Mountain Biking - mini-frame pump or C02 pump ...or both?

I hope to take delivery of my Hardrock Comp today, and the salesman thinks it best to have both the mini-frame pump, and the C02 canister system. He indicated that the frame pump alone will not provide enough pressure, if I get a flat out on the trails, etc...

What do you all think? Thanks!!

Greg

>>frame pump alone will not provide enough pressure

Total bull. Mini pumps can be used up to about 90psi with relative ease. Pumping up a road tyre to 120psi with a mini-pump can be tricky, but MTB usually take less than 50psi.
A CO2 canister is only useful if you race, and need to shave seconds off your repair time. Otherwise, you still need to cary a pump in case you run out of CO2. Why bother when a pump can do the job on its own.

There's been a few discussions on this one in the past.

I carry a mini-pump on both my MTB and road bike.

The pump gives me plenty of pressure for my MTB and if I puncture on my road bike I only ever need enough pressure to get me home to my track pump. Having said that, if I was in the middle of a long ride on the road bike, the pressure I can get, while not optimum, is still fine for a lot of km.

Great info, guys! I appreciate it. The C02 pump he was showing me at the shop is also a hand pump. It sells for about $29.00. So; it seconds as a regular pump. What do you think?

I think it is this one....(in the middle) Innovations Slim Jim Pump/Inflator
http://www.nashbar.com/productimages/medium/IN-SJ.gif

Given the choice to start with; which would you recommend? A standard mini-frame pump, or this unit?

Thanks!

Greg :beer:

I plan to pick up both. I just do not have the upper body strength to pump my tire to my satisfaction with a hand pump, but I'm figuring I could use the pump to get as much air as possible in there, then switch over to the CO2 pump to finish it off.

Koff

My only concern with CO2 is if I get a flat, use the CO2, then find there's still glass in the tyre that I missed, I could run out of cartridges pretty quickly.

With a pump, I just go back and start again - free.

That combined pump looks like a great idea. I certainly consider one.

I would get the combined pump. Media creations is right in that the co2 pump is purely an expeditious tool when time is a factor, especially in races. However, my time is such a precious commodity I get pissed if I have to spend any extra seconds pumping up a flat tire during recreational rides. By the way, purchase the cartridges at Walmart gun department for 1/5 the cost for replacements at the LBS.

Thanks everyone. I think I will go ahead and get the combined pump/C02 system. Seems to be a good option.

:beer:

Greg