Originally Posted by
spinnaker
The problem with this plan is that you need to know where the hole is. It makes it difficult to inspect the tire properly.
If it is obvious then it is easy. But if it is obvious then you probably need a tire boot too.
I can replace a tube in under 10 minutes. I don't consider that a lot of time.
Nah...the last several flats I've had were very obvious, and didn't require a new tire. Either the object was still in the tire (small piece of glass, piece of wire, something that looked like a piece of seashell), or the punture was obvious from the air leaking from it (heard it as soon as it happened and jumped off the bike quickly to locate it). Even a wet patch, if you don't take the wheel off, is faster than 10 minutes. But it's not just about speed either. If I replace tube I have to be much more careful to reseat the tire properly than if i just unseat a 10" section of tire and patch.
Bottom line - do whatever you're comfortable with that will get you rolling again fairly quickly. I like to patch, even if I have a spare tube -- so I can save the tube if I really need it.