New Tube or fix puncture?

Sikpupi

Question or maybe a Poll...what do you tend to prefer when u get a puncture : just put on a new tube OR will you spend time applying a patch and reusing the tube??

Skrynesaver

First puncture of the day, "new" tube and pack the old one to repair it when I get back, second and subsequent punctures (we all have had those days before splashing out for new tyres) require patching.

Tonyandthewhale

I carry a spare tube and if I get a flat while on the bike I'll replace it because it's quicker. However, I also carry a puncture repair kit in case I get two or more punctures. When I get home I then repair the tube that got the puncture and use that as my spare tube for next time out.

CramCycle

I used too be moneybags and just replace them but took out all my old tubes under the stairs and repaired them all the other night for 4 euro and 30 minutes time, won't have to buy any tubes this year now I have so many in excess.

Sikpupi

surprised at the number of fellow cyclists who suggest 'not worth hassle of repairing - just get a new tube.' !!

Concerns expressed at possibility of major blowout at speed on a patched tube.

C3PO

CramCycle wrote: »

I used too be moneybags and just replace them but took out all my old tubes under the stairs and repaired them all the other night for 4 euro and 30 minutes time, won't have to buy any tubes this year now I have so many in excess.

Like CramCycle I used to just throw them out and buy new ones! Now I repair them once or twice first ..... !

smacl

Sikpupi wrote: »

Concerns expressed at possibility of major blowout at speed on a patched tube.

Way more likely a slow recurring leak due to a poor repair. Don't see why a failed repair would be any more likely to lead to a blow out than any other type of puncture.

vektarman

I use the three puncture rule, then buy a new one....

doozerie

As others do, I also swap in a spare tube on the road and patch the punctured tube later. I've been using patched tubes for years and have never had a blowout. In the past I've even patched relatively badly ripped tubes with no subsequent problems.

The only blowout I did have was when over-inflating a tube, outside of a tyre, when trying to find a particularly devious slow puncture. Nearly blew my eardrums into orbit. Not my proudest moment.

wanderer 22

CramCycle wrote: »

I used too be moneybags and just replace them but took out all my old tubes under the stairs and repaired them all the other night for 4 euro and 30 minutes time, won't have to buy any tubes this year now I have so many in excess.

Did the exact same thing a few days ago-what a wild friday night that was :rolleyes:

rp

I also carry a spare outer (a folder) as trying to find the cause of a puncture at the side of the road in the dark and lashing rain is no fun at all. Fixing the inner tube and hooking the glass/nail out of the tyre can be done in the warm and light, later on.

Raam

I send 'em back and claim manufacturing defects. Works more often than you would think.

deandean

Repair ad nauseum until the tube resembles an acne-clad face. Here ya go, 48 patches for less than three bucks!

http://dx.com/p/bicycle-tire-tube-repairing-patches-with-glue-26263?item=2

petethedrummer

Repair about 6 times before binning.

tomasrojo

Is it possible to get small tubes of vulcanising solution without buying a whole repair kit? I have plenty of patches; I only get a few punctures a year, and the solution is unusable a year after puncturing the seal.

Might try this to get the solution to last longer:
http://roadcyclinguk.com/riding/maintenance/save-your-vulcanising-solution.html

As for the actual point of this thread, I do the same as most others, it seems: swap in a new tube, fix the punctured tube at leisure later.

Canis Lupus

I repair till they're mostly patch then replace

(if on the commute to work I'll drop in a new and repair later. If going home and it's nice I'll repair and just watch the world go by for 5 mins while the glue sets/cures whatever you want to call it.

ugsparky

New spare - repair punctured tube when sent to doghouse - puncture repair kit and glasses in case of two punctures ... and phone in case of three punctures miles from any pub ... >>>>> coincidence <<<<< ... "Puncture Repair" by Elbow now playing on PC :eek:

doozerie

tomasrojo wrote: »

Is it possible to get small tubes of vulcanising solution without buying a whole repair kit?

Yes, here is a 10g tube from Rema, for example. Annoyingly though, it appears that ProBikeKit are now imposing a minimum order value to qualify for free shipping. I couldn't find anywhere on their website what that minimum order value is, but based on an order that I put through a couple of days ago it seems to be about the £20 mark.

letape

I very seldom get punctures and when I do I just replace the tube. I typically use cheap tubes I buy in Decathlon when in France and for the cost of them and considering how seldom I puncture, I just replace with a new one.