bbbean 

I had C+1 flats the first time I tried CO2. Went home, ordered a Lezyne mini pump that fits in my seat bag, and haven't messed with CO2 since. It takes around 200 pumps to get my road tires up to 100 psi, or less than 5 minutes pumping. Way too slow for a race, but that's why I put an extra set of wheels in the wheel truck!

BB

dave42

When away at college, I left my ratty old pancake compressor slung in the back of my truck. I'd plug in on the outside outlet at Subway to top off my tires. Never had change for the gas station down on the corner.

Carbon Unit

I am proud to say I am a self-important lazyass person. If it wasn't for us lazyasses, the wheel wouldn't have been invented which would mean no bikes and no bike forum.

rjones28 

Laziness is the real mother of invention.

merlinextraligh

It would actually be a positive because you're slowing the rate of increase in atmospheric C02. The years that cannisters of C02 sit in your saddle bag, or on your work bench before they eventually get put in a tire decrease the total amount of C02 in the atmosphere, compared to immediately releasing it into the atmosphere.

As long as you replace your C02 cartridges when you use one, we are all creating a large C02 sequestration bank.

Hell, I bet collectively its worth switching to a Prius or two.

Stucky

As far as flat anticipation, I carry:

2 CO2 cartridges (and head, of course)
1 spare tube.
Patch kit.
Tire levers.
Tire boot.
Pump.

Whenever you get a flat or break down, it's always when the furthest from home; and I have no intentions of walking 20 miles.... (Thankfully, I haven't had a flat in about 2 years)

PaulRivers

There's no drawbacks other than a small cost and weight of carrying both if you want to try it out.

CO2's two advantages are that it's small enough to fit easily in a jersey pocket or saddlebag, and that it can quickly get your tire up to full pressure above 100psi.

It has a whole laundry list of disadvantages compared to a pump. You have to remember to replace it when you back, a problem for me as I always forget that later. It runs out - with a pump you have an effectively infinite supply of air. This becomes a problem if you put it on wrong, if you need to add just a little air to the tire (to look for leaks) if you want to help out someone else with a flat. It's also more important to understand how to attach and detach and use the CO2 cartridge because if you do it wrong your cartridge can be toast. I rented a bike to go riding in the desert and ended up stranded because they have me a CO2 cartridge but only part of the equipment needed to hook it up to the tire. Fortunately someone else came along who had a pump and helped me out.

In general a pump is just easier to use for emergencies because there's a lot less that can go wrong. You can't use it then forget to refill it, if you put it on wrong you just take it off and redo it, no worries about helping someone else out with it or running out of air.

The full size Topeak Road Morph (or similar clones) is the best pump if pumping your tire all the way up to max pressure is your priority. It's a little bigger than other pumps. It's biggest drawback is that it's more work to mount well - the hardware it comes with either has it going under the top tube with straps or replacing a water bottle cage. I don't know why they don't sent a beside the cage mount - it works, I have it on my winter bike, had to buy the mount separately.

The Topeak Road Morph Mini (or similar clones) is smaller and come with the right mounting hardware for beside the bottle. It's drawback is that only pumps a road tire up to about 60psi in my experience - plenty to get home with, but not max pressure. It also fits more easily in a rack bag, so that's what I use on my commuter.

Both of the road morphs have a foot peg and a hose so they don't put pressure on the tube valve stem, and you can use gravity and your bodyweight when pumping up the tire.

If looks on a black carbon frame and having a smaller pump is your priority, there's a lyzene that has a detachable hose but no foot peg that's fine.

I just don't like CO2 - if I have an emergency, I don't want to be iffy about my backup equipment to fix it. I want it to just work even if I don't do something right. I've personally never run into a situation where CO2's speed would make a significant difference in keeping the group rolling. All the groups I ride with, you either get dropped if you stop at all, or another 30 seconds for a pump vs CO2 (after how long it takes to get the tire and tube on and off anyways) just isn't significant. The only way CO2 would be faster is vs one of those super tiny pumps, and I don't use those for exactly that reason.

Up North

i never said I did not have all the required back up parts. I carry, chain tool, quick links,multi tool, patch kit, CO2 cylinders and head, two plastic and one aluminum tire levers, spare tube, tire boots. I just don't want to haul around pump as stated and prefer C02.

caloso

Me too. Belt and suspenders. First flat gets a new tube and CO2; second and subsequent flats get a patch and pump.

wphamilton

Indeed. I think I'll buy some spares to increase my sequestration rate.

79pmooney

I haven't read all the posts here so this may have already been said, but I didn't see it. We are roadies. Roadies are will known to be guys with well developed legs and under developed upper bodies. I am no exception. So I pump my tires. Always. The idea of paying money to miss this exorcize? Huh?

And for those of us who take pumping seriously - Zephal pumps rule.

Ben

rjones28 

I didn't read all of your post, but I am going to assume that you don't actually own a Zefal tire pump.

TrojanHorse

I got belt, belt, suspenders (two tubes, 3 CO2, 1 tiny pump)

I bought the pump one day after I used all 3 CO2 on a ride. I rode a century Saturday and stopped to loan my pump to a stranded cyclist who was out of CO2.

I just hope the ecoterrorists in this thread never drink anything out of a can or plastic bottle!

rpenmanparker 

I wouldn't be too sure about no bike forum. It is not like we have only how many we need even with bikes having been invented.

rpenmanparker 

Yeah, they used to say that about Silca pumps too. Uh, huh. Right.

rpenmanparker 

Thank goodness. I was scared it wasn't a joke. I just couldn't take the chance.

rpenmanparker 

Sure, but dog poop is worth switching to a Prius or two.

LGHT

I used to have a pump when I rode with the lightweight thin tubes and was prone to flats every 10 rides or so like most other riders. Then I switched over to really thick puncture proof tubes and now I don't ride with either and don't worry about flats. On a group ride a few weeks ago someone said I was crazy to not ride with a pump, c02, spare tubes and a tire changing tool. I thought he was the crazy one because he had a small bag on his frame and one under his seat. I just don't see the logic in packing all that crap in bags and pockets when you can prepare to avoid flats to begin with. Like they say to each his own.

rpenmanparker 

Indeed. And by the way, good luck with that.

caloso

Tubes may be puncture resistant, but I don't think there is such a thing as a puncture proof tube.

rjones28 

Tubeless.

/thread

rpenmanparker 

Solid rubber. /thread

KraneXL

It doesn't need to be puncture proof, puncture resistant is good enough. One flat ever two years is a minor inconvenience. One ever two months is a nuisance and makes riding less enjoyable. Also, as small as a mini pump is, a C02 cartridge is smaller. No more pumps for me.

BillyD

*I'LL* do the end-of-threading around here . . . . . and dooooooon't you for-get eet.

LGHT

Thanks I realize it is a gamble, but I haven't done any remote rides (yet) and I'm actually never far from home so it's not a big deal to hitch a ride if I got stranded. I however plan on packing c02 if I do a remote ride just to be on the safe side.

I agree and the only reason I'm even using them is because a buddy who's been riding for 10 years swears by them. He said he hasn't gotten a flat in over 5 years. The last flat he got was after running over a piece of car debris which also bent his rim in the process so either way he was not riding away from that incident.