How many patches on an inner tube before you bin it?

[Colin_P]

As the starter of this thread, it appears that some patch and others bin.

Here is a twist;

I carry a pump and a CO2 cannister system. When I do get a flat on the hybrid I just use the pump as it is easy to get sufficient pressure in the tube. But when I get a flat on the roady, I start off off with the pump and then use a CO2 cannister to get up to pressure.

I do feel guilty about doing that as the cannisters are far more wasteful than lobbing a tube away. Yet I always patch my tubes. I suppose I should purchase a more efficient pump.

The other thing as a few others have mentioned is that for those that do lob their tubes, quite a few do exactly that, lob them where ever they may be. You quite often see discarded tubes littering the roadside.

 

[Poacher]

I used to have a source of smaller sized patches for narrower tubes, does anyone know where they can be purchased as a stand alone buy? I don't want to have to buy a repair kit as I have plenty of those. IME a lot of repairs fail because the patch is too wide for the tube so the edges don't stick down properly.

Were they from the late, lamented Mike Dyason, by any chance? I don't know of a current supplier, but I still have quite a few feather-edge patches of about 22mm diameter.
If I remember (not a given nowadays!) I'll drop you a couple of dozen next time I pass through Oakham.

 

[summerdays]

Were they from the late, lamented Mike Dyason, by any chance? I don't know of a current supplier, but I still have quite a few feather-edge patches of about 22mm diameter.
If I remember (not a given nowadays!) I'll drop you a couple of dozen next time I pass through Oakham.

You have intrigued me... Err how many do you have anyway

 

[Tin Pot]

I got co2 for triathlons, I've only ever used two - both on the road as it happens. Having unseated a tube, I'm not sure the speed benefit is a good trade off against a pump.


More on the "if you patch it properly it's as good as new" front...this how my glueless patch failed earlier in the thread. It seems to have come off a bit and folded:

Having inspected it further there was no damage inside the tyre, no sharp things left, so Indont see what I did "wrong".

 

[Poacher]

You have intrigued me... Err how many do you have anyway

Probably about 50 if I track them down from their various locations (saddlepack, panniers, scattered around outhouse, etc.)
Remains of a bag of about 100 bought maybe eight years ago. The ones I'll have left should see me out, all being well!

 

[Poacher]

I got co2 for triathlons, I've only ever used two - both on the road as it happens. Having unseated a tube, I'm not sure the speed benefit is a good trade off against a pump.


More on the "if you patch it properly it's as good as new" front...this how my glueless patch failed earlier in the thread. It seems to have come off a bit and folded:

View attachment 114109

Having inspected it further there was no damage inside the tyre, no sharp things left, so Indont see what I did "wrong".

Glueless - say no more.

 

[summerdays]

I use the ones with the little orange skirt around them so it blends into the tyre better.

 

[youngoldbloke]

I use the ones with the little orange skirt around them so it blends into the tyre better.

Rema Tip Top 16mm, available in quantity online eg £10.49 for 100

 

[uclown2002]

Only 4 punctures over 4.5 years riding over 50K miles, so mine go in the bin.

 

[loveandpeace1]

3

 

[cyberknight]

I try to patch if i can within reason , sometimes if you get a patch on a tube with mould edging a patch will not sit right anyway,

 

[screenman]

If patching is so sound why is there a limit as to how many some people will use? honest question. As you all may know I use the tube for something else once it gets punctured. Hold new tree's or shrubs up, holding feet together when swimming, holding number plate on trailer, cushioning on some of the tools I use etc.

 

[Dogtrousers]

If patching is so sound why is there a limit as to how many some people will use? honest question.

I've never had a patch fail and I'd never discard a tube because it was patched. I may decide that one with a lot of patches was a bit old, or if I noticed that a patch was coming loose perhaps ... but that's never happened.

 

[classic33]

If you remove a patch and replace, or patch over one already in place due to a puncture.
Does that count as one or two patches?

 

[I like Skol]

More on the "if you patch it properly it's as good as new" front...this how my glueless patch failed earlier in the thread. It seems to have come off a bit and folded:
View attachment 114109

Glueless patch! Never used them and never intend to.

If patching is so sound why is there a limit as to how many some people will use? honest question.

No limit to the number of patches but just a judgement call on the tubes overall condition at the time. If their are any signs of deterioration to the tube, old repairs or the valve then it is time for the bin. No chance I want to be avoidably stopped due to a dodgy tube.