LGHT

neither I just use really thick puncture resistant tubes and ride like the wind without ever having to worry about flats!

Blue Belly

Read reviews, get a good hand pump.

Nachoman

must . . . resist . . . inappropriate . . . remark . . . here. . . .

Fox Farm

To the OP, this has been debated over the years on this forum a number of times. Please use the search button.

K.Katso

Haha, well...both kinds are used for enlarging a sort of tube

mlamb01

I carry both... The CO2 is for me, and the mini pump is for others in the group. Wastes some time, but saves me money!

seymour1910

Why, so everyone can then slam the OP for "reviving a zombie thread"?

Blue Belly

Well, ya know.....

Long Tom

If I'm choosing one- and I am, cause I ain't carrying both- then pump it is. Really not even debateable for how I roll.

OldTryGuy

I have Nashbar's CO2/mini-pump combo that mounts under water bottle cage. Pump up until bead is set then CO2 to the 120psi I like in the tires. Use the same pump on my hybrid with Schrader valve tubes. Used cartridges come home and put in the recycle bin.

PaulRivers

Ah, those are old school, check out the dynamo vs battery powered light threads, that's the new hotness to argue about. Lol. :-/

PaulRivers

Here's the bottom line in imo - if you're only willing to carry a super tiny pump, then CO2 is better. Or get one of those CO2 things that takes CO2 but also works as a light pump.

For anything else, a pump is generally more reliable. It doesn't run out of air, if you mess up putting it on you don't blow through the whole cartridge, you don't have to remember to replace it when used at the end of a ride, etc etc.

In my experience you cannot reasonabley get past about 60psi with a pump smaller than a full size topeak road morph. But since the advent of flat resistant tires, I personally don't care. 60psi is plenty of pressure to finish the ride out for the once ever 3 years that I might get a flat.

I want my emergency equipment to reliably work in an emergency, and I'm to lazy to keep up with the numerous things that can go bad with CO2 cartridges. I hear of people carrying multiple cartridges, but at around 3 cartridges you're not carrying a road morph mini worth of size and weight in cartridges, so what are you saving? So I always use a pump. Just don't use the ultra small, tiny ones. The smallest one I'd get would be a Lezyne Carbon drive pump though:
https://www.lezyne.com/product-hpumps...p#.VTYUSSFVhBc

Sy Reene

Couple Q's: 1) Why are they CO2 cartridges vs just compressed air? 2) Would a 16g cartridge get a 25mm tire/tube up to over 100psi?

znomit

Why aren't they nitrogen which we all know is infinitely better than dirty old air.

Hmmm, how much of a premium would the average 41er pay for nitrogen canisters? Hmmmmmmm.

Sy Reene

Oh, and with cartidges or micro pumps, how does everyone know what PSI they're ending up with? Is there a micro-gauge that people carry as well?

Looigi

Opposite. I carry a minimpump and on group rides someone will always offer their CO2.

rpenmanparker 

There are small gauges available. Not mini perhaps, but small.

RoderWrench

If you have enough upper body strength to use a pump, you're not serious about cycling.

Fly2High

I have a Lezyne Micro Floor Drive HPG (HP is for high pressure and G is for gauge). you can get it with and without gauge. They also have a high volume one but doesn't attain the same pressure. It take between 35-50 strokes to fill an empty tire to 120 psi.

Lezyne - Engineered Design - Products - Hand Pumps

I like the Topeak Road Morph or Montain Morph, Mega Morph, etc. All of these ca get to over 160 psi (Topeak® Cycling Accessories ? Products - Pumps > Morph Pumps) and they all pump a bit faster than the Lezyne. I deflated a tire on a bike in REI and tried out a Road Morph and within 25 -30 strokes, give or take, the tire was at full pressure. Of course the tire still had some volume of air in there but it was at next to no pressure when I started.

I went with the Lezyne b/c it was all metal and actually weighed less but it takes longer to pump. The Lezyne also has a longer hose but both have a good enough length of hose to prevent damaging the valve.

All of these pumps have a foot peg so you are using your weight to pump instead of arm strength so it can be easier to fill and should be faster than a hand pump because the stroke is longer.

I am not thrilled about CO2 since there is no way to know the condition of the cartridge and you only have the number of cartridges you carry to fill a the tires with. If you have a poor attachment and waste air, you only have so many tries to get it right. With a pump and patches, I can always fill for each patch I carry.

If you tend to not do long rides and 2 cartridges will suffice, then that is fine. Also, where you ride is important. If you have places to buy more CO2 or hail a cab to get home, then that needs to be taken in consideration. I plan on doing a century ride and might travel to attend events. With a pump on the frame, it is difficult to forget. For me, CO2 in a saddle bag is easy to forget since it is out of sight, out of mind. Hopefully you are better than me.

IMHO,

Frank

rpenmanparker 

Where is it written you can only carry two cartridges? I always carry three and two or three tubes. My inflator is the type with a closed cylinder into which the cartridge is inserted, not just a head unit. I carry one in there with the head backed off a turn or two so the cartridge doesn't get punctured. Then two more on the side.

My pouch fits neatly in my middle jersey pocket so why not.

SpeshulEd 

Well that was quite informative. I enjoyed the reasons why you carry a pump instead of co2.

Hopefully you remember to replace your tube so you have a new one next time you go out. Maybe keep your extra co2 in the same drawer as your new tubes.

Yes.

Hopefully you don't forget your tube back there in your saddle bag, out of sight and all.

Seriously, these reasons for carrying a pump over co2 are crap. Just tell people you carry the pump for peace of mind and be done with it.

Fly2High

Why is it that when people give their honest opinions, others feel they are crap.

I guess we not are all entitled to our opinion. As a rebuttal to choosing pump over CO2, it is rather poor. All you voiced was your opinion of our opinions. You may not like our opinions and maybe they could have been voiced better to be more convincing but at least we didn't fill a post with nothing of value. In no way does your post help the OP.


If these are the reasons many do not carry CO2, you should just accept them. Just like I should accept you have a difference of opinion and have found success with CO2. I am happy you have but the OP is asking for our opinion, pro or con, and these are ours.

Also take into consideration that many sit at the keyboard and just run at the mouth typing away and are not always typing the best defense of their opinions.

Both methods work. For me, I am always in a rush and pressed for time. several times I have forgotten to take something with me and had to go back. With the frame pump, if it is on the bike, I cannot forget it. This is also why I carry a spare tube and a patch kit. In case one doesn't work (tube), I can always try to patch the tire or tie a knot in it to get home.

Also, I think frame pumps have been around for a very long time and have worked. When CO2 came out, they did not replace them, they merely added to the options. Says something about pumps.

Frank

hueyhoolihan

i refuse to bear the burden of carrying two methods of inflating a tire. and like you, i've had a couple of problems with the CO2 inflater, not to mention "cartridge anxiety" . so i carry a small hand pump.

but like you, i rarely take the time or trouble to inflate the tire to the 80PSI i like to carry in it. i've got a regular route i ride and stop at one the the bike shops along the way and use their complementary pump if necessary. i think i usually get about 50-60PSI in before i call it quits with the mini hand pump i use.

BTW, i carry a spare tube, two when touring, and a patch kit.

Long Tom

Sheesh.

I do long rural rides, solo. Cell phone doesn't work everywhere out there. A pump is clearly the better choice for what amounts to mission-critical backup gear.

This isn't THAT hard, but since you needed more, there it is.

caloso

Both.