Patches too big??
 

I ran out of patches, so I got a patch kit at my LBS (like I've done many times before).

When I tried to put glue on the tube, I couldn't get the area of glue big enough for the patch. Weird....
These are 700x18/23 tubes and the patches are about nickel-sized. if I press the tube on a flat surface, the round patch will still hang over the edges of the tube (i.e., it's diameter is wider than the width of the tube).

I've never noticed this before. I suppose I could just put glue all over the tube and roll/bend the patch to make contact, but this seems sketchy. What am I doing wrong? Should I cut the patches before applying them?

On a related note, how much sanding does it take to remove the raised seam on the tube? Lots of threads say to sand this seam flat to keep air from escaping, but damn if I can't do this with the sandpaper in my patch kit.

Thanks,

Dan

Yeah, it bugs me too. I have to sand and spread the vulcanizing fluid on a much bigger area than I anticipate otherwise it won't be enough for the patch. It takes quite a bit of sanding to remove the seam. I actually do my patching in quantity and use my Dremel to do the sanding. Trying to sand away the seam by hand would take a very long time.

Pump up the tube to expand it to the size it would be inside the tyre. Then wrap the patch around. I usually smash it between two blocks of wood in a vise for 30-minutes just to ensure the surfaces stick. Sometimes when you put too much glue on and it doesn't dry properly; it leaves a film that doesn't stick very well, the pressure squeezes the excess out.

They make patches in different sizes. Some kits come with larger patches while some come with tiny ones for road bike tubes. You probably got a "touring" kit or something similar, designed for larger tubes. Go back to LBS and get smaller patches.

Most patches are 25mm, which are hard to use an skinny tubes. Ask your bike shop for 20mm patches.

I cut 'em up -- works fine

It's not important. If you sand the tube and put the glue on right it will stay on forever. You can do this on the road, absolutely no need to squash patches for 30 min. If you want to save patches you can cut some of the big ones in half with scissors. But there is no reason the change what your doing there are no problems. Don't worry about sanding the seam flat just get the surface sanded well. Forget sanding the seam down. You're not having a problem there is nothing to do except go ride. :)

just like 531Aussie stated, i cut the patches in 1/2 or even 1/3, still keeping full size for that major puncture. try to invest in kevlar lined tires = for me, the glue dries out in the patch kits (flats have been greatly reduced) before use of patches!

You guys actually patch tubes? I gave that up a long time ago. I just toss the tube in put in a new one.

Where do you find 20mm patches? My lbs only carries the Rema TT02 Touring patches and they're always too big. Anyone have a link to smaller patches online?

Ask your shop to order some Rema TT04 Sport patch kits.

Ditto.

@ $10 a tube you might too. :)

Actually, even here in Not-Oz where tubes cost $3-4 ($US), I always patch.

1. $0.20 (patch price) beats $3 every time. Heck, it'd beat $1.
2. I don't like filling up landfills w/ something that can be reused.

Dan