Glueless patches - do they work?

[punkypossum]

I have asked this question in the middle of a cafe thread, but thought I pose it seperately as well...

As it was p-day yesterday, I fixed one of mine with one of those glueless stick on patches. So far it seems fine, but I heard somewhere they have a tendency to peel of after a couple of days.

So, anybody got any experience? Do they last and if so, how long? Is it worth trying or am I better off peeling it off and fixing it with a glue patch?

 

[John the Monkey]

I can only remember them peeling after rushing the surface preparation (not sanding the tube as thoroughly as I might) personally, although I've only ever used a couple.

I much prefer swapping the tube and doing an "old fashioned" patch at home.

 

[dan_bo]

I've had no prolems with the park branded ones so far, but I do like to keep a 'proper' outfit at home...........

 

[Mr Pig]

I've used those, don't know what brand they were, and they worked ok. Not as good as glued patches I don't think. You really need to kneed them on and the tube has to be very clean where as glued patches just stick.

Put it this way, I carry glue-less patches but any tube I've fixed over the past few years has had a glued patch put on it. I have more confidence in them.

 

[ArDee]

They've worked for me on inner tubes for Mountain bike tyres for me; but, tended to come adrift on high pressure tyres. That may have been the higher pressure or may be I rushed the preparation of the tyre prior to sticking the patch on.

 

[numbnuts]

Park work well for me

 

[Tynan]

got some park ones, they came free with some levers, never used them, I'm happy using glue and chalk and stuff and they're so clearly bomb proof when done right that that works for me

 

[swee'pea99]

I think once they're stuck, they're stuck. They either come off straightaway or not at all. FWIW, I think the trick is apply very light abrasion, then make sure the tube is really clean.

 

[arallsopp]

Am a big fan of the glue on patches tbh. Its not like the glue tube takes up a lot of room or weighs much. P*nct*red this morning, without either of course, and ended it with a nice ~5 mile walk. Grrr.. That'll teach me.

Back on topic, its a 10 minute thing with either method. Knock out a minute for the glue to dry, and you add in another 60 seconds of prep and pray. I like to keep the pray time to a minimum, so its glue on all the way for me.

00:00 God Strikes
00:15 Pray that its not really going down.
00:25 Accept, and wobble to a halt.
01:25 Find place to rest bike
02:10 QR Wheel off. Repair kit in hand
04:10 Issue located, tyre checked.
04:20 Accept its on the seam
04:50 Sanded
05:20 Glued
06:20 Waiting for glue to dry
06:50 Reinflate a little
07:10 Chalked
07:40 Tyre on
08:50 Tyre pumped
09:15 Wheel back on
10:00 Check and roll

 

[Steve Austin]

The park patches are the best patches you can get ime, but they're expensive. The foam backed ones work very well on MTB tubes, but they're not sticky enough for road tyres.
Scabs are rubbish, but they are easy to find when they fall off because of the lurid green colour

 

[Flying Dodo]

Parks patches are good. My record for one lasting is about 5 years, before the inner tube had too many repairs overall and had to be ditched.

Although they are expensive, they're handy especially if it's wet as I find the traditional glue & patch just doesn't stick properly when the air is very damp.

 

[barq]

The park patches are the best patches you can get ime, but they're expensive. The foam backed ones work very well on MTB tubes, but they're not sticky enough for road tyres.

Agreed. Of foam backed ones I've had the best experience with 'Leeches' from Halfords (yes, I know...).

 

[mondobongo]

These look interesting got a good review in Cycling Weekly.

 

[Tynan]

I find the traditional glue & patch just doesn't stick properly when the air is very damp.

really? I always get the impression you could use trad patches and glue under water, my last one was done in heavy snow

 

[punkypossum]

These look interesting got a good review in Cycling Weekly.

Cool! They are the ones I'm using - feeling hopeful now!