Dude, sweet wheels.

I imagine a lot of people always replace their tubes if they're out for a ride, cause it's just easier.

But many of them may haul the old tubes home and put 'em in a pile. Then they'll go back and patch them all on a rainy day...

it is pretty easy, but it's also a skill.

i have a 16.5 mile (one way) commute that takes me an hour. i don't particularly want to spend 15-20 minutes replacing/patching a tube, especially on the way to work (the later i get there, the later i end up having to work).

it's a skill to be able to change a tube or patch one quickly -- in say under 5 minutes. when you're hands are sweaty. when it's cold. when it's raining.

just like anything else. easy to do. doing it well makes it a skill.

......on a rainy day, over a glass of some cheap wine.... :).........that's my style...

what's with the homemade repair stand**********?.... :D :D

I actually want the construction details on that stand!:p

<<Sorry for reviving a dead post--- searched for glue drying up and found it>>

Nashbar resealeables

patch

I carry a spare tube, a couple square inches of an old tire in case of a slash, and a self-sticking patch kit. I find it's fastest to slap a patch on, since I can just lever the tire out still on the bike, swipe out the sharp stuff, stick on a patch, and reinflate. But the spare tube is nice to have around; if it's raining or something I may not be able to get a patch to stick.

When I get home, I put a REAL patch on (rubber, applied with rubber cement, clamped until set). I have tubes with 5 patches on them. The patch is stronger than the rest of the tube if done right.

If I ever get a tube that's got 10 patches on it, I might give it the honor of meeting a pair of scissors and becoming my next few dozen patches.

Glue does not "wear out" because when properly applied with rubber cement, the rubber is welded together. You can't even tear them apart regardless of the age of the patch; you'll rip the whole tube apart first (I've tried).

I think rubber cement is all the same and hasn't changed for 100+ years. I use the stuff from the office supply store, $1.50 for a can of Elmer's. I use it even to plug holes in my car tire, and have run tires plugged using that stuff for 10's of thousands of miles on my car.

I ride largely due to environmentalism, so I'm sure not going to throw out a tube because it's got a tiny hole in it.

?? Patching is easier. I use glueless patches on the road, and can have the patch on in about 5 minutes; the wheel doesn't have to come off the bike. I replace with a real patch after I get home.

Just bring two small tubes of glue..one open and the other still sealed. I always have glue left over after using up all of the patches in a patch kit, so even after using all the patches, I bring that glue with me along with the new patch kit, including the new sealed tube. Continue to use the old tube until its gone, but bring the new tube with you...that way you are always guaranteed fresh glue if you need it.