View Poll Results: When do you toss a tube?
After one patch - every gram matters!
42
21.88%
After two - they just start to look funny.
25
13.02%
After three - you have to draw the line somewhere.
28
14.58%
As soon as a patch has to overlap another patch.
55
28.65%
Never! My patches have patches!
42
21.88%
Voters: 192. You may not vote on this poll
How many patches before you toss your tubes?
#126
Senior Member
Screw you...everyone here is wrong and the mods are idiots and should be fired from their multi million dollar positions
I don't see a need to patch tubes, every time I do even the times where I take my time and am beyond meticulous (with different glues and patches) and they tend to fail . Maybe if I started using tub glue and slices of old tubes it might hold better but honestly I am not in such dire straights that even an $8 tube once and a while will kill me financially. I mean the concept is fine and I carry patches just in case I can get lucky but I would rather just swap the tube it is more work to patch than to replace.
I don't see a need to patch tubes, every time I do even the times where I take my time and am beyond meticulous (with different glues and patches) and they tend to fail . Maybe if I started using tub glue and slices of old tubes it might hold better but honestly I am not in such dire straights that even an $8 tube once and a while will kill me financially. I mean the concept is fine and I carry patches just in case I can get lucky but I would rather just swap the tube it is more work to patch than to replace.
dont know what you're doing with your patching techniques, I have probably ten year old patches working fine. Just following the straightforward steps of light sanding the same area space as patch, putting on glue that covers a bit more than patch size and letting dry completely in 5 mins or less, then pushing patch firmly on, rolling out any air and holding tightly for a few mins , and thats it.
#127
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Screw you...everyone here is wrong and the mods are idiots and should be fired from their multi million dollar positions
I don't see a need to patch tubes, every time I do even the times where I take my time and am beyond meticulous (with different glues and patches) and they tend to fail . Maybe if I started using tub glue and slices of old tubes it might hold better but honestly I am not in such dire straights that even an $8 tube once and a while will kill me financially. I mean the concept is fine and I carry patches just in case I can get lucky but I would rather just swap the tube it is more work to patch than to replace.
I don't see a need to patch tubes, every time I do even the times where I take my time and am beyond meticulous (with different glues and patches) and they tend to fail . Maybe if I started using tub glue and slices of old tubes it might hold better but honestly I am not in such dire straights that even an $8 tube once and a while will kill me financially. I mean the concept is fine and I carry patches just in case I can get lucky but I would rather just swap the tube it is more work to patch than to replace.
#128
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Screw you...everyone here is wrong and the mods are idiots and should be fired from their multi million dollar positions
I don't see a need to patch tubes, every time I do even the times where I take my time and am beyond meticulous (with different glues and patches) and they tend to fail . Maybe if I started using tub glue and slices of old tubes it might hold better but honestly I am not in such dire straights that even an $8 tube once and a while will kill me financially. I mean the concept is fine and I carry patches just in case I can get lucky but I would rather just swap the tube it is more work to patch than to replace.
I don't see a need to patch tubes, every time I do even the times where I take my time and am beyond meticulous (with different glues and patches) and they tend to fail . Maybe if I started using tub glue and slices of old tubes it might hold better but honestly I am not in such dire straights that even an $8 tube once and a while will kill me financially. I mean the concept is fine and I carry patches just in case I can get lucky but I would rather just swap the tube it is more work to patch than to replace.
In the current market, patching is about the only way to go. New tubes are getting extremely rare in stores. Even the wholesalers are out of tubes, especially in 26” sizes. Even patch kits are difficult to find.
However, even without shortages, $8 is a bunch to spring on a flat. I have tubes that have as many as 25 patches on them. At $8 a pop, that $200...and I have multiple tubes with nearly that many holes. I have boxes of 100 Rema patches (two sizes) that cost me about $30. Glue costs me about $10 for that many patches, so $40 all in. 200 tubes at $8 each would cost me $1600. That’s a whole bike.
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Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
#129
just another gosling
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(Scratches head) Using the ubiquitous REMA patchkits purchased this millennia, I have a close to 100% success doing nothing very rigorously. I do try to keep greasy hands away from the repair area and do a reasonable sanding job. Two coats of glue letting dry probably not enough time. I don't remove the clear plastic figuring it protects the patch from sticking to the tire. (Most of my failures are clearly because I rushed the drying.)
If one does a lot of riding, consumables do become an noticeable expense - brake pads, tubes, tires, lube, etc. Patches and glue are not a noticeable expense.
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#130
Clark W. Griswold
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Vegan, you were too fast, I was going to insult CF also.
dont know what you're doing with your patching techniques, I have probably ten year old patches working fine. Just following the straightforward steps of light sanding the same area space as patch, putting on glue that covers a bit more than patch size and letting dry completely in 5 mins or less, then pushing patch firmly on, rolling out any air and holding tightly for a few mins , and thats it.
dont know what you're doing with your patching techniques, I have probably ten year old patches working fine. Just following the straightforward steps of light sanding the same area space as patch, putting on glue that covers a bit more than patch size and letting dry completely in 5 mins or less, then pushing patch firmly on, rolling out any air and holding tightly for a few mins , and thats it.
(Scratches head) Using the ubiquitous REMA patchkits purchased this millennia, I have a close to 100% success doing nothing very rigorously. I do try to keep greasy hands away from the repair area and do a reasonable sanding job. Two coats of glue letting dry probably not enough time. I don't remove the clear plastic figuring it protects the patch from sticking to the tire. (Most of my failures are clearly because I rushed the drying.)
There’s your problem. Don’t use “different glues and patches”. Use Rema...glue and patches...and nothing else. Rema has chemistry on its side since it isn’t just “glue” but actually uses chemistry to form rubber bonds. Everything else is the equivalent of rubber cement and old tubes. And works about as well.
In the current market, patching is about the only way to go. New tubes are getting extremely rare in stores. Even the wholesalers are out of tubes, especially in 26” sizes. Even patch kits are difficult to find.
However, even without shortages, $8 is a bunch to spring on a flat. I have tubes that have as many as 25 patches on them. At $8 a pop, that $200...and I have multiple tubes with nearly that many holes. I have boxes of 100 Rema patches (two sizes) that cost me about $30. Glue costs me about $10 for that many patches, so $40 all in. 200 tubes at $8 each would cost me $1600. That’s a whole bike.
In the current market, patching is about the only way to go. New tubes are getting extremely rare in stores. Even the wholesalers are out of tubes, especially in 26” sizes. Even patch kits are difficult to find.
However, even without shortages, $8 is a bunch to spring on a flat. I have tubes that have as many as 25 patches on them. At $8 a pop, that $200...and I have multiple tubes with nearly that many holes. I have boxes of 100 Rema patches (two sizes) that cost me about $30. Glue costs me about $10 for that many patches, so $40 all in. 200 tubes at $8 each would cost me $1600. That’s a whole bike.
I guess I don't have Cyco's unlucky tube streak.
#131
Senior Member
you cant rush the drying, it has to be dry
maybe you are putting waaaay too much glue on, and it takes forever to dry
its a pretty straightforward procedure, and no need to say that maybe youre not a patcher, just get the steps right. Once you get it right, its a skill like any other that you'll remember for the rest of your life
maybe you are putting waaaay too much glue on, and it takes forever to dry
its a pretty straightforward procedure, and no need to say that maybe youre not a patcher, just get the steps right. Once you get it right, its a skill like any other that you'll remember for the rest of your life
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#132
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If you want as many patches per tube, you just need to live where the goatheads grow. You get good at it with all the practice.
You can’t let it dry too long. I’ve forgotten about tubes in the middle of a patch job and have gone weeks before I applied the patch. It still worked.
you cant rush the drying, it has to be dry
maybe you are putting waaaay too much glue on, and it takes forever to dry
its a pretty straightforward procedure, and no need to say that maybe youre not a patcher, just get the steps right. Once you get it right, its a skill like any other that you'll remember for the rest of your life
maybe you are putting waaaay too much glue on, and it takes forever to dry
its a pretty straightforward procedure, and no need to say that maybe youre not a patcher, just get the steps right. Once you get it right, its a skill like any other that you'll remember for the rest of your life
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Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
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Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
#133
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Tooooooobless
(runs away)
(runs away)
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#135
Senior Member
interesting to know, I've never really thought about it, but good to bring up simply to reinforce the idea and concept to people the importance of letting the glue dry so as to allow for a proper bonding (counter intuitive to all of our life experience with glue)
#136
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The lack of tubes doesn’t make tubeless less prone to punctures. The sealant in the tubeless tire does that job. I could put the same sealant in the tube...without all the attendant hassles of doing tubeless...but I’m not a fan of sealant in general.
Additionally, I have 8 bikes. If I did tubeless for all of them, I spend all my time dealing with the maintenance of 16 tubeless tires every 3 to 6 months. No thanks.
Additionally, I have 8 bikes. If I did tubeless for all of them, I spend all my time dealing with the maintenance of 16 tubeless tires every 3 to 6 months. No thanks.
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Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
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Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
#137
Full Member
However, even without shortages, $8 is a bunch to spring on a flat. I have tubes that have as many as 25 patches on them. At $8 a pop, that $200...and I have multiple tubes with nearly that many holes. I have boxes of 100 Rema patches (two sizes) that cost me about $30. Glue costs me about $10 for that many patches, so $40 all in. 200 tubes at $8 each would cost me $1600. That’s a whole bike.
I still think toobless is the way to go. I find it's more of an annual maintenance task, and has to be way easier than patching 300 flats. Are goatheads the culprit?
#138
Clark W. Griswold
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If you want as many patches per tube, you just need to live where the goatheads grow. You get good at it with all the practice.
You can’t let it dry too long. I’ve forgotten about tubes in the middle of a patch job and have gone weeks before I applied the patch. It still worked.
You can’t let it dry too long. I’ve forgotten about tubes in the middle of a patch job and have gone weeks before I applied the patch. It still worked.
Maybe I will let it dry more, next time.
#139
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I still think toobless is the way to go. I find it's more of an annual maintenance task, and has to be way easier than patching 300 flats. Are goatheads the culprit?
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Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
#140
Senior Member
I always patch if possible. If I'm in a hurry (going to work, for example) I replace the tube and patch later at home.
I've had tubes with 6 or 7 patches, but by that point they mostly end up with irrepairable damage some way or another. Mountain bike tubes tend to last me a lot more than road bike ones. It's the only component in my mountain bike that regularly exceeds the life of the road bike equivalent.
Tubes may be cheap, but patching has 2 advantages:
1. Is enviromentally friendlier.
2. It lets me keep my spare tube in case the one I'm running gets some unpatchable damage. I like being able to ride home.
I've had tubes with 6 or 7 patches, but by that point they mostly end up with irrepairable damage some way or another. Mountain bike tubes tend to last me a lot more than road bike ones. It's the only component in my mountain bike that regularly exceeds the life of the road bike equivalent.
Tubes may be cheap, but patching has 2 advantages:
1. Is enviromentally friendlier.
2. It lets me keep my spare tube in case the one I'm running gets some unpatchable damage. I like being able to ride home.
#142
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In Covid times I’m a patcher.
my bikes and my kids.
About %50 of the tubes I was able to score back in June have failed at the valve.
I must have bought a bunch of no quality control Friday afternoon tubes. Now my tubes are getting patches when possible. My daughter’s bike is her only form of transportation. And since she is now on the other side of the continent, she now has a set of tannus equipped wheels. She actually prefers the ride over gatorskins on the city streets.
my bikes and my kids.
About %50 of the tubes I was able to score back in June have failed at the valve.
I must have bought a bunch of no quality control Friday afternoon tubes. Now my tubes are getting patches when possible. My daughter’s bike is her only form of transportation. And since she is now on the other side of the continent, she now has a set of tannus equipped wheels. She actually prefers the ride over gatorskins on the city streets.
#143
Senior Member
I beg to differ, and many other people do also. Glueless patches have a reputation not to last very long, certainly not worth the hassle down the road of having to deal with a slow leak or simply taking a tube out again, compared to just doing an easy regular patch job at home that will last for years and years, having put in your good spare tube on the road after getting a flat.
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#144
Junior Member
Yeah I have done basically all of that. I use Rema glue actually. I for a while tried different stuff to see what might work best. I always heard excellent things about Rema so I have largely stuck with that. Maybe I rushed the drying but I had a tube that I didn't use for a couple days to allow things to bond and still no luck. Maybe I should try again sometime next time I have a flat. I tried on that last one to be really methodical and careful with no rushing. Maybe I am just not a patcher. Ho hum not a big deal.
I guess I don't have Cyco's unlucky tube streak.
I guess I don't have Cyco's unlucky tube streak.
#145
Senior Member
I bought a bulk quantity of Rema glue and patches so I would never have to look for a tube of glue again that wasn’t dried out. I patch my tubes as long as I can. A valve problem or a hole too close to the valve makes me throw them out, or sometimes if I screw up a patch.
the best way to not get flats though is to buy tubes in bulk. You’ll never get another flat if you have 5 brand new tubes in boxes.
the best way to not get flats though is to buy tubes in bulk. You’ll never get another flat if you have 5 brand new tubes in boxes.