Originally Posted by
Jeff_Caul
Replace. I carry a couple patches on rides for emergencies as well as a spare tube. I probably spent close to $150 on tubes and tires one year. Finally invested in a set of Gator Skins, haven't had a flat in 3 years.
I'd re-evaluate my methods in this case. I bought a couple of spare tubes two years ago, and there are five bikes in the household that get frequent use.
My last flat was my son's MTB - after patching it leaked (valve stem) so I replaced it. I'm not a fanatic. But it's generally not a failure in tubes that cause flats, so there's no reason beyond a minute or two to toss them.
The single most effective thing I've done to reduce the number of flats has been to simply replace the tires when I see casing.