If you really think a tube does more than seal try inflating it by it's self and imagine riding on it and check it with a pressure guage when its all swelled up, heck inlate it while its on the rim and test ride it.

You may be 100% right, for 20 bucks a year I'll be a moron.

Do you patch your flats and continue to use the tube or do you just replace the tube and throw the flat one out?

Your going to get a 1000 different things here. If your a thrifty person like me, I patch the tubes until I either have to put a patch where it will overlap another or I have to patch right on the stem.

But if you have deep pockets then what the hell.

I usually replace the tube if there no patch or stem problems about every 3 to 4 years, because by then the ultrathin tubes I use are beginning to get dry.

Also on your poll; I always try to repair the tube first before replacing it. Since I ride alone I don't have to worry about holding someone up, besides I can fix a front flat in about 5 minutes (assuming I find the hole quickly).

Patch 'em till I get patches starting to over lap or about 6-7 patches total.

I've had three flats in 2.5 years. I'm lazy. I walk home if close enough or use the cell if not. Then I take the wheel to the LBS and have them fix it. I have practiced removing the tire and do carry a spare tube and a patch kit. I don't intend to use them though unless I have to.

There is no way for a tube to blowout only a tire can do that, it can leak really fast but thats it....

I must beg to differ slightly, I had a tube blowout recently that left me boggled. The tire went imediately flat, I pulled it off and my tube had a long 6 inch rip that wasn't along the seam. The tire was totaly fine (MTB fat tire). It's never happened before or since, but it looked like a blowout to me. I'm still trying to figure that one out. :lol:

by that logic, one could argue about cutting corners everywhere. why buy any new components when you could fix up old stuff and run it? Some of us broke people actually do just that. :)

Maybe one patch...Generally, if I have gotten good mileage out of a tube, I just toss it...Generally, don't trust a patched tube.

Cheap tubes work as well as high priced ones so use a new tube and toss the leaking ones. $2-3 tubes is better then patching. Besides to many tubes not only throws the balance off,its heavy for WW's.

I've even used the dollar bill trick a couple of times, but the tube was patched and it held..

What's the dollar bill trick?

It really depends upon which bike I am riding. I almost never patch road tubes, especially on a ride. I'm always in too much of a hurry to do it right. On my hybrid (my commuter) I ride tubes that have been patched more than once and hardly ever are a problem. Same thing with my mountain bike. On the hybrid, I carry a spare tube only in the event the patch kit glue is unusable or the glueless patch doesn't work.

The key to preventing flats is to make sure you are riding tires that aren't too worn and to check your tires occasionally. Just my luck, I'll probably have a flat on my way home today (since I opened my big mouth/keyboard in this forum!!!).

So you'll try patching it a couple of times before you use a tube. Thats why i use a new tube in the first place,i dont want to sit and patch a tube when i can be riding in 5 minutes.

i impose a 3/4-patch limit on my tubes. 3.99$ seems cheap until you realize that you have more than 1 bike... or until you start thinking in beer-currency ;) :D

So you'll try patching it a couple of times before you use a tube. Thats why i use a new tube in the first place,i dont want to sit and patch a tube when i can be riding in 5 minutes.

That's my philosophy when riding my road bike. The commuter is different. When riding the commuter, economy is king. When I'm on my road bike it's my hobby, on my commuter it's my transportation.

So what's the dollar bill trick??



OLds

I ride with spare tube + carry patch kit in case of further difficulties, repair punctured tubes when I get home. Tubes remain in service until I consider there are too many patches e.g. overlap

The address to send your unwanted single use tubes is:

The Ed Holland cycle charity fund....... :D
Oxford
UK

Cheers,

Ed