patches on tubes.

[gavroche]

how many times can you patch a tube before it is knackered? I only have two patches on my rear tube so far. Plenty of space all round for more!

 

[HLaB]

Lol, I had one patch on my rear a few weeks ago, then I had a visit from the fairy followed instantaneously by two snake bites, so there are four patches on that. I got a snakebite on the front last Thursday and noted 4 when I fixed that too. So four is the limit for me at the moment

 

[Cyclopathic]

I've never had a patch fail (touch wood) and so have never felt the need to replace a tube because of excessive patching. However I don't think I've ever sported a tube with more than about 4 or 5 patches on it. What I might do is buy a couple of spares for if I need one when out and about but swap the tubes for the new ones and keep the patched ones as spares.

Probably the time one absolutely should change is when there is more than 50% surface area covered by patch.
I wonder who is ir has run a tube with the most patches.

 

[Wades]

I think when you start patching your patches it's time to buy a new tube!

 

[biggs682]

i found the tubes were giving a flat spot where repaired so stopped patching and just replace now

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I'll normally replace a tube when it gets more than three patches on it. Patches can lift and give you another flat, also tubes can split under a patch and give you another flat.

 

[oliglynn]

with tubes selling as low as £2.50 in sales, I don't bother patching now either

 

[400bhp]

I can understand the wish to throw stuff away, but I don't like the throw away culture.

It only takes 3-4 mins to patch a tube.

 

[totallyfixed]

I agree, in the past I have always repaired the tube as soon as I could but once up to 3 or 4 patches it's time for a new tube. Apart from one pinch flat [I hit a rock] I haven't had a puncture in over 3 years with the tyres I use and neither has Mrs TF.

 

[Svendo]

When I was a kid and did my cycling proficiency (28/5/1980 checking the framed certificate ) I'm sure it was up to 12 per tube. My tubes normally suffer some other fatal failure before that though, valve comes loose, split too big to repair, puncture too close to previous repair etc. etc.

 

[growingvegetables]

I think when you start patching your patches it's time to buy a new tube!

+1

 

[ColinJ]

I'm happy to have (say) 4 patches on a tube, but beyond that I tend to relegate them to 'donor' status (spare tubes that I carry as a 2nd or 3rd spare but which can also be donated to stranded cyclists who need one).

When I was a kid and did my cycling proficiency (28/5/1980 checking the framed certificate ) I'm sure it was up to 12 per tube. My tubes normally suffer some other fatal failure before that though, valve comes loose, split too big to repair, puncture too close to previous repair etc. etc.

Crikey Svendo - you don't look old enough to have done your cycling proficiency test in 1980; how old were you when you took it!

I took mine in 1965!

(PS - are you doing Season of Mists again this year?)

 

[albion]

Has to depend on what tyres you use.With marathon plus, even as much as 50 patches on a tube would go unnoticed.

 

[tyred]

If there is room for one more patch, it's still good.

Done properly, the patch won't fail.

 

[DiddlyDodds]

I have never patched a tube , far to lazy to spend time fiddling with glue and patches, for the number of punctures i get i just stick a new tube in.