Preparation is the key!
If the tube surface is properly roughed up and treated with a good amount of adhesive the patch will stick. One should let the adhesive get tacky before applying the patch.
The tube surface needs to be properly dissolved in order to make a good weld.
I leave the waxed paper backing on the patch to help avoid it then sticking to the tyre.
You *also* need to leave the tube deflated until the adhesive has *completely* set, and dust the patch with talcum powder to keep it from sticking to the inside of the tire and getting pulled loose. It’s a tall order to do all of that by the side of the road, or in the middle of the woods.
On my first trip through Eire I started with a tube that had already 7 or 8 patches. I returned with a tube that had 15 after a little bit more than 1,3 Mm
In 2005 I bought a Pashley Roadster Sovereign, which came as a factory standard with Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires. Suddenly I stopped getting punctures!
Before that I was riding the Schwinn Collegiate that I had since I was a teenager. Patches galore! But none of them ever came off. Yehuda is not putting his patches on correctly. Or better yet, he should get Kevlar tires. As a shop owner, he should know better.
I should add that with Schwalbe tires and a properly manufactured bicycle, I’ve stopped carrying a patch kit or any kind of tools. Not needed, so why bother.
Yep. I once did a 200km Brevet with Marathon Plus tires. When I finished I pulled 20+ goat head thorns out of the tires. Riders were having flats all during the day.
Does not insure me against faulty tracking wearing a stripe on the front tyres though – My only puncture was when the tube was eventually exposed and it burst through the hole and ‘BANG’
At least I have 3 wheels so the only clue that I had a flat was the steering getting ‘strange’
A helpful roadie had a pump and I was able to fit a patch and armour the hole with some material.
It got me to a nearby bike shop where I got the necessary stuff to get me home.
I am still making fine adjustments to the tracking…
Ok, we are missing the main course. I am wondering about Brother Pilot and the Councilman and his wife. Fred and we are ready for closure. I can imagine Rick and Brian are cocking something really good. I can smell it from here.
Agree with Tencon. Once I started following the directions, viola!, the patches stuck. Just put a third one on my rear tube yesterday. Somehow, the new gaterskin got punctured.
Google just got me the detail that 1 million Metres can be called a ‘Mega Metre’
However – MM, Mm is The SI unit for ‘Millimetre’
Something of a difference I think
(1,000,000,000 times 1 millimetre would be a Mega Metre I think )
If you get a puncture or gash that the sealant can’t fix, then patches have a very hard time holding on. At that point its a new tube, hope you’ve got one in your pocket
Remember the goop in the tube is not adhesive and not a glue. Its a VULCANISING AGENT, and its job is to screw up the surface of the butyl rubber tube so that it physically merges with the rubber on the patch.
That’s why its critical to wait for the liquid to dry, and not just mash the patch on.
Spare tubes are much quicker, so do your patching at home.
Preparation is the key!
If the tube surface is properly roughed up and treated with a good amount of adhesive the patch will stick. One should let the adhesive get tacky before applying the patch.
The tube surface needs to be properly dissolved in order to make a good weld.
I leave the waxed paper backing on the patch to help avoid it then sticking to the tyre.
You *also* need to leave the tube deflated until the adhesive has *completely* set, and dust the patch with talcum powder to keep it from sticking to the inside of the tire and getting pulled loose. It’s a tall order to do all of that by the side of the road, or in the middle of the woods.
Also, I have been known to make new patches from old tubes
On my first trip through Eire I started with a tube that had already 7 or 8 patches. I returned with a tube that had 15
after a little bit more than 1,3 Mm
In 2005 I bought a Pashley Roadster Sovereign, which came as a factory standard with Schwalbe Marathon Plus tires. Suddenly I stopped getting punctures!
Before that I was riding the Schwinn Collegiate that I had since I was a teenager. Patches galore! But none of them ever came off. Yehuda is not putting his patches on correctly. Or better yet, he should get Kevlar tires. As a shop owner, he should know better.
I should add that with Schwalbe tires and a properly manufactured bicycle, I’ve stopped carrying a patch kit or any kind of tools. Not needed, so why bother.
Whilst I agree that Marathon Plus are the bee’s knees, I’m not sure I’d go so far as to not carry a patch kit or tools…
Yep. I once did a 200km Brevet with Marathon Plus tires. When I finished I pulled 20+ goat head thorns out of the tires. Riders were having flats all during the day.
I’m with Yehuda I never trust a patched tube.
Marathon Plus is what I use on my Velomobile.
Does not insure me against faulty tracking wearing a stripe on the front tyres though – My only puncture was when the tube was eventually exposed and it burst through the hole and ‘BANG’
At least I have 3 wheels so the only clue that I had a flat was the steering getting ‘strange’
A helpful roadie had a pump and I was able to fit a patch and armour the hole with some material.
It got me to a nearby bike shop where I got the necessary stuff to get me home.
I am still making fine adjustments to the tracking…
I figure it’s better to have a patched tube in the tire and a new one in my bag than the other way around.
Ok, we are missing the main course. I am wondering about Brother Pilot and the Councilman and his wife. Fred and we are ready for closure. I can imagine Rick and Brian are cocking something really good. I can smell it from here.
Agree with Tencon. Once I started following the directions, viola!, the patches stuck. Just put a third one on my rear tube yesterday. Somehow, the new gaterskin got punctured.
It took me a while to figure that out, but (if you’ll pardon my American command of SI) did you ride 1,300km?
Is the Mega-Meter a common unit in cycling?
Above was intended as a reply to Wolfgang.
Google just got me the detail that 1 million Metres can be called a ‘Mega Metre’
)
However – MM, Mm is The SI unit for ‘Millimetre’
Something of a difference I think
(1,000,000,000 times 1 millimetre would be a Mega Metre I think
Actually Mm is correct for Megameter, millimeter is mm. Meter’s symbol is lowercase m
Marathon Plus will never flat but they ride TERRIBLE, like wrapping your tire in a garden hose full of Silly-Putty.
I switched to the Touring Plus from Continental and seen almost no flats and a much better ride.
‘Touring Plus from Continental’ is only available in 28″ sizes though.
So not available in 20″ for my Velomobile
Tubeless, end of problem. Heeheehee, breaking out my flamesuit.
Is the maintenance of the sealant inside the tubeless any easier than fixing the occasional punctured tube?
For me it is. I have over 10,000 miles of puncture free riding. I just added the sealant to my 2,000 mile tune up/adjustment cycle.
If you get a puncture or gash that the sealant can’t fix, then patches have a very hard time holding on. At that point its a new tube, hope you’ve got one in your pocket
Remember the goop in the tube is not adhesive and not a glue. Its a VULCANISING AGENT, and its job is to screw up the surface of the butyl rubber tube so that it physically merges with the rubber on the patch.
That’s why its critical to wait for the liquid to dry, and not just mash the patch on.
Spare tubes are much quicker, so do your patching at home.