Flats- patch or replace?
 

Are patch kits quick fixes only, or can I expect a patched tube to last a while? I'm picking up a lot of glass shards, and I don't want to have to spend 10-20 bucks a week on new tubes!

Any thoughts?

Faux:

Get kevlar belted tires, or a kevlar type tire (specialized armadillo, nimbus etc.) as lauren suggested.

Patching tubes is personal preference. For many people patching tubes is a religion. I remember I was on a ride and a person got a flat tire and the tube had 16 patches on it..... I do a lot of solo rides 125 miles + and never patch tubes, unless I run out of spare tubes on a ride. I use fairly punture resistance tires. My commuting bike I have specialized nimbus and have not had a flat since I put the tires on my bike last December. The only time that I have not ridden the nimbus tires is when I have my nokian studded tires on the bike.

If you are going to patch tubes on a ride practice before you need to patch a tire.

I can't afford to throw tubes away each time they get a puncture.

I don't get a lot of punctures but I still patch. I've had a dozen or so patches on a tube in the past.

I always carry a spare tube and a patch kit when I ride. If I do get a puncture I just put the spare in. If I get two punctures, which is extremely rare, I can repair either tube and be on my way again.

patch

I carry two spare tubes and a patch kit. I replace the tube on a ride, and patch later at home.

I believe in patches! Tubes are inexpensive, but can add up fast. I'll also follow suit in recommending kevlar belted tires. It isn't perfect (something put a big cut in the unprotected sidewall of my rear tire on my recent tour), but I've found shards of glass embedded in the tread of my tire that stopped at the kevlar belt. Another thing to keep in mind is that kevlar doesn't do a thing to prevent pinch flats, so keep your pressure up and mind the road! On the same tour that put a slash in one of my tires, I managed to blow both tubes at once when I hit a nasty hole at speed.

Anyway, conventional wisdom is to carry at least one spare tube for a quick change on the road, but to patch the punctured tube later. Unfortunately, really big holes, like from a tire blow-out may not patch, forcing you to replace the tube.

Glue-less patches are temporary usually, although I've seen them last a while.

Glue-on patches are permanent solutions. In fact, done right, they make the tire stronger where it was patched, as the glue melts the rubber of the tire and the patch together.

I carry a spare tube, but, if I ever get a puncture, I patch it at home...

Wow, I thought I was cheap...errr...frugal.

I think the cement patches are great and have gotten many miles out of tubes with patches. I usually just change tubes when there are 3 or 4 patches. I almost always have a spare tube but try ot save it in case of major damage to one of the tubes that a patch won't fit, or I run out of patches (which has never happened).

ive had a tube with 18 patches on it, thats my record

I got 23 flats in 2004 over about 16,500 miles, changing tubes is silly when you can patch a pinhole in a few minutes, most of the time the tire/wheel doesnt even have to come off the bike, just enough tire to get a handful of tube where the leak is.So far in 2005 Ive only had one flat.......probably just jinxed myself with that !!

Patch. They seem to be just as strong as the original tube, maybe more.

i always replace. tubes cost me $4 at the LBS. Patch kits cost around the same, maybe slightly cheaper. Patching takes time, honestly not much, but when I'm in a hurry to get home the difference in cost between patch/tube is so small that I honestly don't care.

Since March I've used 3 tubes (and two were right at the beginning when I was using an incorrect tire pressure) for a total of $12 over 1000 miles on my bike. Honestly thats the cheapest thing I've encountered on the bike!

Patch kits may cost around $3, and I used to buy one after every flat anyway becuase the open glue tube might not last the month or two until I get another flat.

So I just replace. That way it saves me some time on the road.

I do carry a patch kit and spare tube in my pack just in case I get multiple flats. And I always offer help to those stuck on the side of the road.

16 patches is just getting started. The tube is hardly broken in by 16 patches. 25 or 30 is a good number of patches to aim for. After 30 patching just seems silly. :D

I have tubes with 15 patches on them, and they don't leak. I haven't had good luck with the glueless patches from park and others, put the conventional ones work just fine.

On the other hand, forget what I just said....send your punctured tubes to me for...uhhhh....safe disposal.

I'm pretty sure a glue tube will last 2 months. You are closing them, right?

dude obviously I'm closing them but honestly I don't want to chance it. I like to have a fresh glue bottle in the pack. For example I flatted out last week. The prior flat was in April. I'm pretty confident that the glue would have been shot. Anyway picking up a spare tube at the LBS is a great reason to hop over to the shop as well.

I live in an apartment in the city, and don't really have a place to patch up a tube when I get home. Wife doesn't like tubes and sweaty cyclists stinking up her kitchen with glue and rubber. And I don't like to patch on the road if I don't have to.

I know, I know, I was only kidding. :p

You could always do your patch your tubes in the shower like I do, while you prepare dinner. /KRAMER

LOL maybe I can create room after all for the kegerator in the new kitchen by moving the disposal into the shower!

I buy tubes in ten packs at Performance, making them about $2.00 a tube. I do not regularly get flats, and I do not trust a patched tire.

I've got a box full of tubes in my garage that I really, really, really intend to patch one of these days when I get around to it. Really!

Patch it until you can't patch no more!

Koffee

Customer: Do you patch tubes?
Me: No we just replace them.
Customer: But the tube is in good shape it just has a hole in it.
Me: I understand sir but if that patch leaks you'll be back and you won't be happy so we just replace them, its better that way.
Customer: Well how much is that?
Me: 10 bucks.
Customer: 10 bucks, can't you just patch it?
Me: Yeah sure 15 bucks.

I only patch if I have to, I prefer to go the new tube route. Granted they do not cost me that much but whatever. I also have kevlar beaded tires on my bikes so if I do get a flat it tends to be a pretty good size hole like a large nail or industrial type staple which I would not trust a patch with.

I stop patching when the tube is double the original weight... :D

I use the rubber cement you can get at stationery stores, the sort used for mounting photos.

You 'replace only' people are crazy! I thought bicycling was supposed to be better for the environment somehow... At your rates, you'll dispose of a car tire worth of rubber in less time than it takes to wear out a car tire.

And if you don't trust patches... Its because you aren't doing it right! I've got 4 patches on one of my tubes that I've been using for SEVEN YEARS. And it still holds air!

Some people carry a spare tube on the road, and if they flat, they just swap in the spare tube, and then take the time back at home to patch the tube right, which after a good testing run, turns it into another 'spare tube' for the road. That way you don't have to sit by the road for long, but you still don't waste a perfectly good tube.

peace,
sam