phtomita

Last year, I though was my bad year with 9 flats - don't recall each one, but I remember one was a pinch flat, couple of tire wire, thorn? and some because glass or small rock into the cuts on the tire - GP4SII or GP5s.
This year, just one month I got 3 already
Luckily, two of them were at the garage, result of thorn in the tire on a ride the day before. The other one was a tiny glass on a small cut on the road.

Does anyone patch the small cuts with rubber cement or some other thing?
Any good result to reduce flats?

Thanks

datlas 

Sounds like you are a good candidate for tubeless with sealant.

Mtracer

I run tubeless GP5000's and after about 1 year (5,400 miles), zero flats. Though many self sealing punctures, mostly from goat heads. So, if you aren't running tubeless, I would do that.

If you still want to run tubes, then I'd look at tire liners. They add significant weight, but are another layer of protection.

I think I tried Shoe-Goo or something like that just to try to fill a cut. As I recall it didn't work well. I also think anything you try for that purposes is at best cosmetic. And even then, likely to look worse than a little cut.

SwtBadger

I wouldn't expect this to be an issue with an experienced rider/bf member, but lowering tire pressure, not riding in the "roadside rubble" might be considered along with avoiding some road conditions. Otherwise, tubeless certainly worth considering.

CAT7RDR

Or, a more robust tire.
No, I'm not recommending Gatorskins.
I have had zero flats on Schwalbe Green Guards the past two years and have run over plenty of broken glass and road debris.

mpetry912 

there used to be a kevlar tire liner that was very light weight. have not seen it offered for years

/markp

skidder

Patch your tubes if the hole is small? From years of experience at it, I'd say take spares with you and patch the punctured ones when you get home. This is a totally unscientific observation, but the only problem I had with patched tubes is using higher pressure tires (+100psi). I'd found those tended to eventually leak at the patch. These days I'm riding on 700x32 or 35s pumped to 70-80 lbs max using puncture-resistant tires. No issues.

icemilkcoffee 

I was patching a tube roughly once a month for my two kids who bike to school. Then I changed their wheels to tubeless. In the roughly 1.5 year since I have not had to patch anything for them.
it’s a no brainer for people getting flats all the time

BobbyG

I've been running tire liners for 15 years. They may add a few ounces, but they have absolutely worked against goat-head thorns and small glass. AND, they allow me to run lighter, more supple tires, which makes my bikes feel lighter and more lithe. In fact, I think a light tire with liners would weigh less than a reinforced tire with beefy sidewalls.

I did experiment with reinforced tires like gatorskins and one from Continental. They felt heavy and dull and sapped the joy out of the bikes. I will say though that the ones I tried were grippy and cornering felt good.

tl/dr...tire liners FTW!

SpeedyBlueBiker

Hi Neighbor! My worst day was three flats on the STP in 2012 between the UW and the Kent food stop which is approximately 25 miles. Two punctures and a pinch flat. Got a new tire there as well as two tubes but I was fine for the rest of the ride. Anyway, I generally run either GP Conti 5000 or Gatorskins. Have used some Schwalbe tires that were very good as well. I ride a lot on the SRT, BG, and around Lake Sammamish. On the roads I find it best to stay out of the very far right lane (or left lane here in Thailand) near the gutter/curb as that is where all kinds of road debris ends up.
I do patch tires but I do it at home after the ride. I have used Shor Goo/Patch on tires but it doesn't last too long before it wears off. It's best for filling cuts. Just spread it on like peanut butter and push it down into the cut.

terrymorse 

If the tire cut is large enough to see the tube inside when inflated, and the tire still has useful life in it, I will patch the tire from the inside using some ripstop nylon (backpack material) and rubber cement.

I carry a small piece of ripstop nylon and a tube of super glue in my saddle bag, just in case I get a big hole. This has saved me from the "phone call of shame" at least once.

CAT7RDR

Good to know.
That is a novel approach I had not heard of.
Thanks!

pedsurgkb

I carry a small patch kit, not to patch my tube (I carry spare tubes and patch when I get home) but to boot the inside of the tire if there's a large cut. I've heard people use dollar bills or GU packets as well. I have also used ShoeGoo to fill moderate cuts when I got home, but you need to use it on a deflated tire and let it dry and trim the excess.