Originally Posted by
Daniel4
What do you carry with you?
On patch kits, the vulcanizing glue dries up so fast that once it has been used, you have a whole bunch of patches that can't be used because the tube is all dried up. Unless you buy a whole bunch of new tubes of vulcanizing glue.
You need to tighten the cap better and/or don’t roll the tube. I have tubes of fluid that have been open for years that are still good. A loose cap will let the solvent evaporate and a rolled glue tube can crack. If you are patching at home, you can get a can of fluid that is easier to use and seal so that you don’t have to depend on the glue in the patch kit.
I have a garage full of patched tubes but I don't have a lot of confidence taking them out as spares because too often I still hear leaks after patching them up.
Learn how to patch properly and get a better patch kit. Rema TipTop is the
only patch kit/patching system that is worth using. Unlike most other patch kits, it actually use chemistry to make new rubber bonds. Other patch kits use rubber cement which is only a contact adhesive.
Additionally, don’t reinflate the tube immediately after patching. The patch isn’t nearly as flexible as the tube and the adhesive (or vulcanizing fluid) will pull away from the patch when you inflate a freshly patched tube. Check the tire in a water bath before patching, mark
all the holes you can find, and then fix them.
If you know how to patch
and use Rema patches, you can ride a patched tube with confidence. I patch all the time and have tubes with multiple (up to 30) patches on them. I have no issues using them.