Originally Posted by
prj71
Most of us paid $2k - $5k for our bikes. A $5-$10 tube is small potatoes in the big picture.
I'd rather have a new tube vs. a compromised one and go through the hassle that OP went through.
Who is this "us"? My bikes are more like $200-500. I do tend to build them from good used parts, and they are all probably over 30 years old ... I do use tubes with multiple patches, fixing stuff is part of the hobby AFAIC. OTOH I wouldn't patch tubes for a customer because it's not economically viable if he's paying for my time at workshop rates, but I have patched tubes at the co-op I used to work at.