Originally Posted by Aves
Wasn't really sure where to post this but, I'm curious about Co2 pumps. I've had my 4th flat commuting in a few months and my pump that I carry is pretty much useless.
Are Co2 pumps ideal for fixing flats? Or are they more for quickly airing up in small amounts? If they are good for fixing flats, as in completly filling a new tube...how long does a cartridge last?
Thanks.
I carried CO2 for a while, but switched to a Road Morph. The only real reason for CO2 over a good pump is weight, and there's hardly a difference if you run larger tires.
To fill one of my tires, I need a 16g and a 12g cart. A 16g, a 12g, and an inflator add up to 170g-180g. For 220g, I can carry a Road Morph, which is also much more useful in helping (say) a fellow cyclist, without giving up my ability to patch a flat later. If I wanted to add another cart for a top-up or for helping somebody else, it's about weight-equivalent to a Road Morph.
If your pump is ineffective, get a better pump! A pump is far better than CO2 in a lot of ways - for example, if you have a slow leak, you can pump it up to get home without losing the option to change the tube later if it gets worse.