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I used Slime tubes for a number of years, but recently found them so unreliable at mending relatively small punctures. I've therefore gone back to traditional tubes.
On the trail I will switch out the punctured tube for a fresh one to get me home and then fix the puncture in comfort. Once the repair is tested, I swap it for the unsullied tube I'd put in the tyre during the ride. Even though both tubes should be as reliable as each other, there's something reassuring for me about having a fresh spare with no repairs.
You?
Tubes? How very 20th Century 😉
I do similar although once I've repaired the puncture I put the tube back in the cupboard for future use. I don't swap out the 'new' tube - if it is in fact new!
Obviously this is on my road bike - the mountain bike is tubeless :o)
What are tubes?
If its one of my bikes that isn't tubeless i go even more old school.
I fix the inner tube and put it back in there and then.
I'm a Luddite and thus use tubes on my MTB (despite having tubeless rims and tyres). Punctured tubes are repaired and put back in so my spares are new.
For t'road bike:
Thorn puncture - yes, repair and return to back-pocket stock.
Pinch-flat - no, invariably skipped.
Will gradually move to tubeless as new wheels allow, but not normally much of a problem. That said, I've had a run of punctures recently and have been getting distinctly annoyed with it. I did see a rather glum looking road cyclist at the side of the road yesterday, stood looking at his front wheel which was sat in a large puddle of sealant. I hope he had a tube, otherwise it would have been the "call of shame" for him...
puncture = bin.
same with cut tire
That said, I’ve had a run of punctures recently and have been getting distinctly annoyed with it.
How new/old are your tyres? I find that happens when the tyres are near the end of their life and there's little rubber left over the carcase.
Yep, as many times as it is physically possible.
Even had little friendly competition with friend who is using inner tube with the largest number of patches.
11 here on mine.
Recently it is rather redundant as I'm tubeless both on and off road.
Still carrying it with me as a last resort rescue thingy...
Cheers!
I.
Swap it back out - nope.
I'll stick a new tube in during the ride, repair the hole at home & then that becomes the spare in my pack.
Can't be doing with fart-arsing around swapping the tubes back round so the unpatched one is now the spare...
puncture = bin.
Thats just wasteful.
11 isn't bad going ivan.
I think i have sold most bikes before i get that many punctures!
MTB is Tubeless, haven't had a puncture since I went tubeless.
Road bike and commuter/gravel bike have tubes and I'd just put in whatever tube i'm carrying as a spare then fix the punctured one at home and that would become the spare.
Yup.
And I nick the ones hanging in trees too.
And trailside water bottles.
Not cheap. Just careful. 🙂
i ride with other people. its often very wet and muddy. I dont intend on keeping them or myself waiting if i have an issue. for the price its one less thing to worry about.
i ride with other people. its often very wet and muddy. I dont intend on keeping them or myself waiting if i have an issue. for the price its one less thing to worry about.
You can still fix it when you get home, or at least give it to a cycling charity (ideally after fixing it) rather than bin it
Yes. Tried ghetto tubeless, had too many episodes where it didn't work and got covered in jizz at the side of a trail, so went back. Have not been bothered with proper tubeless since, particularly as I swap tyres quite a lot.
On road - even less impetus for me, I'm not fast so running a heavier more puncture proof tyre is no major issue, and a stop to repair is a chance to catch breath.
I swap in a new tube and pocket the old one to bring home and fix in the warm. I do carry some patches in the rare event of a second on the same ride, but use glue and patch at home.
In fact most often I put in a box and do a batch at a time. When I used to work travel (remember that?) I once had a late flight to a customer, knew there'd be no point in going for dinner, morning meeting and then fly home. So rather than 'tug TV' in the hotel I emptied my box of flats tubes into my wheelie case with a repair kit and set off.
Of course it was my turn for a bag check, and my explanation just seemed to make the Security Guard pity me as either some weird fetishist / or clearly the dullest man alive. Final nail in the coffin was when he threatened to confiscate the rubber solution as it was labelled flammable, but he relented when he saw my face.
I had a great evening. Filled the bath up to find the holes old skool style......
Yes I put the patched tube back in. For some reason I like to have a pristine tube as a spare.
I always fix the tube there and then and put it back in. Then I don’t forget to fix it later.
Haven’t found Slime tubes to make patching difficult so far: just wipe the slime off first, obviously.
Pretty wasteful to bin a repairable tube. Only one step above leaving it at the road/trail side.
I always repair punctures on the spot if I can but sometimes it's not possible to find the hole in the tube whilst out on the trails. If so then I'll swap the tube for a spare one and fix it when I get home. I don't bother swapping it back again. Record number of patches on a tube is 16.
For all those hilarious people asking what are tubes?
They are the the things that around 95% of cyclists still use
Anyway, I patch mine at home and then keep as spare. Bit wasteful to throw it away and patches are easier to use than ever.
I swap the repaired one back in.
It's less about having a "pristine" tube (often I'm taking out a repaired tube), and more about making sure that the repair was a good one. Don't want to have a puncture and then discover that my patched tube had more holes than I thought or that the patch didn't hold properly.
I still use tubes on the commuter, buggy, chariot, lots of places...
Repaired tubes go straight back on so that I can verify that the repair will hold!
(for hub geared bikes I can normally avoid removing the rear wheel too)
Mix of tubes and tubeless...tube gets punctured then I tie a knot in it to remind me when I throw it on the hooks with unloved tyres and odd tubes that are ok...every now and then I will patch them and put them in a zip lock bag marked with size and back in the tubes box.....once went on a club ride...leader got 3 flats and patched all at road side and no he wasn't that fast at it
Aidy
MemberIt’s less about having a “pristine” tube (often I’m taking out a repaired tube), and more about making sure that the repair was a good one
I just pump the tube up a bit & hang it over the handlebar for a day or so. If it's still inflated; all good!
The few tubes I still use are probably more patch than original now, I just keep fixing em and don't think too much about it.
For all those hilarious people asking what are tubes?
They are the the things that around 95% of cyclists still use
My 10yr old has NEVER used a tube... 5yrs of riding and he's never had a puncture didn't seal.
He can seat his own tyres, stuff in anchovies etc but he has no real idea how to put a tube in. He went on a B1ke kids thing and had to carry a tube when I hoped if for some bizarre reason it was needed someone would show him.
[I]puncture = bin[/I]
That is the height of laziness and wastefullness. Unless you are also a hamfisted idiot, a repaired inner tube is practically as reliable as a new one.
I've said it before, do you throw away all your pencils because you can't be bothered to use a pencil sharpener? Just because they are cheap, doesn't mean you should throw them away.
If I have a tube fitted and I'm not in a rush I'll normally repair the tube on the trail and keep the new one folded up.
I'll put the tube in the bin but I save the air for the new tube.
Replace punctured tube with spare (normally have two spare with me), fix punctured tube when home, fixed tube is then a spare and the cycle (ahem) begins again.
Fixing punctures is very therapeutic, especially if you're on a riding/camping weekend, it's a nice thing to do with a beer ate the end of a day of (hopefully) good riding
i ride with other people. its often very wet and muddy. I dont intend on keeping them or myself waiting if i have an issue.
I'd be more concerned about what else you cant do on a bike if repairing a tube is beyond you!
I put a knot in punctured tubes and throw them in a box in the garage. Sooner or later I need a new tube so repair the ones in the knot for use box.
If it's sunny/dry and I'm not in a rush I'll repair and put back in.
Mates waiting or filthy weather + new one in, repair old one later and put it back in. I always like to make sure my spare is pristine.
I've had no issues with patched tubes though, even the super light Schwalbe ones that came as stock on my good bike, or the latex tubes on my gravel bike (only punctured due to my hasty install).
Just because they are cheap, doesn’t mean you should throw them away.
Tubes aren't even cheap any more!
Just because they are cheap, doesn’t mean you should throw them away.
Self sufficiency is a dying art! I've got mates who wouldn't know how to fix a chain and don't even carry the tool or the split link. Watched one of them attempt a tubeless repair the other day, needless to say it didn't go very well but he limped home somehow.
I’ve got mates who wouldn’t know how to fix a chain and don’t even carry the tool or the split link.
I found the 11 speed chains impossible to put in a link without the proper pliars, not broken a chain ever either so dont carry links anymore.
Pretty wasteful to bin a repairable tube. Only one step above leaving it at the road/trail side.
I am now wondering, where on Bez's scale, he places the folks who get a puncture, then fill the inner tube with dog poo, before hanging it in a tree?
😉
My 10yr old has NEVER used a tube… 5yrs of riding and he’s never had a puncture didn’t seal.
I am happy for him. Not really sure what that has got to do with my comment that 95% of people who ride bikes are still using tubes though. I realise 95% is lower than reality which is probably closer to 99%...
95% of people who ride bikes are still using tubes though
So you're saying that makes tubes better?
Like the best newspaper is the one read by the most people, the best TV programme is the most viewed and the best music is no.1 in the charts? 😂
That photo someone posted of a tube covered in patches? It'd take the rest of my life + my grandchildren's lives (I haven't got any) to get that many punctures with tubeless. Fact. (Sort of)
Puncture => chainstay protector. If there's one hanging on a tree right at the end of my ride I'll grab it for this reason.
I think three years ago was the last time I punctured a tube - having put one in a slashed* tubeless tyre the day before, on a three day mtb trip.
*knowing what I know now, I think a tubeless worm may have saved it.
The only one of my bikes that still has tubes is the Brompton. But back in the day I used to patch the tube trailside. I'd only use a new tube when a puncture was too close to an existing patch. I think my record was 23 patches before replacing the tube. Saving about £115 compared to bunging a new tube in every time, and also saving a lot of landfill.
Puncture => chainstay protector. If there’s one hanging on a tree right at the end of my ride I’ll grab it for this reason.
Can't say I've ever seen a puncture hanging in a tree. How do you spot one? 😆
I'm a bad person. I feel a pang of guilt as I lob a punctured old tube in the bin. Then I move on.
In my defence: I'm busy, a new tube is £4, and doesn't come with the (admittedly small) risk of a failed repair leaving you stranded. Thankfully punctures don't happen often (Maybe once a year), so my rubber environmental footprint is small.
EDIT: Tubeless on the MTB, tubes on the road bike & commuter.
Can’t say I’ve ever seen a puncture hanging in a tree. How do you spot one? 😆
normally surrounded by a very nearly intact rubber torus
to get that many punctures with tubeless. Fact. (Sort of)
Yeah, exactly, sort of...
Before selling my WTBi35/Minion DHR rear wheel I managed to put at least 10 tubeless worms into it to keep it going.
Truth to be told, it is in general, quicker jobbie than popping inner tube.
... but occasionally you are unlucky and tube is the only way to save you from walking.
I'm all into tubeless but I still carry inner tubes as a Last Resort spare. Used it probably only 2 or 3 times over the course of 4 or 5 years but still it saved me walking or scraping the ride.
Cheers!
I.
Akira sed> I’ll put the tube in the bin but I save the air for the new tube.
But that recycled air is now contaminated with bad luck, surely best to leave it hanging from a tree with a couple of sausages hammered through to warn others.
Since buying a digital pressure gauge I've pretty much stopped carrying spare tubes or puncture repair gubbins, in the unlikely event of bikefail I'll just push back (unless a big day out). Stuff gets repaired at home and refitted until beyond serviceable hope.
I never swap the back in until needed.
I knot them once home, so I never use an unfixed one by accident, and once my 20 or so tubes are almost all punctured I do a few hours of fixing, leaving them inflated until I am convince they are fixed and then holding neatly rolled / folded with masking tape.
The masking tape can be reused the next time you have a puncture...rolling and taping gives your mate something to do while they laugh at your failure to go tubeless or ride smoothly.
Since buying a digital pressure gauge I’ve pretty much stopped carrying spare tubes or puncture repair gubbins
Eh?
I knot them
I'm glad its knot just me!
anagallis_arvensis sed> Eh?
Setting the ideal pressures before each ride has eliminated pinch flats and I haven't had punctures, so I stopped carrying the clutter.
Interesting examples of risk assessment going on above.
I'm prepared to carry the small amount of extra weight for the extremely unlikely scenario of a broken chain, because calling my wife to come pick me up when I'm 50 miles from home is out of the question as far as I'm concerned.
Same as not carrying tubes/pump etc. For the sake of a small amount of pocket space or the shame of using a saddle bag I'd much rather avoid a looooong walk home in cleats or the ignominious phone call.
I mean, my wife would come and collect me, probably, but it's not worth creating additional resistance to the idea of me going out for the next long ride etc.
and at the end of the day - if you get home early from a ride, they never remember. If you get home late, they never forget!
This is both a new tube and pair of patches. Not very easy to do trailside....
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This is both a new tube and pair of patches. Not very easy to do trailside….
It's really not.
Why not?
Brace tube is new.
Steel patches cover where the Reynolds 853 seatstays had rusted through (from the original brace tube collecting water)
Re-use, recycle and all that.
So in answer to the Op's title question I repair tubes but only swap in a new one 🙂
Nope. I swop out for a brand new out the box, after the check, then about a week later repair the old one, which is then added to the mountain of repaired innertubes I just never get around to using.
Volunteered for bike station a bit back and they had a mountain of innertubes and tyres 8'high. There was concern about the weight of it pressing on a structural wall 😯
Interesting examples of risk assessment going on above.
I’m prepared to carry the small amount of extra weight for the extremely unlikely scenario of a broken chain, because calling my wife to come pick me up when I’m 50 miles from home is out of the question as far as I’m concerned.
Indeed, but no one has answered my question from the last page about using an 11 speed quick link without the proper pliers, I couldnt get it done at home had to go to the shop and buy some. Not taking them on a ride so dont bother with chainlinks or tools on that bike. I expect I have a few 9 speed ones knocking about with other bikes. Also I have never bust a chain in 40years of riding, although have bent mech hangers etc and had to singlespeed a bike a few times, it never really works though!
So in answer to the Op’s title question I repair tubes but only swap in a new one 🙂
Very good.
Indeed, but no one has answered my question from the last page about using an 11 speed quick link without the proper pliers, I couldnt get it done at home had to go to the shop
Fair point, but you don't need to carry pliers
1/ with a bootlace / bit of string / bit of gear cable, that you could easily carry
2/ tyre lever solution (which you might carry anyway?)
3/ never tried myself but chainring and rock - you use the teeth on the chainring to create a slack link for the masterlink and then a sharp tap with a small tool / rock will undo it. I can't find a video or picture but I have seen one before (other's google-fu may be better)
Why would you need to undo a quick link on the trail?
Assuming the quick link is somehow knackered yet still joined, just drive the pin out with your chain tool?
I do see your (other) point though, I don't think I've broken a chain in oooh.... 10 years? Back in the day when I was a proper rider and rode stuff until it broke or wore out, rather than now when I have 5 bikes to choose from and barely ride 😀
Yep! Got afew repaired tubes I keep in the bag for emergencys, plus afew I'm running have patches in (was tubeless but one by one they've all failed, still to fix!)
No. Complete waste of time. A fixed tube is as good as a new tube.
This has reminded me to check the 3 year old sealant in my tyres though!
Indeed, but no one has answered my question from the last page about using an 11 speed quick link without the proper pliers
You'd only need to fit one on the trail, not remove one. You don't need a tool...assemble the link, gentle pressure on the pedals and perhaps squeeze the side plates together with your fingers and it's connected.
Pliers to remove are definitely easier, but you would never do that as a repair, if you had to break the chain for some reason, use a chain tool.
Bez
I always fix the tube there and then and put it back in. Then I don’t forget to fix it later.
Haven’t found Slime tubes to make patching difficult so far: just wipe the slime off first, obviously.
Pretty wasteful to bin a repairable tube. Only one step above leaving it at the road/trail side.
I always repair tubes. Needless waste otherwise and quite therapeutic to fix them.
I'll argue slime tubes are horrid things though. I could really feel the imbalance causing 'pulsing' at any sort of speed!
Also, since I've become the unofficial local 'pram mechanic', I hate the bloody things. Local Halfords stick a slime tube in a pram, when it inevitably punctures it doesn't seal (pressure not high enough?) and when I get the bloody thing I have to spend ages cleaning manky sealant off the tyre and tube (along with dog poo, glass, needles and whatever else the pram had been pushed through) before I can fix it.
It's also alarming how badly made even the expensive prams are - thin pressed steel, basic alloy tubes with flattened ends, rivets and no bearings or bushes at all or bearings with no method of preloading them so the axle just spins on the bearing seat, no way of taking the material off for cleaning without removing rivets. And shockingly they break and can't be fixed easily...
They make bikes look incredible value for money
You’d only need to fit one on the trail, not remove one. You don’t need a tool…assemble the link, gentle pressure on the pedals and perhaps squeeze the side plates together with your fingers and it’s connected.
True, but it was beyond me this year on two 11 speed bikes when they got new chains and cassettes. Was always able to do it easy on 9 speed. Maybe it was me. Never had a chain break either so I don't bother with a chain tool on the bike these days, or carry split links. Might if I was off touring or something, but not for a day ride.
I've just realised that I'm doing something daft. I'm tubeless on my FS & tubed on the HT. The most flats I've ever had was 5 thorns at once on the HT so I should really be tubeless on that.
Most patches on one tube? 15.
If you chuck a tube away after one puncture then youv'e got more money than puncture fixing ability. And sense.
Funny that this should be bumped today! Had to use my Dynaplug for the second time ever today. Son reports soft front tyre, second time we pump it up he says he can hear the air escaping, and we find its next to an old repair. I think the plug prob won’t work as funny shaped hole, jam one in anyway. Quick pump and we’re away. Brilliant invention. Swinnertons have the carbon ones for £20, treat yourself 😊
What patches are people using?
I used to like the Park ones but recently they always seem to fail.
Any glue type - working through a sheet that you cut patches off ATM
I've seen glueless fail too many times at road pressures
Rema Tip Top
It's one of the very few things I don't recycle/reuse. I can repair punctures and did this for years on the mtb. The only tubes I have now are 18-25mm and easily distort. Rightly or wrongly for the 1-2 punctures I get each year I replace and accept this is wasteful. Eventually all the bikes will be tubeless!
The only tubes I have now are 18-25mm and easily distort.
I don't think it matters when they are in a tyre.
Eventually all the bikes will be tubeless!
I doubt this tbh. But you don't need to keep binning tubes to facilitate it.
all my bikes will be tubeless. and the distortion may not matter once inside the tyre but this is what I do - I'm not saying it is right.
all my bikes will be tubeless
you know it's 2020 right? Why has it taken you so long 😉
Has anyone used one of the self-sealing tubes in a 700x40mm tyre?
Eventually all the bikes will be tubeless!
Nonsense. See how tubs work. Never seen a tubeless tub.
Rema patches ftw, with two minutes to let the glue vulcanise properly. Except on proper latex tubes. They are the beat to fix.
Has anyone used one of the self-sealing tubes in a 700x40mm tyre?
Yep, some cheap Halfords numbers. Doing OK for my 37 and 40c on Plug.
Cheers!
I.
Nonsense. See how tubs work. Never seen a tubeless tub.
Tubs are either tubeless tyres, or tireless tubes, Shirley?