Patch or Change?
05-18-10, 04:46 PM
#5
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I patch immediately on the road if it's easy to find the hole and it's not raining and I'm not running late. Otherwise, I plan to patch in camp, and then I forget to do it, and then I have to patch next time I get a flat, which, if I haven't bothered to find the hole to begin with, is usually 5 minutes later.
05-18-10, 05:06 PM
#6
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Patch on the road. I've only ever given up on finding the hole once, and that was after the tube had 11 (patched) holes in it already. I usually retire(haha, get it?!) a tube somewhere between 8 and 15 patches. No reason to pay for a new tube if you can fix the one you've got.
Hm, I'm surprised so many of you swap it out on the road. Interesting!
Hm, I'm surprised so many of you swap it out on the road. Interesting!
05-18-10, 05:21 PM
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OK, here's a variation on the OP's question. When you patch, do you use the (what seem to me to be) newer "glueless" variety or do you go "old-school-glued-down-patch"????
Inquiring minds want to know.
Inquiring minds want to know.
Last edited by bobframe; 05-18-10 at 05:22 PM. Reason: God made me.
05-18-10, 05:29 PM
#8
ah.... sure.
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Glueless=worthless. If you want something temporary they will work until I get it done properly.
05-18-10, 05:40 PM
#9
Senior Member
I've given up on glueless patches. My last batch ovear-heated in my black under-seat bag during the summer and the glue was worthless: the patches would start to fail before I could get the tubes back into the tires! I've gone back to old-school-glued-down patches. They haven't let me down yet...
05-18-10, 05:41 PM
#10
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Old school glue and rubber patches all the way.Never had a problem with them.
05-19-10, 04:51 AM
#11
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I will patch on the road if I am not in a hurry, quite often I won't even bother to pull the wheel if I can see where the puncture is. I use the old fashioned glue on patches.
If I am on a tight schedule or the weather is crappy, swap in a new tube and patch the old one first chance I get.
Aaron
If I am on a tight schedule or the weather is crappy, swap in a new tube and patch the old one first chance I get.
Aaron
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Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
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"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
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05-19-10, 05:29 AM
#12
Senior Member
Most often I change the tube and patch it in camp. I do find the source to be sure the offending object is out of the tire and usually mark the tube so that later I can find the spot to patch.
05-19-10, 07:32 AM
#13
It's true, man.
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Depends. If I can see the obvious source of the hole, like a big thorn sticking out of the tire, and it's safe, comfortable and convenient to do so, I'll patch.
If I'm in a spot I don't like for whatever reason, I'll change.
If I'm in a spot I don't like for whatever reason, I'll change.
05-19-10, 07:55 AM
#14
Zen Master
Thus far, I can say that I've never had a flat while out on the road touring. Thank you Continental and Schwalbe. Good tubes, good tires, goodbye flats for the most part. If we had a flat then we'd most likely fix it in camp or at the night's hotel.
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05-19-10, 08:07 AM
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I actually love patching tubes...
sadly, after switching to Schwalbe tires three years ago, I haven't had a single flat. maybe I should go back to kendas or something.... nah.
sadly, after switching to Schwalbe tires three years ago, I haven't had a single flat. maybe I should go back to kendas or something.... nah.
05-19-10, 09:41 AM
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Can't recall ever patching, even in camp.
05-19-10, 03:23 PM
#17
Full Member
I always patch right away, but I have, on occasion, missed a second hole and had to stop for a second time. That sucks!
I've also run into problems because I tend to patch until the valve stem starts to tear out of the tube. That totally sucks!
So, I always carry a spare tube, but I make a game out of getting as many patches as possible. Weasel9 mentioned getting 8-15 patches before replacement.. Wow! I'm impressed! (Seriously... I think my all-time record was 8.)
I've also run into problems because I tend to patch until the valve stem starts to tear out of the tube. That totally sucks!
So, I always carry a spare tube, but I make a game out of getting as many patches as possible. Weasel9 mentioned getting 8-15 patches before replacement.. Wow! I'm impressed! (Seriously... I think my all-time record was 8.)
05-19-10, 08:32 PM
#18
Macro Geek
It's interesting to read that glueless patches do not work. I switched from the old-style patches about 12 years ago, have used glueless patches maybe five or six times, and had no problems.
05-19-10, 08:45 PM
#20
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I've never had a problem with the older style and will never use those stick on's again.
Besides it only takes an extra five minutes.
05-19-10, 09:16 PM
#21
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patch. new tube is my last resort. Patching a tube is taking a rest break and when touring I am never in a hurry to finish riding unless its raining then I get under cover and try to patch.
05-20-10, 04:13 AM
#22
bicycle tourist
I'll usually patch the tube on the road, since I want to make sure I understand the source of the leak and address it, e.g. a wire left in the tire. However, then at least half the time I'll swap the tube and wait to use the patched tube next time.
05-20-10, 07:40 AM
#23
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Change the tube, then patch the puncture when it's convenient. After two or three patches, I'll discard the tube. Usually start with two new reserve tubes on extended tours.
05-20-10, 08:32 AM
#24
Full Member
We change, then later that day at camp we patch.
I don't like patching much, even less so when it's raining (ever tried to patch in the pouring rain?).
I think our patches are with glue, however, that don't matter as we ALWAYS use 'glue' (or 'solutie' as it's called here).
We tend to take a roll of patchrubber, NOT the prefab ones, although that depends on availability.
I don't like patching much, even less so when it's raining (ever tried to patch in the pouring rain?).
I think our patches are with glue, however, that don't matter as we ALWAYS use 'glue' (or 'solutie' as it's called here).
We tend to take a roll of patchrubber, NOT the prefab ones, although that depends on availability.
Last edited by jurjan; 05-20-10 at 08:36 AM. Reason: forgot to answer glueless or not
