Originally Posted by
rekmeyata
Why is that?
In over 40 years I can't recall ever having a patch fail except with latex tubes which I rarely used. Like I said earlier I had one tube I rode on as my main tube that had 13 patches on it before I got another flat that was in an area next to another patch that would have made it difficult to patch. Every tube on any of my bikes I have now have at least one patch (except for the touring bike and the rear tires that have a flat liner, those haven't gotten a flat yet to be repaired) So I often wonder why some cyclists refuse to ride on a patched tube that when patched correctly are problem free.
Simple answer is because why would I? I always reserve the right to possibly patch a tube incorrectly, so my preference is to use a fresh tube heading out. Not that I throw out my patched tubes, but I'll soon be at a point that I wish there was a secondary market where I could sell my patched tubes.
OTOH.. I can see how a tube, fully covered in patches, is probably thicker and more flat resistant overall than an original tube made of only a single layer of thin butyl rubber.