A recurring theme in bicycle discussions is the use of patch kits to fix flat tires. Some people claim they
work poorly and are unreliable, while others claim they are great and
last forever. Who is right? I'll go ahead and agree with the latter, that they are very reliable and will last as long as the rest of the tube will, but only when used correctly.
I think many people do not use patch kits correctly, which is the root of the problem! (Tuning up your bike and not sure if everything is being covered?
See my tuneup checklist.)
Instead of just saying "follow the instructions in your kit" in an article on fixing flats, let's review a little more in depth with the most common type of patch kit, which uses
vulcanizing glue (all the vulcanizing kits are pretty much the same, though I've heard good things about the
Rema Tip Top TT-02).
