cynergy

Hi There,

I'm thinking about purchasing a CO2 type of tire inflator for my emergency repair kit for my bike. Currently I have a frame mounted portable hand pump, but the hand pump is kinda slow to inflate tires. Plus the CO2 inflator is more portable and I can place one in my seat bag.

I'm looking for some feedback on CO2 pumps. Do you prefer these CO2 devices or a hand pump? How many charges/refills on a MTB tire (26x2 or 26 x 1.5) do you get with a single CO2 cartridge? Which brand and model of CO2 inflator do you prefer and why? Do the CO2 cartridges leak after you've started using one or can they hold a charge over a long period of time.

Thanks!

workingbike

I carry both, I try to have 2-3 CO2 bottles in the bag. I will of course, use the CO2 for preference, but sometimes I forget to pack a fresh bottle or I want to puff up the tube for fitting or to get it centred on the rim. Sometimes I stop to help someone and I want to hang on to the CO2 in case I get a flat!

One bottle is usually good for 1 tire, and keeping whats left for later is difficult. For a fast pump, try the Topeak Road Morph, it has a foot loop and is reputed to be almost as easy as full Floor Pump.

Retro Grouch 

CO2 is far faster and more compact and convenient. A good frame pump is cheaper to use and you never run out of air. To me, if you don't have very many flat tires, CO2 is the easy choice.

Fibber

I purchased the Innovations Second Wind MTB to get both. CO2 cartridges plus hand pump capacity, and it fits very nicely in my under saddle pack. The hand pump allows you to check for leaks and help set the tube, then switch to the cartridge to inflate.

operator

It's also the easy choice to get you stranded in the middle of nowhere when you either **** up a patch or fail to find debris embedded in your tire.

Carry the topeak road morph, **** the Co2. Waste of effort to carry that around.

JavaMan

Someone gave me one as a gift 5 years ago and I've never used it. PM me with your address and I'll send it to you. If you want to know why, see operator's post.

PedalingAlong

I have a second wind co2 with two 16g cartridges in my bag. I also carry a frame mount pump in case I come across someone needing some help. Might seem silly to carry both but I would prefer to use the co2 and let the other person use the frame pump. I like co2 and the Ultraflate can take all cartridges...even the big air can. MTB tires will take my co2 because the volume is different then a road tire. One 12g cartridge should get you up to about 80psi depending on the tire size and volume. Only down side to second wind is that you have to use all the air or waste the extra unless you use a big saddle bag that can carry the co2 with the handle extended...or you use threaded cartridges.

https://www.genuineinnovations.com/yieldchart.aspx

v1k1ng1001

There are a million threads on C2 if you use the search function.

seosamh

that's no gonny do them any good if they want to know about CO2 tho is it?

tford

This You Tube video shows you how use the CO2. It is easy.

www.ride-strong.com/genuine-innovations-co2-inflator-video-tutorial/

TXChick

I'm thinking of buying a Co2 as well, but I don't think I'd ever be comfortable going anywhere without my good old-fashioned hand pump.

tford

Once you start using CO2 you will never go back. It is easy and light weight.

pista

I have found that the hand pumps are just about totally useless. I use a CO2 inflator. Fits in my under the seat bag with the spare tube real nice. Funny I have yet to use it. I haven't had a flat in 3 years. And a aweful lot of miles have gone in on the bike. Mind you I change the tires, front and back, as soon as they show wear. I don't fool around putting the front tire in the back and getting a new one for the back. I don't wear down to the thread like some guys either.

The worn tires end up on my trainer bike. I use that a lot, especially in the winter. They seem to wear out faster on a trainer for some reason.

thebarerider

Changing tires won't protect you from debris in the road.

C02 is good if you don't frequently ride in out of the way areas by yourself. If I were out on a day trip or something, I would be much more comfortable with a Topeak Road morph than a C02 cartridge, just in case I do a sloppy job replacing the tube or if I run across some more glass or something. When the C02 runs out, you're SOL. Consider your riding habits and go from there.

alhedges

To me, C02 always made more sense for road bikes with high pressure tires than for other bikes. I like to run my road bike tires at 125 psi, but I could never inflate them to more than about 70 PSI with my road pump (and that was quite a struggle). So I would consider a CO2 pump if you are in that situation, but if your tires are fine with 70 PSI or so, I'd just take a road pump.

Nachoman

+1 (and I think I saw it on sale at Performance for $13 with one or two c02 cartridges.

StanSeven

I carry a mini in my pocket and CO2 on the bike. The mini helps me find what caused the flat and to start the tube. Carrying it in my jersey is easy

CommuterRun

I prefer a CO2 inflator to a mini-pump for a self-rescue while I'm on the road. It's much easier. After I get home I can fill the tire to the correct pressure with a floor pump. I have found that a 16 gram cartridge will fill a 700X23c, a 700X28c or a 26x2.00 to a pressure I'm comfortable riding on. One cartridge fills one tire and it's a one shot deal. Being so, I like to carry 2 spare tubes and 2-3 cartridges in case I mess up on the first try. I also, on occasion, pick up a couple of extra cartridges and do a practice run at home.

I also carry a mini-pump for the very reasons Stan mentioned.

GP

I carry one 16g cartridge, an air chuck and a frame pump. The CO2 is for group rides when I don't want to keep people waiting.

Azndude51

Like a couple others before, I would recommend the Genuine Innovations Second Wind series. I have both the MTB and the Roard Mini versions and both work great. The only downside is that they are too big for most saddle bags so you'll have to use the included mount or get some Twofish Bikeblocks or something. The CO2 cartridges can be stored in a saddle bag though and you can also store the pump/inflator in your jersey pocket.

Nachoman

Mine fits fine into the mini transit wedge sold at performance.

tford

Here is a link to a good video on how to use CO2.

www.ride-strong.com/genuine-innovations-co2-inflator-video-tutorial

mlts22 

I can swear by CO2 carts. I've even inflated tires on pickups with them, although it ate a couple Big Air cartridges. Only problem is when you run out.

I'd consider a combination CO2/regular pump, but hand pumping seems awkward, and without a hose, you have to keep it at the right angle for leverage, and to prevent valve breakage.

daoswald

I would only consider two types of inflators for a road bike: CO2, or a Road Morph by Topeak.

CO2 is great for a hurry, or if you are fairly certain you're not going to need more than a couple cartridges worth of 'gas'. Beyond that, you're into a weight category where a hand pump is advantageous.

The Road Morph is great for times where you have to be more self-reliant; can't just call someone if you run out of CO2. And of course pumping air is free. The Road Morph has a hose on it, which eliminates my #1 complaint about hand pumps; they make it way too easy to break the valve stem off the tube.

Azndude51

I guess it really depends on the bag, most that I have tried do not fit my Second Wind MTB. They still do run larger than regular inflators though and if it does fit in your bag, you might not have that much room for other things.