tjax

Hi,

REI has CO2 inflators on sale this weekend. I have never seen these before. If I get one, does it have a safety feature to keep you from popping your bike tire? Can your bike tire pop? Also, the stem on my tire (pardon my ignorance) appears to be inside out. DO I need a special connector for it?

Thanks

TrojanHorse

Stem is inside out? er? Do you have a schraeder or presta valve?

Yes, you could potentially pop your tire. a 16 oz CO2 shouldn't over inflate a 23mm tire though, and will slightly underinflate a 25mm tire, so I guess it depends on what you're using.

tjax

Thanks Trojan, according to this diagram its a Presta.

https://mikesbikes.com/site/images/li...es_05vs3_p.gif

chefisaac

You can pop a tire with anything that gives out air and pressure.

One not about CO2: It does escape from the tire quicker FYI. So usually when I have a flat, I will always use my Road Morph to pump it up. Never rely on just having CO2. Case in point:

I was out riding one day with some friends and saw a cyclist broken down, changing a tire on the side of the road. As always, I asked if he was OK as I was riding and he said no so I turned around to help out. He used his last cartridge of CO2 and was screwed so I got my frame pump out and pumped his tire up.

The lesson, just because you carry CO2 means nothing if you are out of cartridges. Its just like brining a tube..... I always carry an extra one PLUS a patch kit just in case. I carry CO2 because it can be faster but its really not my go to way of pumping up a tire.... its my frame pump I go to 99% of the time.

On a last note, don't buy CO2 cartridges from the bike shop, there is an online guy that sells them much cheaper and more reliable. If you would like his info, let me know and I can dig it up.

On an environmental note: Using the cartridges is a one and done sorta thing before you trash them. I cringe when I see cartridges on the side of the road, empty. There is another guy, I forget who it is, that sells them and then you send the empties back to him for recycling.

And a heads up: Sometimes you will get a dud cartridge. Its very hard to tell when you have one before using and it really sucks to need one and then no air comes out because it is a dud. Hence the need, still, for a solid frame pump.

tjax

Therefore would this be a better main go to first pump solution? https://www.rei.com/product/648089/to...a-001b2166becc

chefisaac

Yes, 100% better to be frank. I also do carry co2 and both my bikes but to be honest, I 99% of the time go with the linked pumped.

chefisaac

And I would add that pumping up a tire with that pump is very easy. I can get to 120 PSI in no time.

tjax

How do you mount it to a road bike? Does it get in the way of anything?

chefisaac

You can mount it anywhere on your road bike. Top tube, bottom tube, forks, anywhere on the frame. On my road bike I have it under the back rack, on the mtn bike commuter I have it on my frame.

chefisaac

I would recommend using zip ties for the mounting of it. You'll have more options to where to mount it. Don't give it much thought because it is really easy to mount.

jethro56 

You guys have awakened the flat gods.

Yo Spiff

Someone loaned me a CO2 cartridge one time when I had forgotten my pump and flatted 5 miles out. I'd never used one before and blew my spare tube. I prefer a pump. Takes a little more effort, but I feel I have better control over the pressure and there is always more air if I need it. Many times I've stopped and loaned my frame pump to a CO2 user who had used up all their cartridges.

Also I don't need to be buying cartridges for it every time and there is no litter from it.

10 Wheels

The tube will blow out if it is pinched between the tire bead and the rim.

^^^ You can also blow it out with a pump.^^^

digibud

A 16gram C02 will totally fill a 23c tire. I know that 20pumps with my Lyzene Road pump plus a 16gram will fill my 25c tire perfectly. I carry C02 and a pump because there are times when C02 is very handy. Once, in some rain, I got a slowww leak. I could have changed the tire but the rain was cold and I had a C02 cartridge so I could just give it a short blast, ride for 20min, add a bit of air, ride for 20min...do this three or four times and I as home without having to stop and change my inner tube. On a ride with friends I prefer a quick inflation with C02 so I don't hold folks up any more than necessary. Same when mosquitos are driving me crazy. Other times I maybe in no hurry and I'll just pump my tire up. Having both doesn't bother me in terms of weight or space so that's what I do.
BTW, at a recent race a fellow "helped" top off a buddy with a somewhat underinflated tire and blew it out with C02. It made a huge "boom" and scared the pee out of everyone nearby. The resulting commentary among those involved was humorous to listen to .

donalson

yup done that in the garage on my 29er... it's made me a little nervous every time since (and this was years ago)... sounds like a gun shot... i'm always very careful to check the bead now lol...


as for co2 and pumps... I picked up this oddball from nashbar years ago https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...2_172872_-1___ it works as a hand pump or you can use 12g co2 treadles cartridges (I had tons of them from my paintball days)... I used it out on the trail a few times, the 12g got me enough air into the 29er tire to not be take 2 weeks to pump it up the rest of the way by hand...

bbeasley

Interesting how different our experiences are. I think pumps are ugly, in the way, and a PIA to use. I carried one around for my first 1,000 miles or so. On group rides if I got a flat someone would always blow my new tube up with their C02 so we could get on with it. I've since learned that less = more (enjoyment). I carry one tire lever, one tube, and 2 C02 cartridges. I ditched the stuff I never used:

more than 1 tube
more than 1 tire lever
multi tool
master link
flash light
rain jacket
medical supplies
pup tent
rations
air horn
dog repellant
tin foil anti gamma ray hat

Okay I'm kidding on some of that, who's got the popcorn?

TrojanHorse

I like to use both - I went on a ride christmas day and went through two spare tubes and 3 CO2 carts and then I was done and had to SAG home. CO2 won't leak out of the tube during the course of a normal ride, but you will want to empty the tire and re-inflate it with normal air when you get home.

I have a Road Morph G and that's a great pump to use but a PITA to mount on a normal road frame. I kept hitting my leg with it (had it kind of snugged in between the seat tube and the bottle mount). The plus is that it's a very easy pump to use on flat tires. That gauge is very difficult to read though.

Now I have a lezyne road drive, which takes up no room at all but I'm sure is harder to use just by the nature of its size.

As an aside, a small pump also makes finding the leak a lot easier. You CAN blow into the tube but IMO it doesn't make finding the leak very easy.

So, the TLDR version - both are useful.

digibud

agreed that the pump helps find a hole. Sometimes I carry a spare tube but not always. Without a spare tube using the pump to pump up the tube is a real help in finding a small, often invisible hole, and I've been on more than one long ride where I've had two flats and my wife one. I'd leave my C02 behind before I'd leave behind my pump. The lezyne, attached to my water bottle holder, is no trouble.

chefisaac

I guess I don't get why people wouldnt go out with out a spare tube, small patch kit, and air of some kind plus a tire lever. The things might be "bulky" but will save you those times that you need it.

I was out with a guy just this morning who had a flat, changed it, aired it up with 1 of the two co2 cartridges he had and he did it in a rush. Ten miles down the road, he had another flat, dealt with it and then tried to air it up with his second co2 cartridge just to find out it was a dud.

krobinson103

I always carry a pump. In fact all my bikes have a pump mounted. That way I never forget to switch it over. I also carry a multitool, masterlink, chain breaker, electrical tape, zip ties, spare tube, 2 tire levers, and patch kit. Some bikes also have a 15mm ring spanner to get the wheel off (nutted). I've learned the hard way it REALLY sucks to walk 35km home...

TJClay

If you use zip ties how do you reattach it when you're done?

TrojanHorse

You zip tie the mount to your frame and the mount has a velcro strap to hold the pump.

Most of them have the option to screw on to the bottle mount but why on earth would you give up a bottle for a pump...

Mr. Beanz

Screw that!

ka0use

CO2 won't leak out of the tube during the course of a normal ride, but you will want to empty the tire and re-inflate it with normal air when you get home.

i have been thoroughly enjoying this thread! truly, the more i learn, the more i realise how little i know.

now, what is the difference between co2 in your tire and o2, besides 1 whatever of carbon?

lenny866

[h=1]Lezyne Pressure Drive CFH, the best of both worlds!![/h]