Originally Posted by
CliffordK
It is quicker to swap the tube, and then one doesn't have to worry about cold, rain, etc. Also, tire manufacturers like to put lots of little ribs in the tubes, making patching more difficult (although, I can usually get a patch to work.
I have pulled a valve clean out of a tube once. Not much patching that, although if I didn't have a spare, I would have tried.
All these things that intefere with successful patching a leak, is why I carry an extra tube. I prefere not to change a tube when I can patch it. To each his own.