Bicycle Mechanics - CO2 did NOT help

I was wondering if anyone has had a problem similar to the one I had today.

I was an hour or so into a ride and got a flat. It was a small sharp pebble that lodged itself in the tire. So I did the regular thing and rolled to the nearest parking lot, set my bike upside down and took the wheel off to patch the tube. I got the tube off the wheel and looked for a hole or tear and couldn't find one so I tried to put some co2 in it to hear for some air rushing out. I found one and patched it w/ no problems. I plugged the cartridge on and the air went in and put some shape in the tube. I squeezed it to check and the tube cracked open! It felt hard and the crack was not there before.

Can this freeze the tube and make it fragile? Maybe a bad tube? Any suggestions are welcome and I thank you for any help in advance.

It was 29-31 degrees during the ride and my bike was stored in a garage along with the co2 cartridge at outside temp. If it matters it is a road bike 700x 23 tires and the cartridge was purchased maybe 4 months ago.

I had tube problems last year ending with 28 total flats.
I always use a frame pump.
I have seen the Co 2 fail to many times.

PS: 20 yrs with Kroger

Liquid CO2 will be about -102 F. That could make a tube a bit brittle.

A mini pump is more effective for low pressure work - finding the hole and starting the inflation to get the tube in the tire and seat the tire evenly. Then use the CO2 to get full pressure. Alternatively dont patch at roadside, just put in new tube and patch at home.

I had tube problems last year ending with 28 total flats.
I always use a frame pump.
I have seen the Co 2 fail to many times.

PS: 20 yrs with Kroger

Frame pumps without flexible hose is as garbage as minipumps without them. Co2 doesn't "fail". The user fails.

Frame pumps without flexible hose is as garbage as minipumps without them. Co2 doesn't "fail". The user fails.

After 28 flats using as frame pump I am now very strong.

You are just to weak to use one.

I've never heard of a problem with CO2 freezing a tube. It's what I use on the road, but I patch my tubes at home.
You can use your mouth to blow enough air into a tube to find a leak or to give it some shape to help avoid pinches while mounting.

Al

I always change tubes and patch at home. Its way quicker and you dont end up having to change the tube twice if your patch job didn't hold

I had tube problems last year ending with 28 total flats.
I always use a frame pump.
I have seen the Co 2 fail to many times.

PS: 20 yrs with Kroger

I see, when I went to the bike shop I looked at some mini-pumps for the main reason of saving money and not depending on co2 cartridges. The only problem would be I use my seat wedge for everything and I'm pretty sure they don't make one small enough, I'll do some searching I guess.

Oh yea and I just recently got let go from Kroger. Mixed emotions about that, I never really liked the job but now I have no job, haha.

Blackburn airstiks are tiny. Topeak has some pretty small mini pumps. I carry a crank brothers power pump in my wedge.

All good advice, I will start shopping for something small and yea I was really surprised when it happened it made a little bit of a crackling noise then it split. I am not however done with co2 (mostly because I still have 2 more cartridges to use) I will just be more careful next time.

Regardless of your squeezing the very, very cold tube - the CO2 should only be a temporary band-aid approach to the problem. I only use CO2 until I can get the bike home and examine the tube and my patch. And then fill it with air. CO2 - confirmed by my experiment - will leak out 38% in 24 hours on the bike. No good. Air leaks, at worst, about 12% in 24 hours - always top off your tires before a day's riding.

I suggest patching the tube. Putting it on the bike ready to fill. And fill it all the way with the CO2 to pressure and don't play with it. Get on the bike and ride to where (home?) you'll have time to check everything fully and fill the tube(s) with air.

I suggest patching the tube. Putting it on the bike ready to fill. And fill it all the way with the CO2 to pressure and don't play with it. Get on the bike and ride to where (home?) you'll have time to check everything fully and fill the tube(s) with air.
I won't try to patch a tube at roadside unless I absolutely have no choice. I install a replacement tube and patch the damaged one at home.

That said, I do a variation on your method since I carry both a minipump and CO2. I install the new tube and use the minipump to inflate it to say 20 psi. That lets me be sure the tube is seated and the tire installed properly. It also avoids having to put a lot of effort into the minipump and endangering the valve stem. Then I use the CO2 to bring the tube up to full pressure.

Operator is right that frame or mini-pumps without a flexible hose are poor designs but there aren't many good ones available. Lenzyne and Topeak offer mini-pumps with separate hoses but that's about all.

Frame pumps without flexible hose is as garbage as minipumps without them. Co2 doesn't "fail". The user fails.

I agree.


I always change tubes and patch at home. Its way quicker and you dont end up having to change the tube twice if your patch job didn't hold

This is what I do.

People actually patch tubes?

People actually patch tubes?

Why not? It works, is cheap, and it isn't hard. It's also less wasteful than buying a new tube every time.

I do wait until I get home to do the patching, though.

I won't try to patch a tube at roadside unless I absolutely have no choice. I install a replacement tube and patch the damaged one at home.

That said, I do a variation on your method since I carry both a minipump and CO2. I install the new tube and use the minipump to inflate it to say 20 psi. That lets me be sure the tube is seated and the tire installed properly. It also avoids having to put a lot of effort into the minipump and endangering the valve stem. Then I use the CO2 to bring the tube up to full pressure.

Operator is right that frame or mini-pumps without a flexible hose are poor designs but there aren't many good ones available. Lenzyne and Topeak offer mini-pumps with separate hoses but that's about all.

Well I agree. But I wrote this for those who don't carry a spare tube and, by proxy, have no choice but to use a roadside-patch. And don't have a pump on their bike. I, too, hate those mini-pump things. I carry a Silca Impero on my racer. And CO2 on my hybrid. Ditto with my 3spd. - And spare tubes all-around.