Repairing/patching flats

Scott Alexander

I've been going thru a lot of tubes lately, mostly because TX roads SUCK (went over several 1+ mile sections of grated pre-paving sections yesterday), plus being a big dood I get a lot of pinch flats from pavement seams.

Being that tubes are about $6ish each, I started to experiment repairing my own tubes.

Here's a pic of three that I did last week (I have another 3 to do after this first experiment):

They seem to be holding air, which is good. I am a bit worried about the one on the right, which looks deformed a little. I'm wondering if I tried to use that one, it would make a kah-thunk-a-thunk sound/feel every time it went around. That would be rather annoying.

Any tips/advice for me on how to ensure these are good to go, and how to do more in the future?

Coach Rich

Posted By Scott Alexander on 19 May 2013 10:18 AM

I've been going thru a lot of tubes lately, mostly because TX roads SUCK (went over several 1+ mile sections of grated pre-paving sections yesterday), plus being a big dood I get a lot of pinch flats from pavement seams.

Being that tubes are about $6ish each, I started to experiment repairing my own tubes.

Here's a pic of three that I did last week (I have another 3 to do after this first experiment):

They seem to be holding air, which is good. I am a bit worried about the one on the right, which looks deformed a little. I'm wondering if I tried to use that one, it would make a kah-thunk-a-thunk sound/feel every time it went around. That would be rather annoying.

Any tips/advice for me on how to ensure these are good to go, and how to do more in the future?

Yeah, don't patch tubes. Always buy and install new tubes. $6 is fancy coffee and half a muffin. Well worth it for piece of mind.

Al Truscott

Inflate it, hold it under water. I sometimes patch small pin holes, and use them on race days, eg in special needs at an IM. Today, a patched tube got me thru the last 14 miles of Am Zof. But it comes out when I come home.

Sorry, Rich, It's my father, the child of the depression, who used ONE ply of a single two ply TP sheet to blow his nose, repaired his glasses ( and everything else) with epoxy, etc.

Jeff Sullivan

@ Scott...Bike Nashbar tubes = $3.95.... an old "indian trick" = baby powder inside the tire before inserting the tube eliminates pinch flats

Jeff Unruh

The baby powder trick works VERY well!!

Scott Alexander

Baby powder??? Please elaborate!

Jeff Sullivan

Baby Powder....hold tire vertcally in one hand...pour some baby powder into the tire @ 6 oclock position....then rotate tire (like it's rolling) so the baby powder spreads all along the inside surface (inside circumference)...this provides a very slippery surface where the tube contacts...virtually eliminating pinch flats ....then you can insert a partially inflated tube into the tire....locate stem and tire label to your liking....put onto rim as an assembly by putting the stem thru the rim and slipping one bead of tire over the rim....start the other bead over the rim and work your way around the rim....having the tube partially inflated makes pinching tube almost impossible during install.....the baby powder works well as anti friction agent while riding

Dino Sarti

They only tube repair trick I have seen is for the side of the road. I have guys flat, replace with new and then patch the flat and jam in their pocket. The idea is that if they double flat, they can then try the repaired tube. But, once home safe, repaired tube goes in the trash....

John Schneider

Earlier this month I bought some tubes at bike source that were pre-coated with baby powder/talc came in a little zippy.

robin sarner

Specialist has a pre-talced series of tubes.    very light.   great for carrying as extras.   up to 60 mm valves.

bmr94539

On my commute I used to get a flat every week or two.  For commuting I now have tuffy's in my tires (go between the tire and the tube).  These things are awesome and actually quite thin and light and now I don't get flats anymore (maybe I shouldn't jinx it).  A few months ago I pulled a two inch wood screw out of my tire that literally went in the tire, hit the tuffy, and then went out the sidewall.  I just unscrewed it and rode home, no tube replacement required.  Of course, I replaced the tire when I got home since it now had a large hole in it .

Scott Alexander

@Rich, can wheelbuilder do a big group buy on regular tubes for super cheap prices?

bmr94539

And as for cheap tubes, I used to always buy the cheapest performance tubes.  They were fine until one of them failed at a seam during a descent.  I luckily was able to keep from crashing, but that cured me from cheap tubes.  I only buy continentals or michelin now .