The dreaded P word. To patch or not to patch that is the question?

[xxDarkRiderxx]

Picked up my new Fuji Track a week ago from Evans although not had a chance to ride it on the track yet. Two days after delivery the back tyre was flat. Evans have been great and just given me a replacement inner tube.

I would presume most people carry a spare when MTB riding or road riding, but what do you do with the punctured inner when you get home.

Patch it or throw it?

 

[Supersuperleeds]

I never repair them, but I do keep them for wrapping around the frame when I put something like a bag or lights on the bike.

 

[Milkfloat]

I patch on top of patches, only stopping when the tube weighs threes times more than when it came out the box.

 

[ChrisEyles]

Patch it! Throwing the tube away is a bit wasteful if it can be fixed. Must admit that I find it difficult to trust the repaired tube 'til it's done a good hundred miles without going down again though!

Having the right patches makes all the difference too... I tried to fix a flat with some horrible big thick square-edged halfords patches the other day and gave up after two failed attempts. Never had this problem with other repair kits.

 

[zizou]

If using on a velodrome i wouldnt patch, like @ChrisEyles said even if the repair is good you might not trust it and when you are on 44 degree banking you really want to trust your tyres!

 

[derrick]

Proper patches and glue, don't trust these ready glued ones, I wait till i have a few to mend then do them all together.

 

[xxDarkRiderxx]

I always repair but like @zizou said probably won't with the track bike. I actually prefer the Halfords patches (feeling embrassed @ChrisEyles ) , i've always found them reliable and you can actually cut them smaller if you need to.

 

[ianrauk]

Puncture.

 

[ianrauk]

Proper patches and glue, don't trust these ready glued ones, I wait till i have a few to mend then do them all together.

Have had a Park Tools patched tube in my commuting road bike for over 2 years now. Applied properly they are just as good as normal patches and glue.

 

[youngoldbloke]

Always repair, up to 3 or 4 patches per tube (don't know why - no reason why not more), use Rema Tip Top patches, but like others would prefer virgin tubes on a track bike.

 

[gavroche]

For some reasons, when I patch them , the glue never sticks all over so I get new tubes now.

 

[byegad]

After many a year of successfully patching tubes, some ten years ago I had a rash of patch failures. So now I chuck the tube and fit a new one, every time.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I have a theory that people with deep rim wheels are less likely to patch than those without. The reason for this is that I often see abandoned inner tubes by the road. Sometimes, in a fit of public spiritedness I pick them up. Gets rid if a bit of litter, removes a possible bad image for cyclists, and may even prove useful - I could patch it. However they always seem to have valve stems almost as long as the radius of a wheel.

 

[Saluki]

I patch when necessary as I cannot afford to replace a tube for one little hole each time. Once there is 4 or 5 patches on there, the tube is binned or used for another purpose (garden ties on my little trees is a use that comes to mind)

 

[Sharky]

Always patch and keep it inflated hanging up in the garage overnight and if still firm is reused.