At one point or another every cyclist will succumb to a flat while out riding. What then makes for a painless effort repairing such a killjoy?
Repair Kits Not Created Equal
As far back as I can remember, I have used what I consider to be a traditional tire repair kit. It consisted of rubber cement glue, an inner tube patch, and sandpaper or equivalent for scuffing the surface to be patched. Very simple and straightforward.
The process often required some light work. Scuffing the surface of the inner tube, placing a generous amount of rubber cement glue around the puncture including allowing for covering the area that the selected patch will be applied. Waiting for the glue to dry to a slight stickiness which is prime for bonding with the patch. With the patch applied, placing some pressure on the patch for several minutes helps to make sure a good bond between the two.
What these steps need is upwards of 10–minutes of your time and patience. Not a terrible amount. Not until you realize a better approach is available.
Pre-glued Tire Repair Kit
A recent visit to the local bike shop in made such a discovery for me. The usual tire patch repair kit was out of stock. A quick glance around in the section offered no alternatives. I browsed around a bit and head towards the exit in disappointment. As I neared the registers, I noticed some last-minute checkout bins that had some tire repair kits among other items on display.
I picked up something called Skabs made by Slime. The package said peel & stick. “Oh really,” I thought. That is pretty bold considering the practice accustomed to.
I needed something because I had no repair kits left in my pouch. And if I should get a flat without anything handy I am at a disadvantage.
I grabbed several packages, paid for them, and headed out the door. I knew the worst that could happen is that they not work as well as the words on the package advertised.
My first flat came just days later. To summarize a mundane process of a tire repair, the patches worked like a charm. I was very pleased with how effortless the experience was. The lack of sticky fingers from the rubber cement and the need to press and hold the patch to the inner tube were a welcomed absence.
Another benefit of the Skabs tire patch repair kit is that the package is quite small. When compared to its traditional counterpart–which must be about twice in length to accommodate the rubber cement glue–it is a convenient size.
I found the Skabs tire repair kit an awesome upgrade over the traditional method I had been accustom to since childhood.
Converted to Skabs Glue-less Patches
I give this awesome product a 4 out 5 rating. The reason it falls short of a 5–star rating is that there are no large patches offered in this peel and stick package. Though it is highly unlikely that you would need them it is nice to know you have them should you have a major issue. (There is the tire repair kit offered which includes larger patches but introduces the rubber cement back into the repair effort.)