I buy Bell patch kits at a local membership dept. store or elsewhere for less than $2. I carry that and two spare tubes. The tubes are for me and the patch kit is for other cyclists that flat that I'll stop to help or to patch my tube at my destination, work, etc. I've never had a glued on patch fail but my son sure has. Properly done they hold forever, improperly done it may not make it minutes or may last for a few days.

This a good idea. Silver seems like the right color for a black tube. I will pick one up. Thanks.

No. It means that just because I spent a lot on a bike doesn't mean I need to be wasteful by throwing out tubes that can be made completely serviceable by patching.

I know riders that have a three patch rule; after the third patch, they toss the tube. I don't think having ten patches on a tube really hurts it.

Just bustin' yer nuts :D...

Yeah, but 10 patches, you've got to be carrying 10g of extra weight around. That's probably what's keeping you from going pro.

This isn't hard. Patched tubes are a perfectly good, permanent fix. No need to worry about a patched tube on descent. That's just silly. I've had bad batches of new tubes that failed - the rubber just split. A patched tube is a proven good tube.

Patching is for when you get home. Buy any kit with the vulcanizing fluid, it wont dry out so fast if its in your climate controlled house. I would only carry a patch kit if I were on a multiday unsupported tour.

Not sure what you guys do to have your cement dry up - ive been using a park tool kit glue for 2 yrs and it still works fine. I have like 4 extra tubes of glue since i keep reusing that one. I cap it normally- hasnt dried out.

And yes, the patches with separate glue are awesome . Avoid preglued. Its trivially more work to glue anyway - adds 60 seconds of glue and dry time.

Patching makes sense financially too if you batch patch. I can batch patch 5 tubes in 15 mins easily. My tubes cost 7$ each. Thats $130 per hour post-tax, so id have to earn $180 ar my tax rate to reach equivalence. (divide by 4 for 15 minute financial return instead of per hour)

Its not as worth it to patch one - takes me 10 mins for obe but 15 mins for 5.

Patching a tube at home at my leisure is a meditative Zen like experience.

Plus I like the smell of the glue....

I've had bad luck using Slime Skab patch kits. Tire runs good for 20-30 miles then the tube goes flat again. I'm pretty sure I am applying them right. So I switched to a kit where you apply the glue, which is supposed to be more effective. Havent had to use it yet.

I've had some hit and misses with glueless patches. I've tried Lezyne, Park-Tools and some generic product with my LBS's name applied to it.

Generic Patch - Leaked immediately. Absolutely rubbish and will not be buying anymore no-name goods.

Lezyne - Good to get you home. Starts leaking soon after

Park Tools - As good as a permanent patch. Im running on tubes that are 3 years old with multiple Park Tool patches and have been using them in place of normal patches. The one time these patches failed was when I had a flat on a wet day and these failed to stick.