rekmeyata

For some reason the new polyurethane tubes patch best with stick on patches, and they will stick forever after a light sanding.

Butyl tubes changed their composition about 5 years ago according to Park Tools. Prior to the change I used Park self-sticking patches for over 20 years and they would last the life of the tube. not anymore, the composition change will not allow the self-stick patch to last more than a day or two. I went back to Rema, I don't like to wait for glue to dry but there is no choice.

I'm not racing, so I fix my flats on the side of the road and not replace the tube, then go home and fix it, it's a waste of time.

I don't fix flats the way you all do; I rarely have to remove the wheel from the bike! I first try to locate the offending hole in the tire, once that is found, which is at least 75% of the time, I then remove half of one side of the bead with hole in the middle of the half, then I pull out about a fourth of the tube with the hole in the middle, sand, glue, while the glue is drying, I check to see if there is anything inside the tire that I need to remove, then stuff the tube back into the tire, reseat it, and inflate.

By doing it the way I do it, I'm not spending time taking the wheel off, not spending time undoing the entire side of a tire, pulling the tube out, check for anything inside the tire, put another tube in, reseat the bead and inflate, then roll up the old tube while getting all the air out. Then I have to go home and take the tube out, find the hole, patch the tube, roll it back up and store it again. A huge waste of time in my opinion.

jgwilliams

I've used self-adhesive patches in an emergency out on the road, but I don't think they're as good as the glue on ones. Hopefully, now that both of my main rides are tubeless, that will be less of an issue.

Sy Reene

Maybe a bit more than single use, but not as depressing to find it all dried up and unusable with these smaller little 5g tubes. A 10-pack is about $20

Iride01 

Nice! However that $20.00 equates to the cost of about 4 or 5 inner tubes for me. And at the current rate that I flat, that would easily be 10 - 12 years or more before I ran out of inner tubes. Actually probably 16, because I have a couple used tubes that are from tires I wore out without flatting and figured new tire, new tube seemed to sound right.

Sy Reene

Yeah, but one of these little tubes might be enough to patch 4-5 tubes, if you're one to shelve your flatted tubes and then do patching sessions en masse. I'd guess also that being smaller tubes of vulcanizing fluid, they last a bit longer before drying out than bigger tubes, though I haven't put this to a test.

Rick_D

Hah! I've never seen the glue multipack but did get their hundred-pack of the patches. This is probably the only way to KNOW you have glue for the roadside patch job, given the things are essentially one-use.

I got an 8 oz can of Slime patch glue for home use, but it doesn't fit well in a pocket. :-)

rekmeyata

How many flats are you expecting? Do you own a bike shop? I doubt I've used 20 glue tubes since I started riding over 45 years ago! And yes, that's all I carry is the smaller tubes. Of course I am cheating a bit when for about 30 years I was using glueless! LOL!!! but still, I think I would probably use a new glue tube once every other year. From what I've read, an unopened glue tube has a shelf life of 1 to 2 years tops, I never had a unopened glue tube that long so I can't make a personal comment other than from what I read on the internet. Here is what I got from Google AI:

According to the web search results, the shelf life of Rema vulcanizing glue for tube patches is 1 year from date of manufacture if kept unopened at 64 to 84 F*1. However, some users have reported that the glue can dry out even if it has never been opened2. Therefore, it is advisable to check the glue before using it and replace it if it is hard or sticky. You can buy tubes of Rema vulcanizing glue online or from some bike shops

LV2TNDM

"Wet glue" patches. Because they actually work, thanks to chemical vulcanization. LET THE GLUE DRY!!!! The glue-ons are a waste of time IME.

Instead of buying a hundred tubes of glue that you'll use once (and waste the rest), put your glue tubes in an airtight container. The VOA sample bottle is a perfect option:



Yes, they're glass, so be careful. I actually found a spare chunk of aluminum tubing that fit PERFECTLY around one, so it's no longer prone to being broken in the shop.

Jax Rhapsody

I prefer the stick-ons because I'm kinda lazy and hate patching tubes. They're good enough with prep. It helps to run a lower pressure on a patched tube- took me way too long to have that epiphany.

rekmeyata

Back when tube composition was different than it is today I used Park glueless patches for about 30 years and never had one failed for the life of the tube, but about 5 years ago, according to Park because I asked them why their patches were failing after about 2 to 4 days, they changed the composition of tubes, and now the glueless patches will not hold, and I'm not one for dumping a tube because of a single flat, that to me is very wasteful, and a patch cost what? 30 cents? Since I'm not racing what do I care if I'm on the side of the road waiting a minute or two extra for the glue to dry vs a self stick patch! I'm hoping Park is working on a new adhesive for their glueless patches that will stick to the newer composition tubes, but we'll have to wait and see.

tcs

Turn the sound off unless you really enjoy profanity:

Paul_P

Before watching the video, I'd completely forgotten that we used to do this to patch motorcycle tubes when I was a mechanic 45 years ago.

soyabean

(Park Tools) sticker patches are made to get you home.

After that, if you don't want to swap for a new tube, you need to properly Rema it.

I personally don't ride with patched tubes simply because I am able to get rid of all my patched tubes in the bikes that I sell, and none of them have come back.

terrymorse 

Here's something I just learned the hard way. TPU patches need to be stuck down as soon as you have applied the glue to the tube, before the glue dries.

Unlike patching a traditional butyl tube, where you must wait for the glue to dry first.

Reading the instructions in the RideNow patch kit makes this difference clear, but who reads patch kit instructions? Not your humble servant.

rekmeyata

Now I'm confused. I've been told that you don't use glue on patches on TPU that they only accept stick on. Is this dependent on who made the patches?

terrymorse 

The RideNow TPU patch kit comes with a tube of liquid glue, labeled "rubber cement".

The patches appear to be exactly the same material the tubes are made of, right down to the markings.

chaadster

I just patched a RideNow 38g two weeks ago with Park self adhesive, doing nothing other than wiping the area with alcohol before applying patch. So far so good. I have Lezyne selfr-ahesive patched Aerothan tubes approaching 2 years without failure.

I have not used traditional cemented patches for over a decade, probably approaching two, as I’ve always had fine luck with self-adhesive, including on butyl. I have not had need to patch roadside since, well, I can’t remember, so I always do proper prep at home.

Insofar as I can tell from my experience, there are only downsides to using cemented patches, particularly in terms of time wasted and not having glue when you need it.

Self adhesive are always ready to go, and vastly superior (assuming one practices proper prep and application).

EDIT: I should add that the thin, supple Lezyne self adhesive are the best I’ve ever used, as I have had failures with Park. I just bought some Pax branded ones off Amazon thinking they might be like the Lezyne, but they are thicker and seem to be different material. I’ve not used yet, so no report on performance. Get Lezyne self-adhesive is my advice.

rekmeyata

I never in 30 or so years had a Park self adhesive patch fail either, until about 4 or so years ago, that's when Park told me tube manufactures changed their composition which did not allow their patches to stick for long periods of time any more. I may try the Lezyne, I much prefer glueless over glue on, it's faster, and you won't discover a dried glue tube when you need it.

RCMoeur 

Where are you sourcing the 5 g tubes for $2 each? I'd be interested, as I have tested and/or patched close to 50 tubes just this week for local nonprofits.

Sy Reene

I haven't bought these, but it's what came up on ebay when I searched
https://www.ebay.com/itm/385931013006

The other product shot, makes it appear that these really somewhere are packaged in mini cartons of maybe 50? No idea if you can buy them retail though.

JoeyBike

I've been enjoying self-sticking patches for about 20 years now. I have never had one fail. Furthermore, the little tube of glue won't dry out before the second patch because.....there is NO glue tube. Also the box of patches is TINY in my seat bag.

I would be more concerned with self sticking patches on high pressure road bike tires but I don't own road bikes anymore. 50 psi is my max these days.

As others have said here, glue on patches will last forever. It's NOT GLUE anyway. It's a welding chemical that makes the tube and the patch as one (if you do it right). The patch can NOT come off. That said, my no-glue patches have lasted the life of my tires.

Get the surface of the tube prepped properly and you are golden either way. Just don't stick a glue-on patch onto the "glue" until it is completely "dry". Remember...it's not glue.

striker65

When I did a search I was directed here.

soyabean

Glue tubes drying out?

Those days are gone as I use a hot gun gun to seal glue tubes air tight AND put in a glass jar AND refridgerated.

Cheapie glue sticks are not sticky and can be peeled off easily.

chaadster