When is a tube worth patching/when should i trash it
 

I have no idea about these kinda things. I tend to just patch the tire once, beyond that I scrap it for a new one.

also, anyone have an idea if I can buy a big box of decent prestas for cheap somewhere online? it'd be nice to stock up

what is the difference between patching it once or ten times?

I am a cheap *******, I have patched the same tube 3 times in the last couple months, and I got a flat again today, I should stop being so cheap

When I read the thread subject, I thought you meant top tube pad for some reason, and I almost cried that such a thread would be made here.

I just trash em. Can't be arsed to patch. That, and I have something like twenty tubes stashed in my work area.

if the first patches are good adding more good patches wont make the tube worse

more patches means fewer potentially usable tubes in land fills

If the patching will be successful, it's just a matter of personal preference, time versus money.

If you're out in the rain with a flat, that would probably be an excellent time to go with the new tube option.

i patch tubes over and over again. all my spare tubes that i carry with me have been in rotation before and are patched.

if i'm riding a bike and living (relatively) green, i might as well go all the way.

I keep an old patched tube in my bag and use that when I catch a flat. That way I don't have to f*** around with rubber cement and s*** on the side of the road. When I get home, I patch the tube I flatted on and put it back in my bag. It's like the ouroboros of flat tires.

I do the same thing. At one point I was using a tube that had been patched 9 times and had been on four different bikes (one wasn't even mine).

Yea, I like to think my 3 spare tubes will last me forever since I don't see any limit to patching a tube. The only way I'll throw on another tube is if I'm running low on patches in my kit and want to conserve them. I'd save the busted one to fix later.

However, I used to have one or two tubes a year bust at the valve. I wasn't doing anything wrong as far as I could tell, but that just stopped.

It's not rubber cement. I'm not trying to make a point by correcting you. I'm just correcting you.

i'm a jerk, i don't patch any tubes but then again i RARELY get flats. knockin on wood.

I patch indefinitely, unless the hole is a really large one (ex, from skidding completely through a tire). Basically, I inflate the tube after patching (before it's in the tire, to check for leaks), and if the patch either develops a "tumor" or just blows the patch off altogether I trash it. Otherwise, $5 saved on a tube is $5 towards a new home (or another beer...)

i'll patch a tire if i'm out and replace it when i get home, but if i'm already at home and see a flat, i just replace it. i keep the old tubes around for a bit incase i need to patch one for an emergency spare.

patch everything, why the **** not? it's a lot cheaper and takes like, one minute.

so far, i just buy a new one, then I use the old tubes for other things around the house and for projects.

Vulcanizing glue, sorry.

anyone know where to get a big ass box of patches? I feel like a ****** paying $2.50 or whatever for a patch kit with only 8 patches. I always run out of patches before the glue is even close to done.

sometimes they get all weird sized when you patch them a lot. i think the ride is different.

i've had 3 flats in the last week, one of them yesterday, one today, but i buy the really cheap performance tubes, like $2-3 apiece. i have a pile of tubes that are just waiting to be patched as soon as i decide to buy a patch kit. i will probably buy one tomorrow.

I generally patch till the patches till a patch blows. Patching a patch is where I draw the line.

Patch it, and then make sure you put it back in the same position inside the tire (rather than flip-flopped). That way, the part of your tube that is now stronger and thicker because you patched it is underneath the hole in the tire. This can be helpful if something happens to poke through it again, or to work its way in there. At least that's what I tell myself.

I'm with you on the patching...one and done.

If you want cheap tubes, this is the cheapest I've found them, 10 for 20:

http://www.jensonusa.com/store/produ...alve+Tube.aspx

+1. Especially since my patching skill is mediocre at best. If one patch didn't do the job, screw it.

If the hole is small enough to be patched, I patch it. That one and done bull**** is crazy.