Tunnelrat81

As I mentioned above, tubes don't have to 'support' any pressure. They are simply required to be a sealed membrane. That's why the thinnest latex tubes can hold air. If the rest of the rim/tape/tire system is all doing it's job correctly, the tube simply provides the seal, nothing more. And likewise, if any of those other parts isn't doing it's job, the best brand new tube on the market isn't going to be able to keep it from failing. This is why tubeless tires work. Tires don't do well at sealing, so the tubeless specific tires have gummy sidewalls, and this combined with the sealed tubeless specific rims and added sealant, keeps the system's pressurized air inside. Think of a tube as a solid state sealant, as compared to dynamic (liquid) sealant in a tubeless system.

Short answer : Tubes are just a simple barrier, nothing more...which is why there's no reason not to repair them.

-Jeremy

squamish5

+1 they are a throw away item, more now than ever

mrflip69

LOL, most of you throw away guys probably don't have to deal with goatheads. I've had the unfortunate luck of having to patch my tubes at least 70% of my rides. I'm running GP4000s tires too, and am almost tempted to put on Mr Tuffy liners or get more robust tires, but since I've had good experiences patching, I'm sticking to that.

I don't do batch patching either, just as you go. I'll agree though, leave the patching to be done at home, as it's much quicker to just change out to a fresh tube during a ride. You can test your patch minutes after by replacing it in the wheel anyway, to see if it'll hold pressure. It's good to still carry a patch kit though, in case of multiple flats.

A couple minutes to spare even $5 is worth it to me, as the costs would add up in the long run, especially if you deal with flats quite often as I do. Think of it as money that could be better spent on other things, and if you do this while watching television or doing other mundane tasks, it's negligible.

Also, think of the customers who pay to have their flats fixed at an LBS. Easy money!

CALE262

I guess I've just been lucky to have nice roads to ride on...I haven't had a flat in a very long time. Thus being the case, when I do get a hole in a tube, it doesn't get used again.

bbattle

+1 I patch when I run out of tubes while riding. I also keep a boot in case the tire needs it but when I get home a new tire gets used. The old tubes I give to some hipsters so they can make macrame plant holders out of them.

dissident

I don't like clutter, and leaving tubes laying around for future patching constitutes clutter. I'd only do it if I flatted enough to make it worth my while, but I haven't even flatted this year.

hhnngg1

Ride more

Elduderino2412

i only patch if i already used my spare tube

noise boy

You bought the wrong kit, the Park tools patch kit comes with 8 patches and costs about $2

Aeolis

I'm going to start patching, seems worth it to me. Only one flat in the last 1000 miles but I'll give it a shot anyway.

pallen

The only tube I've had fail on the side of the road was a brand new one. When I added air, you could see a big cracked area open up. I had two tubes, I presume from the same batch with this problem. I just removed and threw away another new tube this week. It was mysteriously losing air. Couldn't find a hole or a leak at the valve, but every morning it would be down to <10-15psi. The front tire would still be at ~75. I replaced the tube and now it holds air fine.

A patched tube is a known good tube. I patch them at home and inflate them to see if the hold air for 24hrs before packing them into my bag.

When I throw them away depends on if I've run out of patches, or if I have a new one laying around. I know have a few tubes with 3-4 patches. I don't know what my record is. I don't really count them. With four riders in the family and a few of us having multiple bikes, it makes good economic sense, but I mainly do it because I hate to throw away something that's perfectly good with a simple fix. Ultimately, it doesnt really matter.

dissident

maybe if I lived in eastern WI or somewhere more interesting with less winds. As it stands I just don't feel like riding that much in the great plains. I'd rather jog. If I lived where I used to live I'd ride double to triple what I do now.

mihlbach

They make stores for that you know...https://www.containerstore.com/welcome.htm

Tunnelrat81

I'm sure I would patch anyway, but it's a good point that pallen made above regarding how many bikes are in the family to maintain, and it applies to me too. My wife and I both have our main road bikes and commuting bikes. I have a mtn. bike, and we're borrowing a tandem right now that we ride somewhat regularly and maintain too. It costs me enough just to upkeep the wear points of all the bikes, so anything that I can do myself to avoid additional costs, well it'd be silly not to.

-Jeremy

Cookiemonsta

Did not shop/look around. Bought one for 7,50 euros at the bike shop that came with tire levers. Bad deal. Tubes are 3 euros each.

Oh well.

David Bierbaum

I don't bother patching, since I'm lucky enough not to get too many flats on rides, and I have alternate uses for old innertubes, like wrapping for my lawnmower handlebar, tie-downs, padding between scratchable surfaces... the list goes on.

cyccommute 

You must live in the land of soft things. Here in the west...especially now during goathead harvest time...I can go through that many per mile. I have tubes that have 25 to 30 patches on them and have had as many as 60 punctures in one ride. At $4 per tube that's $240 for a new tube each time I have a puncture. I have better things to spend money on.

catonec 

I would have given up and walked, probably quicker then stopping that often. How may patches and tubes of glue do you carry w/ you on say a 50 mile ride?

JMR

The intermernet.

JMR