Article: BASIC INFO. ABOUT TUBE PATCHING

I don't have the decades of riding experience that some here have,
started again 4 years ago. But along with my own flats I've patched
my wife's flats and my three boys. All I've ever used are the little
square plastic patches with adhesive already applied. No scuffing,
no glue to apply, just peel it off the paper (like a no-lick stamp) and
press it over the hole. Park makes them (Super Patch GP-2) and many
bike shops sell them or equivalent, sometimes private labeled.
(I have no interest in their sale or manufacture)
Never had a failure. Replaced tube on my mountain bike after two years
when I replaced the tire, 8 little patches, no failures. Same experience
with
the rest of the family. Road bike has a patch on rear wheel about 2 years
old
with no noticeable effect. Same on rest of family bikes...seven at present.
Some of the patches have over a thousand miles on them.
Yet every time patching topic comes up everyone talks about the
sandpaper, glue, and patch. The preglued patches are referred
to with disdain. I even bought the little patches and glue but honestly
why take the trouble when such an easy alternative is available?
I'm approaching my golden years and I can't maintain the pace of
the As and Bs but I don't see how an average speed of 20+mph would make a
difference and I'm pretty much a Clysdale so they certainly handle the
weight.
A box of six patches comes in a little plastic box the size of 3 quarters
piled up.
I've used them on pinchflats (kids and curbs) and regular punctures;
always successfully. I last used the rubber patch and glue tube as a kid
over
40 years ago. Why does the discussion still go there when there is now
such an easy alternative?