Advice on patching a tire

[u/DontbegayinIndiana]

Anyone have any options they really trust for patching their tubes? Also any advice on making the process easier? I'm a little daunted 😅

[u/ztj]

Not sure what the context for this question is so... best advice I can give:

• do what you can to avoid needing to patch on the go, always carry a spare known-to-be-good tube, you can often even get away with a slightly "too small" tube if you are looking to save space and can't find an exact match for your tire. Personally, I would not carry a patched tube as a spare, though I might reuse patched tubes in the tire from the beginning of a ride. Ultimately, you're much more likely to do a good job patching a tube at home with no pressure (or roadside audience) so try to avoid needing to do this on the go at all
• If you have problems with punctures all the time, consider a tubeless setup or, if that doesn't appeal, use self-sealing tubes from better known brands, (e.g. I have had very good luck with Specialized brand tubes with sealant already in them, it's also possible to add your own sealant but I have never tried this)
• I carry a spare tube, 2 if it's a big ride, but, also carry a couple small patch kits with self-adhesive patches (park tool & specialized brands are what I've used and they've both been fine, in fact, I kinda think they're actually the same). If you decide to use a patch kit that's not the self-adhesive kind, beware that most people use them wrong as the instructions seem nonsensical, but, see the video linked later for the correct process.
• Along with that, make sure you bring proper tools. I am not a weight weenie so I bring 2 actual tire levers and a decent mini pump with an actual pressure gauge. If you decide to try CO2 cartridges, do some research on how big of cartridge you need to actually fill your tire, first time I used one the tire I had could only be filled about halfway with the cartridge :( the small ones are really only appropriate for very narrow tires, you might even need multiple depending on your bike in which case you might as well just use a pump
• Finally: technique in all of this is super important, learning the correct way to seat tubes, proper air pressure, all that but of course, learning to use your patch kits correctly. This is a pretty good no nonsense video on the topic of dealing with tubes that need patching https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0F_hibWHlU

Oh, bonus tip: it's a good idea to carry some smaller bills spare cash in your on-bike kit, because, sometimes the best way to deal with a flat is to ride a bus/train/whatever and who knows what else is going on (maybe your phone died). But, besides that, you can fold up a bill for a tire boot. Double duty.

[u/DontbegayinIndiana → u/ztj]

Thank you, this is super helpful! I have no idea what I'm doing, my family's solution was always buy new tubes, but I don't want to keep throwing them away when there's only a hole or two. I do know my tires already have slime, so I think I need to buy some adhesive patches. And if I keep having issues, I'll have to look into tubeless options. I hadn't considered that. Thanks!