To patch or not to patch -- that is the question

[Shickdawg]

So I had my first popped tube last night. (Mental note to start carrying a patch kit.) Fortunately, I wasn't far from home, and just doing some road riding. Anyways, I've been wondering whether or not it's worth trying to patch the tube or if I should just buy a new one. Or should I do both -- keep the patched tube as a spare, and ride on the new one?

[homebrewbiker]

So I had my first popped tube last night. (Mental note to start carrying a patch kit.) Fortunately, I wasn't far from home, and just doing some road riding. Anyways, I've been wondering whether or not it's worth trying to patch the tube or if I should just buy a new one. Or should I do both -- keep the patched tube as a spare, and ride on the new one?Seems like every tome this happens I don't have a spare or a patch. last time I had to walk close to 4 miles home.:mad:

Anyway, I think the answer depends on the age of the tube. If it is an old tube it may be best to pitch it and start out fresh. If it is new, then a patch will probably be just fine.

Road tires can be a lot harder to remove than MTB tires. A good exercise is probably to try replacing it at home purely as an exercise (better to discover problems at home than on the road). I just got a road bike and have been meaning to give that a whirl myself to see how hard it is to pry the road tires off of the bike.

[Brick]

-- keep the patched tube as a spare, and ride on the new one?
You just answered your own question.....

If the patch is solid, there's no reason that a patched tire can't get you out of a jam, so yeah, use the patched one as the spare and drop in a new one. It's a small price to pay for peace of mind.

....remember that guy we helped in the ravine at BC? Lotsa patches on his tire......:hit:

[transplant]

Patch it twice and then throw it away after the next puncture. Use a patched tube first and keep the good tube as a back-up in your Camel-Bak. The reasoning behind this is that you'll fix the flat at home and then pump it up. You'll know if your patch is holding air before you hit the trail (or road). If you flat while you're out, put in a patched tube and it leaks, you're hosed.

[transplant]

You just answered your own question.....

If the patch is solid, there's no reason that a patched tire can't get you out of a jam, so yeah, use the patched one as the spare and drop in a new one. It's a small price to pay for peace of mind.

....remember that guy we helped in the ravine at BC? Lotsa patches on his tire......:hit:

Here we go. Hope this doesn't degrade into an "us" vs. "them" gunfight. I guess in the end it's really up to you and what you feel comfortable with, using the spare or a new.

[tedsti]

I always carry a spare tube (new) and an patch kit. If I get a flat, I put in the spare tube. The patch kit is for the second flat, which has happened. Some people just carry a patch kit, but I have had blowouts where the tube split open for about 2 inches, which there is no way to patch. Patch kits are nice to help out others.

Ted

[Brick]

Here we go. Hope this doesn't degrade into an "us" vs. "them" gunfight. I guess in the end it's really up to you and what you feel comfortable with, using the spare or a new. ....whatever floats yer boat....:cool:

[Shickdawg]

Here we go. Hope this doesn't degrade into an "us" vs. "them" gunfight. I guess in the end it's really up to you and what you feel comfortable with, using the spare or a new.
I'm sure it's not as contentious an issue as, say, hardtail vs. full-suspension. ;)

There are definitely plusses and minuses to each option, but the bottom line is that I shouldn't throw the flat tube away. The experience with the patch kit is probably good anyways.

[rusto]

If you carry a spare with you, you'll save about 15-30 minutes. I'm usually riding right before I need to be somewhere, so I carry a tube. Then you can leave it in your garage, ever meaning to go back and fix it. Just as soon as you organize the basement, paint the barn, write the great American novel, get your g.e.d...

[FSSS]

I always carry a spare tube (new) and an patch kit. If I get a flat, I put in the spare tube. The patch kit is for the second flat, which has happened. Some people just carry a patch kit, but I have had blowouts where the tube split open for about 2 inches, which there is no way to patch. Patch kits are nice to help out others.
Ted
I think this is the best advice of the bunch. Un-patchable flats definitely happen. And like Rusto said, putting in a new tube takes less time.

Personally, I use a patch kit as a second defense. And I treat it like a "donut" on a car (the small, space-saving spare tire) - ride it just to get home to put a real one on.

[funky-funky-chicken]

So I had my first popped tube last night. (Mental note to start carrying a patch kit.) Fortunately, I wasn't far from home, and just doing some road riding. Anyways, I've been wondering whether or not it's worth trying to patch the tube or if I should just buy a new one. Or should I do both -- keep the patched tube as a spare, and ride on the new one?
I generally replace the tube while I am out riding, sometimes saving the other tube for patching later. Test the patched tubes later when time allows to make sure the patch holds. Here are a couple of tips for if time allows when changing out your flat:

Inspect the failed tube to determine what the cause for a flat and what you might need to look for in the tire.

A single puncture that simply looks like . is likely the cause of something piercing the tire and tube.
Make sure to perform what I call the "Red Test." Run your fingers inside the casing of the tire feeling for anything that might turn your fingers red. (Bloody) Feel for small pieces of glass or something that may still be stuck in the rubber or casing of your tire. (These tubes are salvageable and can be patched when you get home sometime.)


A hole that looks like * (tube is shredded around the hole) or sounded like fireworks when it went flat is the result of a tube that somehow snuck under the bead of the tire, through the tire, or through the sidewall.
Closely inspect the tire making sure that there are no holes or worn spots in the sidewall of the tire. This happens a lot with rim brakes that may have been adjusted improperly or worn. If you find a hole in the tire, you will need to make a tire boot. Place something inside the tire between the tube and tire to make sure the tube does not sneak out again. (Paper US currency or wrappers from energy bars work well.) These tubes are generally best for other projects or the trash.


A hole that looks like | | or . . is commonly referred to as a "Snake-bite" or pinch-flat. An impact to the tire has squished the tube inside to the point of contact with the rim. The tube is pinched to the point where the inner-tube is pinched and punctured.
I have seldom (if ever) had success in patching these tubes. The pair of holes are often too close together to patch with two small patches and too far apart to be patched with one big patch.

[transplant]

....whatever floats yer boat....:cool:
Agreed...whatever trips yer trigger!:scream:

[transplant]

I'm sure it's not as contentious an issue as, say, hardtail vs. full-suspension. ;) Yep. Or other issues here in the forums. It's always nice to get a number of different perspectives on concerns or questions. A lot of us have been riding for years, but definitely don't know it all, so it's nice to see how others think and cope. It's also nice to be able to pass along "wisdom" to newer riders, like what was done for us when we were noobs. Kind of a karma thing. And if the occasional disagreement erupts, it just entertains and keeps us honest.

[mtnbykr]

Or should I do both -- keep the patched tube as a spare, and ride on the new one?
yes...

kl

[Don Youngdahl]

I've been wondering whether or not it's worth trying to patch the tube or if I should just buy a new one. Or should I do both -- keep the patched tube as a spare, and ride on the new one?
Always carry a spare tube for road or off-road (maybe 2 for long road rides), and put in the spare tube when you flat, and patch the punctured tube under clean conditions at home. Patching a tube under field conditions, road or trail, will increase the chance of the patch failing. Of the many dozens of punctures, mostly road and many of them snakebite, that I've patched, I've had exactly one patch failure, and that was in my first few years of riding before I'd learned the right technique for patching a tube.

I'll put a maximum of 2 or three patches on a tube before I reckon it's getting old enough to discard when it punctures again.

The glueless patches are not permanent patches. They're OK as an emergency patch on the road or trail, but not for permanent use.

Don Youngdahl

[jitterjepp]

I patch the heck out them. 2, 4, 6, 8... how ever many I can get on the things. My record is 9 patches on one tube. I've never had one go bad either.
I always carry a spare tube and a patch kit. It is tougher patching on the trail and it takes too long. It's also a pain to do in the dark or when the mosquitos are swarming all over you. The patch kit is just in case I blow out the spare.

[okie29]

Park Tool makes an incredible glue-less patch. Very small and works great. I used to carry two tubes (roadbike), but now I carry one and the patch kit. Also, the patched tube becomes my backup... Hope that helps :)

[Ish]

Park Tool makes an incredible glue-less patch. Very small and works great. I used to carry two tubes (roadbike), but now I carry one and the patch kit. Also, the patched tube becomes my backup... Hope that helps :)
True - excpet I have always found those glueless ones to leak air quite bad (over a day or two they will go flat). They work great on the trail but I always switch them out later. I think Don mentioned the same thing below.

[sensorysonic]

The Park GP-2 glue-less patches work permanently for me! Park Tool designed these with 3M and the patches stretch and flex with the tube. I have absolutely no problem getting a season out of them. I always replace tubes, at least once a season. These patches will go 4-6 months easy. I never apply them in the field however. I carry a tube, and replace on the trail with a tube. When I get home, I'll repair the tube with a patch. I rough the area up, then wipe off with a clean cotton cloth, never touching the area with my fingers, as oily fingers will ruin the seal. I consider them a permanent fix! :)