rpeterson

Had a strange experience on a group ride this morning. One of the guys got a flat and forgot a tube (had c02 and tools, forgot the tube). I offered him one of mine and he was grateful until he saw that it had been patched. He started lecturing me on how patching tubes was bad and was actually angry that I would offer him one. Two other guys had tubes, but both had patches as well. He ended up calling his wife to give him a ride and we rode on.

Now I've got a dozen or so tubes in rotation between my 3 bikes and every single one has at least 1 patch, some have 3 or 4, and not one has had an issue; he was horrified when I told him this. I can understand not thinking it's worth your time or energy to patch tubes, but actively refusing to ride tubes with patches is a little strange in my mind. Just my not really interesting little anecdote of the day.

LesterOfPuppets

I usually don't like to patch while out and about but this guy is just nuts.

Maybe he had a patch failure that put him off patched tubes for life.

rpenmanparker 

That is a bit extreme. I have no aversion to using well-patched tubes, but don't like to commit my time to doing the patching. Good tubes on sale are pretty reasonable. But you have to expect to see every type of response possible if you wait long enough. I think you just met someone out at the 4th standard deviation from the mean regarding opinions about tube patching. Someone who doesn't think he would be better off using a patched tube to get home even if it failed halfway there! It will be a long time before that comes around again I would think.

popeye

He needs to replace the tire as well, it has a hole in it.

antmeeks

I would patch a tube to get home, but then in the trash it would go. I wouldn't continue to ride on it.

That said, the uppity rider that *forgot* to be prepared like man, then refused patched tubes from his friends, had the audacity to lecture them about it, THEN called his wife for sag, revealed himself to be nothing more than an emasculated d*bag.

WhyFi

He's an idiot.

LowCel 

Pretty sure that would be the last time I rode with that guy. I'm thinking he has been exposed to too much radiation.

antmeeks

fify.

WhyFi

Why? If it's patched properly, it probably has a lower chance of failure than a brand new tube.

David Broon 

<starvingjunior>

I patch my tubes until two patches end up overlapping.

</starvingjunior>

rpeterson

Funny story here, one day I get home from riding and notice a thorn in my tire, deflate the tire, pull the tube and notice it hit the patch dead center. I thought this was interesting. I swap the tube and go stick the old one under some water to check the hole: nothing. While the thorn was well through the tire the patch actually stopped it from penetrating the tube. I thought that was kinda neat. It's probably such an unlikely scenario that it'll probably never happen again though.

antmeeks

Because new tubes cost <$5 and I have a box of them.

Also, I think it depends on the type of patch... I carry the stick-on type, not the glue-on. Very fast & easy repair on the road, but not confidence inspiring long-term. Well, at least not for me.

Plus, think of all that extra rotating weight

mtn.cyclist

I routinely patch and re-use tubes. My spare tube is generally always a patch. I do sometimes replace the tubes I'm running with new ones. I dispose of tubes based on age rather than how many patches. I don't flat much so my tubes almost always die of old age.

coasting 

you should have called him a moron and taught him a lesson.

Psimet2001 

A lot of newer riders have bad experiences with patches. Either they tried to patch once on the side of the road and were lost, messed it up or had it fail on them. That or they were handed a patched tube that failed.

Reaction, like most reactions that are cycling related, was a bit over the top, but we all know that.

I ride with new tubes in my saddle bag.

If it was between riding a patched tube or calling my wife and going home....I'd ride with the patched tube and wouldn't thing 1 bad thing about it.

Honestly I don't get enough flats to worry about patching though...maybe 1 every year or two.

caloso

That guy is an idiot. Note that fact for the future and carry on.

rpeterson

I figure that yeah, a new tube is maybe 5 bucks, but a patch kit with 6 patches, 2 big ones I can cut in half or quarters, saves me 30-40 bucks in tubes and only costs 2 bucks. I just throw the bad ones in a box and every now and then pull them out while relaxing at night and patch them all, then tie them up and stick them in a box of spares.

rjones28 

+1

WhyFi

Ah - no experience with that type, so I don't know how they hold up.

350htrr

If it was me, the second he refused my tube offer I would have been on my way. You just can't help some people...

arbib

Priceless reply!!

antmeeks

There is absolutely nothing wrong with keeping & riding on patched tubes. Especially when trying to be fiscally conservative. I very much appreciate that.

rpeterson

I'm just bad at throwing things out, even my old worthless tubes have found uses tying stuff down in the garage.

antmeeks

^^^ LOL, I used to keep everything... then I met my wife.

Now, everything is consolidated, neat & organized... and I can't find a damn thing.

datlas 

Agree he is either ignorant or an idiot....or both.

A properly patched tube is just as good as a new one. Maybe better since new ones sometimes fail at the valve stem.

Can you give us his phone number so we can educate him??