Punctures: repair or replace?
Discussion
Given that we're all multi-millionaires here on PH, with Jeeves waiting on us beck and call, I was wondering what the general consensus is regarding punctures.
Do you bother with a patch & repair kit when faced with a puncture, or do you just keep a few spare inner-tubes to hand to replace it?
Old man Pints would sooner admit I'm a better driver than him, rather than admit a tube needs replacing.
Do you bother with a patch & repair kit when faced with a puncture, or do you just keep a few spare inner-tubes to hand to replace it?
Old man Pints would sooner admit I'm a better driver than him, rather than admit a tube needs replacing.
With tubes at a fiver each, I'm starting to think that it's more hassle than it's worth to repair them. That's pretty shocking and wasteful if you think about it, but I've been frustrated with patches not sealing properly on a couple of occasions recently.
I think instead I may go back to getting a full puncture repair kit with proper glue and everything to see if that does a better job than the self-adhesive patches.
I think instead I may go back to getting a full puncture repair kit with proper glue and everything to see if that does a better job than the self-adhesive patches.
I carry both a spare tube and a repair kit (in case the replacement punctures) while I'm still out.
At home I would only replace because tubes are only £2.99 (I bought a load from Evans recently, in their sale) and by the time I've got the damn tyres off and back on, I don't want a failed repair to cause me to have to do it all again.
At home I would only replace because tubes are only £2.99 (I bought a load from Evans recently, in their sale) and by the time I've got the damn tyres off and back on, I don't want a failed repair to cause me to have to do it all again.
Mars said:
I carry both a spare tube and a repair kit (in case the replacement punctures) while I'm still out.
+1I always carry a 'classic' repair kit (with glue), and a spare tube to quickly replace the punctured one, then use the time I saved by repairing the tube I removed. It gives me another instant replacement if I flat again later in a ride, and I'll always have a 'get me home' tube in the saddle-pack (I know, rule 29 broken). Although I've never used the self adhesive patches, I haven't tried them out of suspicion, and comments on this thread have backed that up. I have to agree on the sense in 'replace, always' as I have had a repair fail recently under 120PSI, but it didn't have the grace to fail whilst the pump was still connected, it waited until I was half-way up a hill. The problem with me is that I'm the 'short arms, deep pockets' type when it comes to spending money, and despite their relative cheapness, every replacement costs both time and money. I always end up leaving a repaired tube fitted if it went onto the wheel during a ride, and only replace it if it loses pressure at home in the garage.
I bought a couple of tubes, and a new repair kit from LBS this week as all of the fitted and spare tubes had at least one repair, and at least one on the bike had two repairs where they had been rotated between the saddle bag and the wheels. Worst of all, the one on the rear wheel came from my old road bike, and the valve stem wasn't long enough to clear my deeper 'aero' rims enough to connect my track pump properly. The time has come to spend some money for a change. (New Bike - deserves New Inner Tubes). By fitting new tubes, it won't make me ride faster, or further, but at least now I should be a little less worried about a failed repair if/when I suffer a flat, but I will probably still feel guilty about the waste, and probably hoard repaired inner tubes in a dark corner of the shed until SWMBO finds them and demands that I "either use them, or throw them away".
I always repair. I carry a spare tube with me in case I get a catastrophic failure but haven't needed to use it yet. It's not uncommon for me to get three or four thorn punctures on a one hour training ride so I couldn't afford to replace each time! One of my tubes must have at least fifteen patches on it now. I've yet to have one fail since I started using the Rema repair kits. The Halfrauds own brand one I used before was useless though. I also carry a few Topeak instant patches in case I need to repair in a hurry but haven't used them yet.
With all this talk of punctures I'm curious if people use any specific puncture-resistant tyres? Truth is (and I hope I'm not condeming myself with this), I haven't had a puncture in over 1000 miles but having become slightly paranoid since reading threads like these, I've bought some Continental Gatorskin Hardshells which appear to be built to last.
Trevelyan said:
I always repair. I carry a spare tube with me in case I get a catastrophic failure but haven't needed to use it yet. It's not uncommon for me to get three or four thorn punctures on a one hour training ride so I couldn't afford to replace each time! One of my tubes must have at least fifteen patches on it now. I've yet to have one fail since I started using the Rema repair kits. The Halfrauds own brand one I used before was useless though. I also carry a few Topeak instant patches in case I need to repair in a hurry but haven't used them yet.
Genuine question - with that many punctures have you tried any of the no-puncture systems? (tubeless, foam etc...). Wondering if you're tried but not been impressed?I normally carry 2 spare tubes and a repair kit - just in case. Our record is 6 punctures between 4 bikes on one ride (thorn bushes had just been trimmed!), but you've topped that easily!
Edited by fadeaway on Sunday 12th June 11:38
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