Hey all,

I've had my new road bike for about three months now, and just got a third flat tire over the weekend -- all have been on the back. I ride mostly to/from work, on pretty poor roads, with a lot of debris (gravel, glass) and thru construction sites. Often in the dark.
Anyhow, the point being -- this third flat is apparently the result of my poor patch job on the second flat, because there are no new punctures that I can find, and the patch has bubbled up and audibly leaks air when the tube is filled. I removed the patch to attempt a new one, but the remaining glue is not easily sandpapered off -- it seems I am actually digging up chunks of the tube as I am trying to remove the glue.

So... at this point, should I just ditch this tube and go with a new one? I would like to learn how to repair a tube correctly rather than just buying a new tube each time I get a flat, especially at this rate... but, I don't want to keep trying to patch and end up getting another flat if it's a lost cause...

Thanks for your help...

yeah. sometimes patching a tube is just not worth the trouble. I normally just replace the whole tube.

Tubes cost about five bucks. If you are spending more than 10 minutes trying to patch one, you're wasting money. Performance had tubes on sale for 2 for five bucks last time I was in there. Stock up on several of the size you need. When you get a flat, find out what punctured it and remove that, then put in a new tube. Put your old tube aside until you have a chance to patch it. Once properly patched (and that's a 3 minute job if you know how to do it), they're as good as new.

I ride patched tubes all the time. I don't go with the use-it-once-and-toss-it-out school of flat tire repair. I've never had a patch let go (um... I probably jinxed myself by typing that) but if I did, I would put a new tube in - I am not a zealot about this, just a little stingy.

I always like to carry a new spare and a patched spare, I never trust a patch to get me home.

You should have tried to wet the glue with a lighter fluid, gasoline, or another solvent, and rub the glue off. Even without a remnant glue, I wipe the area to be glued with a lighter fluid. Otherwise, putting on a patch is the issue of adhering to instructions: resist putting a patch too early and don't forget that you're patching and let the glue dry out. Keep a reserve of different patch sizes to apply one adequate for the size of a hole.

Personally, I don't feel like tossing a tube that could still work for years, even if it is cheap.

I'm in the toss-it camp.

I don't patch tubes on the road. Swape it with a spare tube and patch at home or work. I let the glue dry at least 12 hours and press the patch into the tube for that time using some sort of weight on the patch (dumbells or phone books).

I have used tubes with around 10 patches on them.

Icarry a spare tube with me and use it when I get a falt. I then patch the leak when I get home. You must sand the area where you are patching to remove any release agent used in the tube manufacture. Pinch flats can be avoided by inflating the tires every day before you ride. This is no problem if you have a floor pump with built in pressure guage. Armadillo tires are bomb proof but are very heavy and dont ride nicely. I use light kevlar belted tires with a Mr Tuffy strip - the total about 1/2 the weight of the Armadillos and easier pedalling.

There's the patchers and the tossers, I'm a patcher but have been known to toss from time to time

Learn to patch, it's just a matter of practice. Then at least you'll have the option if you ever run out of spare tubes. I had 5 puctures but only 2 spare tubes on a solo double century ride, my options were to patch or walk.

Putting the patching or not aside, you should look at the tire quality, already mentioned by AndrewP. New bikes, more often than not, come with marginal tires. The tires make a lot of difference. With the current I ride, I have one puncture per 3 years. With the poorest I rode, I had one puncture per 10 days. My common route also has plenty of debris.

Wow - I admire your worksmanship. I just scuff 'er up, put the glue on and wait til it gets tacky, then slap a patch on and hold it there for a minute, put the flippin' thing back in the tire, mount it and pump it up. I always figured the tire pressure will hold the patch to the tube . Well, it's worked for me so far. I'll run some tests and see if your method seems better. I am sure your method is more reliable, but mine awfully quick.

i have had as many as 10 patches on a tube at one time with no probs...
sometimes having as many as 4 punctures in one day. i seem to have trouble with those "glueless" patches they seem to separate around the edges in a couple of months.
it seems for me i get the best use out of regular glue patches & carry 2 tubes.
i had 5 of those peel'n'stick patches on a tube before & after a while they seemed to compound air seeping problems.
occasionally i use those when i get home i remove it & put a gluepatch on.

Toss it.

I buy tubes El Cheap-O from eBay!

Continental Tubes is all I use!

I never patch, always replace tubes.

+1

I've always found patching a tube on the road to be a real pain. Also, the tube of glue in my patch kit always seems to dry up before I get to use it. Time is money. I with the "toss it" camp. It is better to throw in a new tube and finish the ride.

I generally replace the tube on the road, but patch it and put it back in the bag when I get home. I can do a cleaner job of patching at home, plus I'm more likely to let the cement dry properly before applying the patch; on the road I put the cement on and get impatient and put the patch over it too soon.
I'm too environmentalist to just throw the tube away. The tube in my rear tire right now has 5 patches on it and no problems. I don't think I've ever had a patch leak.

I usually will put up to 5 patches on the tube, (does depend on the puncture though) but after that I will replace the tube.

I never replace tubes unless they blow or age crack. An environmental thing with me.
Also, if you replace a tube on the road you are usually wasting time because you
have to pull the wheel.
99% of the time you can patch a tube quicker than changing it because there is
no need to pull the wheel when you patch.

I have run patched tubes and replaced them. I have had patched tubes fail on me, (shotty work because I was in a hurry). I now always carry a spare tube with me, take the punctured tube home and just patch it there in the comfort of my own home. That way, you aren't wasting the tube but you are not trying to patch the tube out in the cold or rain.

the bike store where I bought my gear recommended the "glueless" patches to me, so that's what I've used (they actually *do* have glue, just already applied to them)....of course, they never mentioned this to me:
"Tip: A glueless patch doesn't become a permanent part of the tube the way glued patches do. So glueless ones work best as temporary repairs. It'll get you home, but you may find that the tube slowly leaks air. No problem. Simply replace it with a new tube before your next ride."

So maybe that's part of the issue. ; )


anyhow, it sounds like the best idea for me is to always carry a spare, and hold on to punctured tubes to patch in the comfort of my own home (with some regular glue & patches) -- I don't like the idea of throwing something away if I can reuse it.

Thanks much for all of the responses...!

Workmanship or obsessiveness, whatever. I'm with Joe Dogg's far simpler and just as effective method. It's worked for me for over 50 years of patching (with glue) and I've never had a patch fail. Just don't try to apply patches at temperatures where the glue freezes before drying (as well as your hands.)

I always patch, but in the wet and the cold I'll swap the tube for my spare and patch in the comfort of a dry warm place. I don't believe you can properly apply a patch if the tube is wet. I've had none of the glueless patches I've applied last more than a couple of months, so I only use glued patches now.
In the case of the OP, I'd replace the tube as getting the old glue off is not worth the effort.

I always carry a new tube on my commuter. It's faster to just change the tube than find the puncture and patch it. I fix the punctured tubes when I get home and use them on my shopper. Since I don't take it as far from home, if the patch fails, I don't have to walk very far.

Also, every patch I've ever applied, while on the road has come loose.
Just like some have mentioned, the glue tends to hold better if it has a chance to "cure" overnight.

I always patch first if possible.

Usually after the tube gets about 10 patches I will consider a tube's life complete.

I've found that when patching, a few minutes patience is worth it. When I use the proper amount of glue and give it a few minutes to become tacky, the patches almost always work.