Tandem Cycling - CO2 cartridges - interesting reading from Zinn at VeloNews

While I don't use CO2 cartridges, I did find this series of articles and letters from Lennard Zinn at VeloNews Tech Q&A and readers concerning CO2 cartridges very interesting and educational and I'm sure many reader do make use of CO2 cartridges. It all began with a reader asking why, since a CO2 molecule is larger than an oxygen or nitrogen atom, would CO2 leak faster from a tire than air...
http://www.velonews.com/article/87175

which then led to why won't airlines allow CO2 cartridges even in checked luggage since CO2 cartridges are used to inflate the life jackets and "what's in those "big air" bottles if it's not CO2
http://www.velonews.com/article/87519/technical-qa-with-lennard-zinn---wavy-washers-co2-and

This led to a long response from a reader saying Zinn was all wrong and some other responses.
http://www.velonews.com/article/88874/everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-co2-but-never

followed by Zinn saying he had enjoyed the exchange of letters and quoted several sources saying that the previous reader with long response was the one who who was in the wrong, corroborating Zinn and expanding the knowledge some more.
http://www.velonews.com/article/89112/technical-qa-with-lennard-zinn-co2-tales-and-comments

Bloomington, IN

Yes, I read this as well. Unfortunately, I don't think VN or Zinn does enough to regulate the nonsense that is posted. It is more like BF: you have to know who is blowing smoke. A magazine with a tech section shouldn't have this problem. In the past, Zinn has contacted manufacturers and those who know for "truthery", but this time seems to have lapsed. Let's hope it is a little lesson.

"truthery",

I believe the expression is Truthiness (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truthiness)

1. truthiness (noun)
1 : "truth that comes from the gut, not books" (Stephen Colbert, Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report," October 2005)
2 : "the quality of preferring concepts or facts one wishes to be true, rather than concepts or facts known to be true" (American Dialect Society, January 2006)

Of course, what VN and every other 'news' outlet should use as the test of truth are documented facts. Not sure what Lennard had in mind with this exchange unless they've found that factual, dry responses don't draw in readers as much as internet-like 'chat' which is, in fact, fillied with truthiness. Frankly, printed Q&A ain't what it used to be because of forums so it's a tough sell and lowering the bar to the quality of 'facts' on the internet ain't the right strategy for what should remain the last bastion of factual reference.

In the past, Zinn has contacted manufacturers and those who know for "truthery", but this time seems to have lapsed. Let's hope it is a little lesson.

Wait a second, Zinn did contact the manufacturers. One had an inert gas and another had a mix of propane, butane and isobutene. Neither used CO2.

See bottom of:

http://www.velonews.com/article/88874/everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-co2-but-never

No question, CO2 filled tubes lose pressure in a day or so. The only reason to use CO2 is to get you back on the road after a flat without the usual pain and suffering associated with a small hand pump. If you have to spend 15 seconds at home with a floor pump this is hardly a hardship.

Wait a second, Zinn did contact the manufacturers. One had an inert gas and another had a mix of propane, butane and isobutene. Neither used CO2.
Actually, the manufacturers he talked to don't produce or didn't discuss the CO2 cartridges being talked about. StayFill (http://www.stayfill.com/) is advertised specifically as not CO2, and Vittoria only spoke of PitStop (http://www.vittoria.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8164&Itemid=197), which is a different product (injects latex to plug leak). I don't know, but I suspect that our typical 16g cartridges are made in many places in China with all the usual Chinese attention to materials and documentation. And CO2 is most likely the content, if not just compressed air.