Bicycle Inner Tube Patches
Download File ->>->>->> https://urlin.us/2tllum
Bicycle Inner Tube Patches
The Tubolito Flix-Kit is a cheap and very effective way to repair expensive TPU inner tubes. The overall process will be familiar to many, although the time it takes to dry fully is significantly longer than a regular puncture repair kit, so it's better for use at home than for mid-ride flat-fixing.
The kit consists of 10 patches, which are essentially just small sections of TPU material, five small alcohol wipes and a small tub of specific glue. It's all supplied in a small cardboard box, which is good for green credentials but not really suitable for taking with you on a ride. Not that I'd recommend trying to repair a tube on your ride...
Over the last few years I have experimented with TPU inner tubes from several brands, their incredibly low weight and space saving being the main draw. All TPU inner tubes are expensive, typically costing 25 to 30 each, and despite some fantastic performance, I have had some disappointment with punctures and then an inability to form a permanent repair.
While I was testing the Schwalbe Aerothan inner tubes last year Schwalbe suggested using glueless patches designed for butyl tubes. While they would hold for a short time, they all eventually failed when pumped up to typical road tyre pressures.
Unfortunately, this kit came into use early on in testing the Tubolito S-Tubo CX/Gravel inner tube, as I experienced a puncture on the first ride. I've also used the kit since to repair the Schwalbe Aerothans, and it's worked well.
At this stage (at home), I found it helped to clamp the patch and tube between two hard surfaces, such as hardback books, and put a weighted object on top. Doing that, I found the patches stuck very strongly.
Five of the patches are circular and five elliptical. I tended to only use the circular ones, even on one snakebite puncture (when the tube impacts both rim walls at the same time); the elliptical patches are quite short and likely to only suit narrow road bike rims, not wider rims found on gravel bikes and mountain bikes.
While there are certain benefits to TPI inner tubes, I was previously put off by what I thought was the inability to repair them. With the Tubolito Flix-Kit, repairs are now possible and while the process does take longer than a standard butyl repair, the patches are strong and reliable and save you having to throw away expensive TPU inner tubes.
The patches take a lot longer to work than a typical butyl tube patch, but they provide a very reliable seal once fully dried and cured. For the money, I would recommend them to everyone who uses TPU inner tubes.
As any ardent biker can tell you, tire punctures become increasingly likely the more you use your bike. And, more especially, you cannot afford to go off-road biking without one of these kits. From striking a pointy rock or picking up a spike in a back lane, a bike patch kit might make the difference between getting home and having to walk several miles or waiting by the side of the road for help. Therefore, the best course of action in those circumstances is to repair your inner tubes using a bike patch kit.
These are also handy if you cannot remove the wheel to change the tube for whatever reason. Often, a puncture may be fixed without actually removing the wheel. The finest patch kits will provide you with a quick, reliable fix for a punctured inner tube, saving you from having to throw it away and maybe allowing you to use it for years. Even if you only replace a tube while moving, you can still fix the problem when you reach home.
Strengthened inner tube: Because it adds another layer of protection, the strengthened inner tube can effectively avoid punctures. In addition, some inner tubes are highly durable because they have a special sealant that can quickly fix punctures and contain butyl. Although it weighs about 0.85 pounds, its advantages are substantial and more than justify its weight.
Make sure you use the appropriate inner tube if you intend to use a wider tire. Like tires, inner tubes have different diameters. The rubber of the inner tube will be stretched too thin if you purchase a tire with a 0.98-inch width but keep a tube with a 0.90-inch width, increasing your risk of getting a flat. To be safe, choose a tube that is the proper size for your tire.
Start by cutting the inner tube and sand paper into smaller sizes. The Inner tube should be cut into patch like shapes, circles or ovals not squares and rectangles. Also when cutting the inner tube make sure to cut the final patch with the scissors on an angle so that the patch has beveled edges, slanting up to the center of the patch. The sand paper can be cut to whatever size is convenient, if you're using sand paper.
If you've never had need to use a patch kit or this patch kit is a different kind then the ones your familiar with this is how to use it.1- locate hole, this patch will only work on small holes so if your whole tire is blown up then you'll need a new one. The best way to find a leak is to first take the tube out of the bike, just like replacing a tube. Pump the tube up a little bit, listen and feel for ware the air is escaping. Run the tube around your ear when you hear something, move the tube down a little so you can feel the air on your cheek. A faster but less trail side way is to submerge the slightly inflated tube and look for bubbles. Also be sure to check the inside of the tire to avoid a re-puncture by the same object, mark with chalk (or mud) the location of the tire .2- scratch up the patch and the tube, sandpaper is best but just plain sand or gravel can also do the job. Roughen up the area around the hole and the back (white) side of the patch. 3 - contact cement. Apply a little cement to the back side of the patch and the tire tube, less is more in this case just a thin layer will do. Next wait for the cement to get sticky, once it is sticky apply the patch. For more detailed info on how to use contact cement see back of the tin. 4 - wait a bit and then re-insert the tube into the tire and pump up, these patches if done correctly can last for years. One of my friends ran on four patches for two years, before selling the bike complete with patches.
Thanks. I fixed 2 tubes with 8 and 7 inches long cut alont the tubes. This is for a road bike. Works great. Bought 3 oz contact cement in a small hard-to-break glass bottle for $4 plus at Lowe. A nice brush is part of the cap. Done with buying endless patches. Wonderful!
Thanks so much. Fixed 2 blown up inner tubes with 8 inch and 7 inch cut along the tubes. Works great. This is a road bike. Holding 70 psi. Bought contact cement from Lows (sp). comes with small hrad to brake glass bottle with very nice bruch as part of the cap. It was $4 plus, Thanks, done with buying patches.
thanks, i already use used tubes as an endless supply of patches, but i couldn't remember if i needed rubber or contact cement - i have a can or two i hope it didn't freeze though - and i though about sand paper for the scratcher too - just make sure to clean the area again after sanding
This seems like a very harden-prone method of carrying the rubber cement...I think I'd rather just buy the tubes of cement, with the infrequency I get flats away from home and the little glue they take. The important thing, of course, is that when you get that third hole (you were carrying a spare tube, weren't you the glue doesn't set completely all that fast) you still have patch material and usable rubber cement to repair it. Also, I'd advise against using sand, because it's liable to stay on the tube, defeating the purpose of sanding in the first place (this actually isn't to rough up the rubber--it's to remove the talcum powder left over from manufacture, which is what prevents the insides of the tube from sticking together). Although it is a very resourceful idea, you also risk contaminating the inside of the tire/rim, which could lead to another flat. So I guess you could do it, but make sure you clean the heck out of the areas exposed to sand (although we all know sand gets into everything). ALSO, minor nitpick: please don't call panniers saddlebags. It's that kind of general misinformation that makes it impossible to get good search results when you're looking for a saddle bag (bicycle "seats" are actually technically saddles, so-called because they're not meant to support all your weight). In conclusion, thanks for the ideas, cool hatchet, and I hope your trip was awesome! I hope to go on one like it sometime.
These glueless bicycle tire patches are convenient and easy to use. Works on most bicycle inner tubes and other inflatable items. Kit includes 6 small circle tire tube patches and 1 small sandpaper piece in a compact portable plastic case.
- Underinflated tire: Slamming a curb or pothole with an underinflated tire can cause a "pinch flat" that breaks the inner tube even without any hole in the tire. If you ever got a flat and couldn't figure out why, this is likely the reason.
- If you're riding a junker, a lot more can go wrong: spokes can poke through the rim and into the tube, the rim tape can be out of place or disintegrating (this tape normally protects the underside of the inner tube from sharp bits on the rim), the valve on the inner tube can leak. If you get a flat on a junker, anything can be suspect, which is why your flat kit should include rim tape.
Your bike shop can hook you up with this equipment, and it will fit easily into any backpack or handbag. You may prefer a spare inner tube instead of patches -- it's bigger, but you don't have to spend any time finding holes in a popped tube. But carry patches even if you have a spare tube.
Practice changing your inner tube and using patches a couple of times at home before venturing out into the world. Try both the front and rear wheels. You don't want to be figuring out what does and doesn't work at a rainy bus stop late at night.
- Pump: There are some really tiny mini-pumps out there, but if you don't have one, a gas station is the most reliable option since they often have an outdoor air pump available 24 hours a day. Your bike shop can get you Schrader-to-Presta valve adapters that will let you use the gas station pump on any type of inner tube. Gas station pumps will fill a bike tire in just a couple seconds, so be ready to stop filling fast! In more remote areas, locals with pickup trucks often have tire pumps. 59ce067264