Are you too posh to patch?

2

Comments

  • AndyD2574
    AndyD2574 Posts: 1,034
    new tube every time

    too risky to trust a wee patch on a tube at 120+ psi at 40mph+ downhill

    new tubes are that cheap, why bother messing about patching
    Specialized S Works Venge
    Argon18 E114
    Specialized Langster Single Speed
    Scott Spark Expert 29'er
    GT Avalanche
    http://www.glasgowgreencycleclub.co.uk
  • balthazar
    balthazar Posts: 1,565
    AndyD2574 wrote:
    new tube every time

    too risky to trust a wee patch on a tube at 120+ psi at 40mph+ downhill

    new tubes are that cheap, why bother messing about patching

    That is the usual fear-mongering scenario. What do you imagine will happen to a patched tube during your hurtling descent? If a poorly applied patch leaks, the deflation is gradual. The odds of even that coinciding with a fast downhill ride are tiny. (a well applied patch won't leak..)

    You could turn it around and claim that a previously used tube is at least proven, against a new one (even if it's punctured and repaired). Inner tubes are cut from lengths and turned into a hoop, with the overlap bonded. Then a valve segment is glued on. Those processes have a failure rate and it's not unknown for poor batches of tubes to leak from these joins. Much less likely than a good patch causing an uncontrollable failure on your "40mph downhill", do you think?!

    Those matters notwithstanding, some people care a little about needless waste.
  • pneumatic
    pneumatic Posts: 1,989
    matthew h wrote:
    In theory I patch, in practice I just leave them in the garage


    +1

    Fast and Bulbous
    Peregrinations
    Eddingtons: 80 (Metric); 60 (Imperial)
  • deptfordmarmoset
    deptfordmarmoset Posts: 3,118
    I did have one of those self-adhesive patches rapidly deflate - over about 15 seconds - but that may have been because of the heat. Yet the patched deflation was definitely less dramatic than the unpatched deflation - the new, unrepaired tube simply exploded because I had pumped it up (I usually get bored with pumping at around 9 atmospheres - which is what, 110psi?) and then left the bike against a south-facing wall on a hot day. It exploded when I wasn't even on it.

    So, taken in order, the virgin tube exploded, the poorly repaired tube let itself down pretty rapidly. But if I'd managed to overheat my rims on a fast descent, and if I had to choose between an instant, loud and catastrophic failure and a quick deflation I would probably have done better with the repaired tube than with the puncturarily*-experienced one . As it was, no broken bones were caused because I was only mowing the lawn in my parents' garden at the time.

    *ok, spell checker, I know it's not a real word so go easy with the wiggly red worm.
    Looking for a cycling buddy?
  • deptfordmarmoset
    deptfordmarmoset Posts: 3,118
    pneumatic wrote:
    matthew h wrote:
    In theory I patch, in practice I just leave them in the garage


    +1

    With me, it's more that I repair them, pump them up a little to see if the repair's holding and then forget about them for several months, by which time said tube has completely deflated and I've no idea whether it took 3 hours or 3 months to deflate. So I pump them up again and repeat the cycle.
    Looking for a cycling buddy?
  • geebee2
    geebee2 Posts: 248
    Analysing why I don't use patches, it's something like this:

    (1) When I get a puncture, I want to be able to repair it as quickly and certainly as possible.
    It's quicker and more certain to use a new tube. Sometimes I will be out on a club ride, and don't want to keep the other riders waiting any longer than necessary. Out of the dozens of punctures that have happened on club rides, I never saw someone use a patch.

    (2) When I get back home, I'm not going to faff around experimenting with patched tubes to see if they are ok when I know a wheel has got a perfectly good new tube in it.

    I don't have a problem with someone using patches, maybe your circumstances are different, but for me it's just not worth the potential hassle.
    My new bike
  • sturmey
    sturmey Posts: 964
    edited January 2011
    Some garages still patch car tyres with , you guessed it, a patch. Now cars do more than 40mph downhill.
    Enough said.
  • freehub
    freehub Posts: 4,257
    red dragon wrote:
    I use patched tubes, but stick to the rule two patches and out.

    Why what's three going to do compared to two? Magically make yer tube explode?
  • AndyD2574
    AndyD2574 Posts: 1,034
    I would never patch................patches weigh something like 1 or 2 grams so all that weight would slow me down so new tube every time! :lol:

    Imagine if you had 2 or 3 punctures in one ride.............I mean come on.............think about the extra effort you will need to push teh bike.

    New tube........end of!! :D
    Specialized S Works Venge
    Argon18 E114
    Specialized Langster Single Speed
    Scott Spark Expert 29'er
    GT Avalanche
    http://www.glasgowgreencycleclub.co.uk
  • Pep
    Pep Posts: 501
    I've been riding almost every day in the last 30+yr.
    Average maybe a puncture every 1-2 month.
    Always patched, never put a new tube.

    Haven't got a problem with a patched tube yet.

    No, I don't patch on the road. I change the tube with a good spare one (patched, and I carry 2 of them). Back home in the warm dry evening I patch the punctured one. Leave it with a peg overnight. Next morning fold it and put it in the bag. That's it. Number of fails in the last 30+ yr for now zero.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    I don't repair punctures since my lack of abiltiy to do anything which involves delecate work with my hands prevents me from doing it successfully - and I CBA.

    I'd always take a punctured tube home however.
    _
  • redvee
    redvee Posts: 11,922
    Patched 2 tubes yesterday that had been hiding in the back of the cupboard for ages. Do I need to sprinkle chalk on the glue area as they aren't going into the tyre straight away, in fact they are still on the corner of the worktop where I left them yesterday :oops:
    I've added a signature to prove it is still possible.
  • Pep
    Pep Posts: 501
    redvee wrote:
    Do I need to sprinkle chalk on the glue area as they aren't going into the tyre straight away

    No. It takes some patience and small but very strong fingers.
  • deptfordmarmoset
    deptfordmarmoset Posts: 3,118
    redvee wrote:
    Patched 2 tubes yesterday that had been hiding in the back of the cupboard for ages. Do I need to sprinkle chalk on the glue area as they aren't going into the tyre straight away, in fact they are still on the corner of the worktop where I left them yesterday :oops:

    I may be completely wrong but I thought the reason chalk was used was to prevent the tube patch or tube cement from sticking to the tyre. As that has never happened to me, I gave up worrying about chalk ages ago. In any case, the glue should have dried by now :wink:

    A wee afterthought: I was thinking about an earlier comment about not trusting a patch at 120psi when it could be critical. If you put a patch on and pump it up to 120 psi, isn't that patch going to be held in place by being compacted against the tyre cover at something approaching 120psi?
    Looking for a cycling buddy?
  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    Depressing that this question even needs asking and has any responses other than 'not too posh to patch'.

    There are some right wierd ideas going on in this thread about patching too. All I'll say is that a patched tyre is the same as an unpatched one. The only real difference is that if a patched tyre gets punctured again, the one place it won't puncture is anywhere it has previously been patched.
    Faster than a tent.......
  • Brassknocker
    Brassknocker Posts: 209
    I never repair on a ride, just switch with the spare I carry for every time and patch at home, it only takes 5 mins and they've never failed.

    I find the thought of replacing a punctured tube with a new tube simply because it's got a tiny hole in it quite bizarre... it's like throwing away your boxer shorts/ undercrackers/socks because you've worn them once....

    ...what's even more bizarre are those that have mentioned the 2 patch rule... what's that all about?
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    It must be that a tube that's attracted 2 punctures has demonstrated itself to be unlucky, and so has to go.
  • Gazzaputt
    Gazzaputt Posts: 3,227
    I do patch but only with Park Tools Super Patches.

    If it punctures a second time it goes in the re-cycling bin.
  • rake
    rake Posts: 3,204
    keef66 wrote:
    It must be that a tube that's attracted 2 punctures has demonstrated itself to be unlucky, and so has to go.
    maybe its just probability and useage, more patches= higher risk of leakages and after two punctures its seen enough mileage to have served its time.
    why dont those that bin tubes give the to those who patch, everyones happy, some save money and less tubes get thrown out.
    i had to knott the other day, no patches because i had a spare which turned out to be punctured.If you can make a small onough knott it works surprisingly well, only a slight bump was noticeable.
  • marlin151
    marlin151 Posts: 52
    Interesting what was said earlier about heat and patches failing. Obviously not a prob at this time of year and I patch with the rest. BUT.....

    I was roundly castigated by bike guides on Mallorca for repairing my tubes. Don't do it, they said. They have first hand experience of watching the effect of patches failing at a critical time at the end of long fast descents. Hot weather plus heat build up, esp. for less experienced descenders (ie use their brakes a lot like me) = potential carnage if you have a patched front tube and it fails as you roll into the last hairpin.

    So bear this in mind if you're planning trips abroad with fast / long mountain descents.

    Use fresh tubes. :wink:
  • marlin151
    marlin151 Posts: 52
    Interesting what was said earlier about heat and patches failing. Obviously not a prob at this time of year and I patch with the rest. BUT.....

    I was roundly castigated by bike guides on Mallorca for repairing my tubes. Don't do it, they said. They have first hand experience of watching the effect of patches failing at a critical time at the end of long fast descents. Hot weather plus heat build up, esp. for less experienced descenders (ie use their brakes a lot like me) = potential carnage if you have a patched front tube and it fails as you roll into the last hairpin.

    So bear this in mind if you're planning trips abroad with fast / long mountain descents.

    Use fresh tubes. :wink:
  • Pep
    Pep Posts: 501
    Marlin151 wrote:
    I was roundly castigated by bike guides on Mallorca for repairing my tubes. Don't do it, they said. They have first hand experience of watching the effect of patches failing at a critical time at the end of long fast descents. Hot weather plus heat build up, esp. for less experienced descenders (ie use their brakes a lot like me) = potential carnage if you have a patched front tube and it fails as you roll into the last hairpin.

    So bear this in mind if you're planning trips abroad with fast / long mountain descents.

    Use fresh tubes. :wink:

    I rode hundreds of thousands of miles in hot weather with tubes with many patches.
    It's never happened to me that a patched tube failed.
  • paulorg
    paulorg Posts: 168
    Can you add an option 3. No, I'm too lazy, not too posh :D
    If you buy it, they will come...








    ...up to you and say, you didn't want to buy one of them!!!
  • Brassknocker
    Brassknocker Posts: 209
    Marlin151 wrote:
    Interesting what was said earlier about heat and patches failing. Obviously not a prob at this time of year and I patch with the rest. BUT.....

    I was roundly castigated by bike guides on Mallorca for repairing my tubes. Don't do it, they said. They have first hand experience of watching the effect of patches failing at a critical time at the end of long fast descents. Hot weather plus heat build up, esp. for less experienced descenders (ie use their brakes a lot like me) = potential carnage if you have a patched front tube and it fails as you roll into the last hairpin.

    So bear this in mind if you're planning trips abroad with fast / long mountain descents.


    Use fresh tubes. :wink:


    That's rubbish. They saw you coming! ...I take it they were selling you the innertubes! :wink:
  • MrChuck
    MrChuck Posts: 1,663
    Brassknocker wrote:
    Marlin151 wrote:
    Interesting what was said earlier about heat and patches failing. Obviously not a prob at this time of year and I patch with the rest. BUT.....

    I was roundly castigated by bike guides on Mallorca for repairing my tubes. Don't do it, they said. They have first hand experience of watching the effect of patches failing at a critical time at the end of long fast descents. Hot weather plus heat build up, esp. for less experienced descenders (ie use their brakes a lot like me) = potential carnage if you have a patched front tube and it fails as you roll into the last hairpin.

    So bear this in mind if you're planning trips abroad with fast / long mountain descents.


    Use fresh tubes. :wink:


    That's rubbish. They saw you coming! ...I take it they were selling you the innertubes! :wink:

    I suppose there could be something in that- can't the glue on tubs come unstuck if it's hot enough? Then again if a patch is well established it's effectively part of the tube isn't it?

    Maybe they meant a patch you've just put on 10 mins ago might suffer.
  • Mccaria
    Mccaria Posts: 869
    Definitely replace.

    I regard every puncture as a personal affront - the inner tube has not only let me down but the rest of the bike, imagine if the chainset or the brakes started acting like that. The offending tube is no longer welcome and will be placed in the next available trash can (has the benefit of lowering the weight of the bike, so a puncture early in the ride is preferred over a late puncture) The tyre will also be placed on probation for colluding with the inner tube :)
  • deptfordmarmoset
    deptfordmarmoset Posts: 3,118
    Mccaria wrote:
    Definitely replace.

    I regard every puncture as a personal affront - the inner tube has not only let me down but the rest of the bike, imagine if the chainset or the brakes started acting like that. The offending tube is no longer welcome and will be placed in the next available trash can (has the benefit of lowering the weight of the bike, so a puncture early in the ride is preferred over a late puncture) The tyre will also be placed on probation for colluding with the inner tube :)

    The trouble with this approach is that the real traitor is not the tube, it's the tyre cover that has betrayed your tube - it has worked as a double agent, appearing to offer you protection while actually allowing PF saboteurs through. You really should replace the tyre as well.

    And there really should be a hook outside every cake stop where these tyres and tubes should be hung up for SE London style recycling :wink:
    Looking for a cycling buddy?
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    Pep wrote:
    Marlin151 wrote:
    I was roundly castigated by bike guides on Mallorca for repairing my tubes. Don't do it, they said. They have first hand experience of watching the effect of patches failing at a critical time at the end of long fast descents. Hot weather plus heat build up, esp. for less experienced descenders (ie use their brakes a lot like me) = potential carnage if you have a patched front tube and it fails as you roll into the last hairpin.

    So bear this in mind if you're planning trips abroad with fast / long mountain descents.

    Use fresh tubes. :wink:

    I rode hundreds of thousands of miles in hot weather with tubes with many patches.
    It's never happened to me that a patched tube failed.

    They clearly haven't been patched by me.
    _
  • Pep
    Pep Posts: 501
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Pep wrote:
    Marlin151 wrote:
    I was roundly castigated by bike guides on Mallorca for repairing my tubes. Don't do it, they said. They have first hand experience of watching the effect of patches failing at a critical time at the end of long fast descents. Hot weather plus heat build up, esp. for less experienced descenders (ie use their brakes a lot like me) = potential carnage if you have a patched front tube and it fails as you roll into the last hairpin.

    So bear this in mind if you're planning trips abroad with fast / long mountain descents.

    Use fresh tubes. :wink:

    I rode hundreds of thousands of miles in hot weather with tubes with many patches.
    It's never happened to me that a patched tube failed.

    They clearly haven't been patched by me.

    Can't see how anyone could do a bad patching job.

    Find the puncture, sometimes it's so big that just need to inflate the tyre and you spot it, otherwise put the inflated tube in a bucket of water.

    Then dry the tube and make a mark with the felt pen round the puncture.

    Then from an old tube cut a roundish patch half inch diameter.

    Apply glue on the tube.

    Press the patch, leave it pressed with a peg overnight.

    Next morning before going to work inflate it.

    After work check it, it'll still be inflated.

    Job done.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    Pep wrote:
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Pep wrote:
    Marlin151 wrote:
    I was roundly castigated by bike guides on Mallorca for repairing my tubes. Don't do it, they said. They have first hand experience of watching the effect of patches failing at a critical time at the end of long fast descents. Hot weather plus heat build up, esp. for less experienced descenders (ie use their brakes a lot like me) = potential carnage if you have a patched front tube and it fails as you roll into the last hairpin.

    So bear this in mind if you're planning trips abroad with fast / long mountain descents.

    Use fresh tubes. :wink:

    I rode hundreds of thousands of miles in hot weather with tubes with many patches.
    It's never happened to me that a patched tube failed.

    They clearly haven't been patched by me.

    Can't see how anyone could do a bad patching job.

    Find the puncture, sometimes it's so big that just need to inflate the tyre and you spot it, otherwise put the inflated tube in a bucket of water.

    Then dry the tube and make a mark with the felt pen round the puncture.

    Then from an old tube cut a roundish patch half inch diameter.

    Apply glue on the tube.

    Press the patch, leave it pressed with a peg overnight.

    Next morning before going to work inflate it.

    After work check it, it'll still be inflated.

    Job done.

    6 stages, involved scissors, buckets, other tubes, water, glue.

    Plenty of room for errors to be made.
    _

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