NABRXX

Just curious, I can't seem to find a mini pump that works satisfactorily for me, I had a slow leak and was carrying a regular sized pump to top off the pressure until I had time to change the tube and it got me thinking about those CO2 cartridges...any insights?...beyond me being to lazy to change my tube right away....

Shimagnolo

"mini pump that works satisfactorily" -> Lezyne

Pump for *reliable* air source.
CO2 if you need to get back on the road in a hurry, i.e. group ride or racing.
CO2 is a *supplement* to a pump, not a replacement.

CCrew

My answer is "both"

I use this because it's small, works well and is pretty much the best of both worlds. More than anything what I have to carry is minimal.

https://www.genuineinnovations.com/bi...-wind-mtb.html

BassNotBass

Hand pump.

jayvo86

I just use CO2 and save the pumping for home. If I am commuting somewhere I bring and extra tube and cartridge in my pack.

tarwheel 

I carry CO2 and a frame pump. I usually use CO2 when I get a flat because it is so much quicker. The pump is for backup. I started carrying it after I got two flats in one day and ended up walking 4 miles in my cycling shoes.

colleen c

I only carry a Topeak Morph Road G pump. I used to carry a CO2 also until I got the Armadillo Elite All Condition Tire. If given a choice between the two, I choose the pump since I also use that to top off my Airzound horn.

KD5NRH

Why not just get Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny to change the tire for you?

Leebo

The topeak road morph works great for road or mountain bikes. Has a gauge and a piece to put your foot on. The nice feature is a small hose that allows you to pump without moving the tire valve around.

itsthewoo

Topeak road morph is what I tote. The problem with CO2 is that it'll slowly expand as the gas warms up, increasing the pressure by much more than you expect.

Polar Foil

I prefer a mini-pump for my bike that has lower pressure tires (like 50ish), but co2 for my higher pressure tires (like 100psi).

John Coloccia

Ditto on the Topeak road morph Now, if you're asking about CO2 vs practically any other pump (except my floor pump at home), I'll take CO2. The road morph really works that well for me, though.

canyoneagle

I'm a manual guy through and through. https://www.crankbrothers.com/pumps_alloy.php works for me.
But then, I also choose hand crank windows and manual door locks in a car if available.

CliftonGK1

I'm a fan of the Road Morph G. The gauge is reasonable accurate, although a bit sticky and requires some tapping to get it to read properly.

The problem I have with CO2 is that once you use them, you're done. That's it, no more. If you carry 2 CO2s and you get 3 flats in a ride, you're stuck bumming a cartridge or pump off one of your buddies. (Plus I see a lot of CO2 cartridges littering the roadside on popular local routes because people can't be bothered to carry their empties to a trash bin.)

mikeybikes

All gases expand as they warm up... To consider this change significant is being picky.

Using the ideal gas law (PV=nRT), which is not very ideal, but gives us a rough estimate, we assume that at room temperature (295 Kelvin) with 100 psi (689.47 kP) in a 700x28c tube (1.26L, 0.00126m^3), we can determine that there is roughly 0.3545 mol of whatever gas you use.

Now, using that same amount of gas (0.3545 mol) in the same tube, at the freezing point of water (273.15 K), we can determine that the pressure has now changed to 92 psi (638.90 kP). Now, warm up that same gas to the boiling point of water (373.15 K) we determine that the pressure has now changed to 126 psi (872.797 kP) that seems significant, but do your tires ever reach 212 degrees Fahrenheit?

Using the ideal gas law, and what we know, we can derive that for every one degree Celsius change, the pressure changes by 0.339 psi.

Now of course, I don't know what temperature the CO2 comes out of the cartridges, but it can't be that cold, can it?

I'd hardly call the few PSI that it would increase significant. The pressure would increase more from the tube getting warmed up due to just riding around on asphalt and it would do that regardless of what gas you use.

tjspiel

Mini's were OK for lower pressure tires, though the ones I had weren't very durable. Now I have a Crank Bros Alloy pump and a Topeak Road Morph. Both are quality pumps but the Road Morph works much better. It's the closest thing to a floor pump (other than a floor pump) that I've used.

I also have a CO2 Inflator that I carry instead for triathlons or any other event that requires a quick repair and minimal storage. I've never actually used it except to test it.

groovestew

tjspiel and other Road Morph fans - will the Road Morph pump a 23mm tire to 100 psi?

mikeybikes

Yes. I've had to do it a few times. Takes quite a few pumps, but it works.

bhchdh 

Another Topeak Road MorphG user.

EKW in DC

I've gotten my high pressure 700x35s close to 100 psi w/ my MiniMorph before. Both the Mini Morph and the Road Morph are rated for 160 psi, so I would see no reason it shouldn't get your 23s to 100 PSI.

It might be a lot of pumping, but it'll get you there.

groovestew

Thanks for the replies, I'll have to check that one out. My Planet Bike pump is rated for 110 psi, but the compression fitting popped off the valve before I hit 80. Could have been user error.

CliftonGK1

My Road Morph G had no problems with bringing my 28mm tires up to 115psi, and I helped a guy with a 130psi tire once. It's a lot of work, but it will get the job done.

colleen c

I used to have trouble pumping my 700x23 to 100 psi with the Road Morph, but that's because I was treating it like a regular hand pump pressing it on my body instead of flipping out the tab and holding it on the ground with my feet. Duh (oh, so that's what that thing is for). That was a while back. Now I can inflate tires to 100+ psi with ease. I even beat this guy one time in the parking lot who had trouble pumping pass 90psi with a cheapy Bell floor pump with a digital Gage. He was impress how much faster I got his tires to 110psi.

Kojak

Shimagnolo is living in my head..... Everything he said is exactly what I would have said.

ScottNotBombs

I have a cheap $10 schwinn hand pump... it only gets me to about 90 psi, but it gets me home