Newb questions about fixing flats.

[FFX_Hinterlands]

There are two types of patches. One that have the glue and others that are self-stick. The self stick ones peel off like a sticker, I think. The better ones are patches with glue. It’s actually not glue, it causes a vulcanization reaction with the tire. Follow the instructions on the tube, but typically you sand, put glue around the hole where the patch would go (OK to go bigger than the patch), then let it dry for 20 minutes so that the glue can react with the rubber on the tire. Then you put on the patch to the glue after waiting. If you mess up you gotta peel off the patch and start with a new patch. I don’t think the patch will react to the glue the same way so you can’t put another one on top.
Easier to just replace the tire or keep the patched one as a spare if it holds air.

See this awesome post (section on patching).

[jabberwocky]

Tubes should hold air outside a bike tire. It sounds like the patch didn’t take. Adding patches to a failed one generally isn’t going to make things better. :p IMO you should just stop messing with the tube and replace it.

Over the years, I’ve generally gotten past patching tubes. This is especially true of pinch flats, which tend to leave a slice rather than a hole. IME patches aren’t as good at dealing with them. In my mind, its just not worth the trouble of dealing with a failed tube. I keep a stock of tubes on hand and if I get a flat I swap the tube and call it a day.

I do keep patches in my seat bag for in-field repairs (if I go through my one spare tube then I can start patching, and I’ve given them away to people I’ve come across who left home unprepared. My favorite are the Park glueless patches. They are basically stickers and hold up well enough and are very easy to apply.

[Emm]

@lordofthemark 137223 wrote:

If the former, do I need to remove the patches I have put on and start from scratch?

At this stage, just spend the $7 and get a new tube, and buy 1-2 spares while you’re there. I’d be cautious about re-patching the same spot twice. You may roughen up the area too much, and cause a weak spot. Or when you try to remove the first patch you may tear the tube more, or the new patch wont cover the weak part of the old patch–lots of variables for what could go wrong when super glue and sandpaper is involved. I recommend keeping 1-2 spare tubes with you or at home for things like this.

When you install the new tube, put a tiny bit of air in it (just enough to give it shape), put it into the wheel/tire, seal it up, confirming it’s not pinched anywhere, and then fully inflate. Lots of utube videos are out there to show you how to do this. Then ride around your block a few times to make sure it’s good to go and it’s all set up properly.

Also, depending on how bad the gouge in your tire is, I’ve sealed the inside of the tires with patches before to prevent new objects from getting into the same spot (someone on here recommended it to me). For someone as flat-prone as me, it’s a life saver . Probably not relevant if you got a pinch flat, but for other types it’s great.

[Crickey7]

Pinch flats repairs tend to fail again, usually just after you have passed the point of no return on your ride.

[jabberwocky]

@Emm 137227 wrote:

$7

If you plan ahead, tubes can be had much cheaper than this too. Lots of online shops carry generic (almost always rebranded QBP) tubes for pretty cheap. The last few batches I bought came from Price Point. Their house brand tubes (http://www.pricepoint.com/Brand/Price-Point/Price-Point-Tube.axd) are about 2 bucks apiece. I just get 10-20 at a time and don’t worry about tubes for a few years.

[ShawnoftheDread]

In addition to what others said above, I think that any “borrowed” tube should be replaced with a new one.

[Vicegrip]

Agree ^. New tube in box handed back with a “Thank you!” If the loaned tube is as you say not the right one but still good you give that one back too.

Never had a glue on patch fail. Forgot to replace a peel and stick patch and it made a super slow leak after a month or so. I carry a good tube a mini pump and patches.

Agree to dispose of a tube that has a bad patch. Life is short don’t spend it road side levering a tire off a rim.

A few things that I think are key to a good patch. Scuff off the shine of the tube. Use enough glue that your finger slides around and leaves a smooth even coating that is larger than the patch. Let the glue dry before sticking the patch on. I fan the glue for a min or two until the glue looses it gloss and is no sticky to the touch Test at an edge if you feel the need to. Don’t touch the dried glue or contact side of the patch Press it on evenly and make sure the edges are pressed tight.

[Steve O]

Replacing the tube is generally going to be less frustrating…unless you didn’t get rid of the little thorn in your tire. Then it’s more frustrating.

I generally will patch the tube later when I can do it well and use that tube as a spare. Seems less wasteful than throwing away a perfectly good tube that just has a tiny hole in it. A well-applied glue patch will last longer than the tube.

[lordofthemark]

Just to clarify the flat happened at the end of a Port City ride, and I bought the person who gave the tube a beer. I am not that big a cheapskate.

Also – when ordering an extra presta tube, can I assume the same size tube as my schrader tube? I would rather not remove the presta tube till I possess the new schrader tube.

[consularrider]

@lordofthemark 137241 wrote:

Just to clarify the flat happened at the end of a Port City ride, and I bought the person who gave the tube a beer. I am not that big a cheapskate.

Also – when ordering an extra presta tube, can I assume the same size tube as my schrader tube? I would rather not remove the presta tube till I possess the new schrader tube.

Couple of observations on presta tube and a question. What type of bike was the other cyclist riding, a hybrid like yours? If so, I would expect the tire/tube is a 700 and between a 32 and a 35. Funny thing, a lot of presta 700 tubes are marked either 28-32 or 35-43. Specialized has a 700 tube labeled 28 – 38. Is there really any significant difference, I have no clue. The other thing on presta that is different from schraeder is that there are different valve stem lengths.

[Vicegrip]

Not a matter of being cheap and I hope you did not think I was insinuating such. A tube in hand is at times worth far more than one in the store. Someone handed you a tube from his/her pocket. It got there because he/she thought to go to the store and buy it and then put it in a jersey pocket for just such a time.

My personal thinking is if I offer out a tube or a hand for a few min fixing something roadside I prefer we simply carry on and you pay it forward if you wish. If I borrow something like a tube I give a new one back.
If you want/need to return the favor directly replace in kind to make whole. As with all things human variables are in play and “In kind” for some is a beer or 2 and the knowledge that on some other day you know you will return the favor in kind or pay forward and for a few, years of being reminded of the time they “saved your life”

[Sunyata]

It was my tube, and I agree with Vicegrip, just carry a spare (or the presta tube I gave you) and pay it forward to the next person you come upon that has a flat. No replacement in my hand is necessary, but thanks for offering. 😮

As for patching, I only patch as a last ditch effort trail/roadside. I have seen too many patched tires fail several miles from civilization (my boyfriend is a HUGE fan of patching tires over and over and over again and often carries spares with multiple patches that also fail…). Tubes are cheap and life is too short to waste time patching them. 😎

[lordofthemark]

@Sunyata 137281 wrote:

It was my tube, and I agree with Vicegrip, just carry a spare (or the presta tube I gave you) and pay it forward to the next person you come upon that has a flat. No replacement in my hand is necessary, but thanks for offering. 😮

As for patching, I only patch as a last ditch effort trail/roadside. I have seen too many patched tires fail several miles from civilization (my boyfriend is a HUGE fan of patching tires over and over and over again and often carries spares with multiple patches that also fail…). Tubes are cheap and life is too short to waste time patching them. 😎

You are most gracious. I will carry the presta tube to give away to whoever needs it – and will gladly buy you a beer at the FS closing happy hour

[peterw_diy]

Y’all use your fingers to spread the fluid? Ick. I use the fluid tube mouth. I carry a spare and patches. Use the spare first, patch if needed. Use a twist tie to mark the puncture location on the damaged tube. Collect punctured tubes at home, patch them all when I have 3 or 4, as I have bad luck with fluid drying in the tube after first use. Use your oldest patch kit as fluid will dry after a number of years even in an unopened tube.

And the most important thing is eliminating the source — remove the thorn, fix the rim strip, inflate to higher pressure, whatever is needed to prevent recurrence.

[lordofthemark]

Oops – I did not know about rim strips, rim tape.

Had a flat (front wheel) on the 4MRT on the way home last night – did not have right tools (I had taken the the multitool that CCBID gave out, but passed on the flat kit – silly me) And I had the CO2 set, but no pump, and I usually need multiple pumps to get the presta tube (the one I had with me) into the tire, so I decided to walk the bike to a bus stop, take that home, and fix it in the well equipped bike room.

When I took the flat tube (IE the old schrader tube) out, it was stuck to some black tape thingie – I just pulled it off, with I guess, some of the tape thingie. Replaced with the presta tube, figured I was good to go.

This AM rode to CC again, dragging, but I always have trouble completely filling the presta tube at my building bike room, using an adapter. With CaseyKane’s help I completely filled the presta tube there, and again thought I was good to go. When I left I was still dragging – well when I replace the wheel I sometimes screw up the brake, and maybe that was it? Figured I would deal with that later. Then as I was approaching the Jefferson the wheel went flat again. Walked/bussed my way to work.

I was figuring either I had put the presta tube in the wrong way and got a pinch flat, or there is a wire or something in the tire causing a repeat flat. But I guess it could be a spoke flat (is that a thing?) from damaging the rim tape?

My inclination was to walk the bike to one of the shops on 8th Street SE and let them take a look but QueenoftheMark wants to help out and also have dinner with me, so the plan now is for her to drive me and the bike (I will need to remove the front wheel anyway) to Bikenetics tonight.

The tire BTW is original to the bike (the one I replaced already was the rear wheel) so I may need a new tire, not sure.

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