Pump or CO2 Inflator
 

Hey all,

I am looking to get a mini pump or a CO2 inflator. Any suggestions? Looking for something fairly cheap but decently good. Thanks in advance.

Pump. If you don't get it right the first time, you can always pump again.

Topeak RoadMorph or Mt.Morph pump. Light, morphs into a mini-floor (really!) pump with expandable hose, footrest and guage. Around 25-30 bucks.
Mini Pumps: mine took 300 pump strokes to get road tire up to about 80 PSI; with the Mt.Morph it took 100 pump wstrokes to get in 100 PSI.
CO2 is fast/easy but you don't get FREE air. Not as enviromentally friendly.
Anybody can make something 'cheap' . . . but quality lasts!
Just our input . . .

I have both on my "fun" bike. I figure the CO2 will be faster and keep the group ride from waiting too long (or minimize the gap I have to cover!) if I flat, but the pump is a good backup in case I screw it up like usual! My beater/commuter only has a big ol' frame pump on it...

I have a "Second Wind" combo pump and CO2. I primarily use the CO2 when needed, but I have the pump there as a backup. Best of both worlds.

Looks like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Innova.../dp/B0009SWKCO

Both, CO2 for your main, but always nice to have a pump you KNOW will work.

Pump with air gauge built in

If you value speed, get CO2... If you value certainty get a pump. Anything made by Lezyne is awesome.

+1 -- I got 20% off mine at REI.....they have the same coupon going right now too:)

Pump. It prevents the urge to discard the empty containers on the side of the road as many roadies in NYC do. And yeah, Topeak RoadMorph, there is no better portable pump.

Since my wife got me a CO2 kit and have used it, my mini pumps sit in a garage somewhere. Love 'em! :thumb:

Topeak Road-Morphs for me. CO2 seems like a good idea, but knowing my luck with Murphy's law, its really a rather bad idea.

I used the CO2 cans before. the pump is something you only have to buy one time and it will last you for years.

Pump fan here. Never used CO2 before, but don't see the need either. I've had a sum total of three flat tires in 3,000 miles of commuting year round. I don't mind taking an extra two minutes to actually pump up the tire. Besides, one of the reasons I bike is for exercise. A pump can be a decent arm workout! ;)

As long as you get a pump from a reputable company. (+1 on the Topeaks). I once had a cheap Schwinn pump from Target I got for $8. It lasted two inflations before falling apart.

I had CO2, presumably for speed/weight. I carried two bottles. Last flat I had, I realized that:
1. I tried to get enough air in to limp home, but the leak was faster than I thought (ever happen to you?). So I patched it, but the patch was bad, and now I was out both bottles, with a flat tire. Still had patches left, and a spare tube if I could air it up.
2. I later weighed the (empty!) CO2 bottles/system against the Road Morph G. The Road Morph G was heaver. By 10 grams. I can live with that.
3. I realized that fiddling with the CO2 bottles--getting them situated in to the delivery mechanism--it took a non-negligible amount of time. I had to unscrew the carrier, insert the bottle, screw it back on to puncture...etc. Obviously this could be faster maybe with a better designed system, but the pump is grab and go. I think it took literally 60 seconds to air up my tires. I can live with that.
4. I compared the volume of the two systems. They're comparable. CO2 has an edge in that it's a neat little square package. But it has more "fiddly bits" to keep track of.

So it seemed a wash more or less, except my pump works as many times as I care for it to. So I switched back to the pump. :)

(I also sprung for Specialized Armadillos at the same time. I'd rather not flat at all of course.)

I find CO2 works more effectively with high pressure 700c tires. Not so much with lower pressure 26". They can't seem to fill the volume that a fat tube requires well. Need a few cartridges.
Whereas they have strong psi to fill the thinner 700c tires in the way, a mini pump would begin to get difficult to work as it advances 80psi+.
So for low pressure tires, a mini pump is fine whilst CO2 are great with roadie tires. YMMV of course.

Just be sure to try out your pump before you actually need it. Don't be like me.... get a flat 10 miles from home 1 hour before sunset and find out that your new pump won't engage your tire's valve properly.

Topeak Road Morph all the way. However I do carry the smallest CO2 in my purse just in case if someone stole my pump off my bike while park, and Murphy law say I will get a flat right after someone steal my pump.

Depends. I rarely carry a full pump on fun rides because I have nowhere to put it. Recently I ran out of CO2 so I've been toting the Road Morph in the backpack during commuting. It's a very neat little gadget. I take it when I travel with my bike, too.

That is why I am patiently waiting for my seatpost/pump. I figure I have to have a seatpost anyway so if I can pump my tires too, so much the better.

Pump, mainly because I don't want to have more stuff that's disposable. Road Morph is pretty good. I can get my road tires up to about 90 PSI relatively easily, which is good enough to ride on.