Retired my tube today
 

Sucker had 8 patches on it. I think the rubber finally just rotted away. Couldn't patch the final gash last night.

::tear:: :cry:
Farewell, old friend.

How long do you guys tend to hold onto tubes before giving up and replacing?
Also, I need some clever ideas for things to do with the old tube.
Anybody care to share some neat DIY hacks?

On a related note, when did tubes get so freakin expensive??? 8 bucks for a 700c tube???

What's a patch?

Depending on why I'm flatting I'll go 3 or 4 patches -- depends, too, on the tire width!

I use old tubes for "rubber band" in different applications. I don't try and sleeve a flat if the tire splits.

I patch until I can't patch no more </popeye>

I tossed one with 7 patches last fall when the new puncture was right on the edge of a previous patch, and I couldn't get a new patch to stick there.

FWIW, I use patches from Harbor Freight, along with rubber cement from an office supply type jar.
http://www.harborfreight.com/inner-t...kit-47614.html

$2.79 for 20 patches plus some larger patches and some glue. I use the office supply jar because it doesn't dry up after being opened like little tubes do.

I ride so fast, the patches throw off the whole balance of my wheel. ;)

For my last two flats, the opening was where the Presta stem met the tube. No good way to patch that. Those were the factory tubes. I haven't had this problem with the aftermarket tubes.

For punctures, I'd probably go 2 or 3 before replacing it.

On the other hand, remember that the tube is double-thick at the patch locations, so they actually become more durable.

Harbor freight for patches. Intriguing. That place has everything.
I'll check out that link when I get home - for some reason the web filter is blocking it at work...

I've used old tubes as a chainstay protector before - also to enlarge the rear stays of my rack enough to put a red seatpost reflector on either side. Fredalicious.

On road bikes I like fresh tubes. On one MTB tube I had ten patches before the valve stem broke off. I use old tubes as crush spacers to secure the Krauser sidebags to the rack on my BMW R60/6. I also used tube butyl as washer material on the three lug nuts that hold the spare wheel to the rear door of my RAV4 to cure an annoying rattle caused by oversize tires.

Eight patches? That would take me over eight years given my average of one flat per year.

Yeah, thin road tubes are difficult to patch and the patch creates a bulge.

pics?

Patched tubes become emergency spares, when possible I always replace with new. I don't know why but prefer the piece of mind of knowing it's new. Whether that has any merit or not is debatable, but that's how I roll.

8 patches on one tube is beyond my level of comprehension.

If you're into being cheap, and don't mind a certain aesthetic, you can use tubes for bar wrap. I have this on the uppers of the trekking bar on my winter commuter and on the drop bar of my beater '70s Raleigh. It's not super cushiony but I kind of like it. I did the trekking bar first, intending for it to be temporary, but I haven't found a good reason to replace it yet.

Oh yeah, and you can keep a piece of tube in your seatbag for securing front wheel to downtube when locking up your bike -- keeps it from rolling/tipping.

Same here. Usually it's one of a bad patch that won't stay on or come off cleanly; a hole too close to a previous patch to get a new patch to stick; a bad seam; or worst cast, a hole that's too big to patch.

Many of my tubes have 3-4 patches on them, and I've bought enough tubes over the years that I'll collect a bunch that need patching, and do them all on a rainy weekend.