New tube or patch kit?

[wc07]

I know this is a personal opinion, but I want to know what yours is. Do you stock up on tubes and just replace them when needed or do you patch a tube once the replace it later? Which do you do?

 

[CyclinYooper]

I live where it's really thorny ... so for a while (October - December) I was getting a flat just about every ride. So, I had a good stock of tubes and patches. Since most of my issues were single punctures they were easily patched, but I often needed to submerge the tube to identify the hole.

So, I'd install a new tube on the ride, then patch the damaged tube at home later. And, I only patched tubes once. Another hole meant the trash for me.

In my bike kit, I carry a tube and a patch kit (just in case). I had two flats one ride ... but my buddy had another tube.

Scott

Incidentally, Stan's No Tubes eliminated this issue for me! Haven't had a flat since I started using it, and I'm riding cheap tires and no liners.

 

[davereo]

A combination of both for me. I purchase new tubes when I am purchasing new tires. I just like the idea of new tubes and tires going on the same time. I patch tubes until the point they are no longer repairable. Things like blow outs, leaks around the valve stem, and valve stem failures get trashed. Multiple patches on a single tube are not a problem if you are patching the tubes correctly. I carry a tube and a patch kit with me. I only do road side repairing of tubes if I happen to get a second flat out on the road. I like to repair the tubes when I am at home so I can do a good inspection before and after the repair. I also wait until I have a few tubes kicking around before I work on them.

 

[64Paramount]

I carry a new tube and a patch kit with me when I ride. I found that if I don't patch the tube during the ride and just replace it with my spare tube, that I'm unlikely to patch it once I get home.

So, I prefer to patch during the ride unless I can think of a really good reason not to.... /img/vbsmilies/smilies/wink.gif

 

[kdelong]

I carry a tube and patch kit too, just in case I get two flats. Two of my bikes have patched tubes and I have a pretty good supply of new tubes. Like davereo, I let a few build up before I repair them. Unfortunately I am also like 64Paramount and tend not to patch them when I get home, but I only have two right now that need patching. But then again, tubes are cheap.

 

[rparedes]

I carry TWO tubes AND patch kit.... I patch my tubes until they are almost literally, a "patch tube", but I also buy tubes when they are on sale.
I patch all my tubes at home so I don't spend a lot of time repairing a flat when I'm riding...

 

[Wizzo]

I carry both a spare tube and 2 different patch kits. Spare tube for beyond tube repairs on the punctured/damaged tube i.e valve stem area as well as dangerous areas like side of a very busy interstate like roads. Most of the time I use either a glueless or vulcanizing patch. Glueless if im in a not so good area and/or not so comfortable conditions. Vulcanizing patch when its nice and sunny out and in a safe place. Don't need to slap on a glueless and ride to a shop or back home, just take extra time to patch up and get back to some epic riding.