Originally Posted by
lastostrogoth
I never patch a tube on the road if I can help it, so I always have a bunch of tubes at home and carry two extras on a ride. I rarely buy new tubes, though I generally replace my tires every year to 18 months. I have found some damage to a tube to be very hard fix. Then and only then do I retire it and buy a new one.
I do it backwards from most people, I always attempt to patch the tube on the road and save the backup tube for when the tube can't be repaired. I can usually find a leak, patch it, and be riding just as fast, if not faster, as someone who replaces the tube anyways, so why bother replacing the tube is my thought. In addition to that I save time at the end of the ride because I don't have to find a leak and fix a hole when I get home.