Puncture Repair is a Myth

With inner tubes cheaper than a pint of beer I really can't be bothered fixing punctures I just carry a spare tube

My view also- but that said I cannot bring myself to throw the old tubes away, so whenever I open the cupboard to get the iron out they hang there, staring at me....

Feel the guilt..

I've always been told those instant patches are shit so I've never bothered. But, someone recently was speaking about them favourably so maybe they're not too bad? I'll stick with what I know for now.

i always used to use the Specialised ones (red)... worked fine.

now i have more money though, i just buy a new tube.

i. Carry a spare tube and swap it straight in rather than doing roadside puncture repair.

1. At home with punctured tube, find the puncture and note its shape for clues as to cause.
   
2. Mark the puncture with a big cross (using the chalk - I use a pen or texta)
   
3. Assuming standard bit of glass, run your finger around the inside of the TYRE to find any sharp bits and remove them. If the puncture is on the inside of the tube, check for spokes sticking through rim tape, sharp rim tape edges, etc.
   
4. Get patch and note its size
   
5. Scuff area of puncture with sandpaper/scraper. Just rough it a little. I then wipe away any loose bits of rubber with my t-shirt.
   
6. Apply a circle of glue the same size or a bit larger than the patch you are using, centred on the hole. Apply it to the TYRE! You don't need heaps just make sure when you look at your glue circle there's no empty bits of just tyre poking through.
   
7. IMPORTANT! Let the glue dry a bit. The glue has to go off a bit. It should be quite tacky to touch and not still runny.
   
8. When you've left it long enough 2-10min depending on temp/conditions/how much you blow at it peel the backing off the patch and apply it.
   
9. Grip the fucker tight for a minute
   
10. Fit back onto wheel or wrap it up for later use.
    
    
    

** point 6....should read 'apply it to the tube' !!!!

I'll take anyones punctured tubes for a zero charge. Inner tubes have so many uses.

** point 6....should read 'apply it to the tube' !!!!

Thanks.. I was typing it out fast.
If you didn't know that was meant to be 'tube' you're really not equipped to be allowed out in public let alone free to sniff patch glue..

Here we seem to have hit on a 'fixing' problem the forum hasn't covered before in detail. Perhaps there are others, such as how to remove a quick-release wheel?

I don't remove my QRs.. that's what the bike shop is for!

Is it time to bring up aidan's tube swapping skills again? :)

I find that if you use a thin smear of glue then light it and wait till the flames die out you can slap the patch on and it will stick like the proverbial, even in the rain.
I keep a cheap disposable lighter in my tool pack.
I have never had a patch fail using this method and I always repair tubes.

Then again I am about as tight as you can get.

toodle pip

I've been having good luck with the parks super patches (sticker kind). Have only had one out of four fail. It seems like the cheaper kinds fail much more.

For what it's worth.

+1 for the self adhesive patches. been using them for a couple of years now and haven't had any problems.
if you're gonna get a kit though, get tip top. most of the other brands/designs are pretty shit.

Never had a problem. I always buy the cheap as market / petrol station / cheapest in the bike shop job. I quite often just buy a pack of patches as I have vulcanizing solution left over. Last set of patches I bought was actually one pig patch 4 - 5" square and you just cut the size patch you want. You can also cut up old inner tubes and use as patches. Tend not to bother with that though.

maybe it's down to technique then.
i've tried the kind which you cut down on many occasions and they never seem to hold properly.
the ones with the orange melty bit and the peel off backing usually seem to do the job best for me.

yep I def say they are the best and easiest to use.

A set of park patches failed me so much it was embarrassing. The patches dried up and became blister like, with air leaking out at the edges.

Wiggle are now sending me a free new set of the same kind. (Not what I asked for really, but fair enough). Should I even bother giving the replacement set a try? Some say Park patches are generally good and that I must have gotten a random dodgy set.

I've been using park patches for a few years, I haven't bought a new tube since 2008.

for me, they work and are worth it.

How old was this pack of park patches? They can dry out (in my limited experience of pre-glued patches) if quite old.

the old set was a fresh purchase from wiggle, put to use within two months of recieveing it. but cannot guess the age before I received it of course.

sorry I meant the old one that failed you.

Regarding the new set, all you can do is try or sell to someone on here.

Dibs. :)

I don't use the pre-glued ones because of the glue drying out reason. Keep a spare tube in the bag repair at home properly. The pre-glued ones aren't a bad idea as a temporary measure though.

I.e. you have two sets of puncture repair kits Wools? I think get what you're saying. Better to have spare tubes when you're out and about though. Fortunately Wiggle are sending me two free inner tube too. Not complaining about their service.

No - tried a pack of the pre-glued ones and have been using the ordinary ones ever since.

I've been using park patches for a few years, I haven't bought a new tube since 2008. ...

I PSI an issue? What PSI you running at Ed?