advice on co2 inflator.
 

Money is tight and and would like advice on a decent low end co2 inflator.Thanks.

I've got inflators similar to this one, and it's worked every time I've had to use it: http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...2_544905_-1___

It's very small, and cheap. Plus most LBS keep them in a gallon jar by the checkout counter. I believe it takes all of about 1 cartridge per tire.

I think this is the best bang for your buck in my opinion. I bought this a few months ago and have already used it a couple times. The genuine innovation air-chuck elite. It's super small, and in this kit it comes with a 16g and a 20g cartridge. Some places will sell just the inflator for nearly $20 but this amazon seller has the whole kit for $18.53 with free shipping.

http://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Innova...s=co2+inflator

Money is tight? Don't forget to factor in the cost of replacement cartridges.
What size tire are you filling up? That matters in what size cartridges to buy.
Make sure you get one that can fill up your tire to enough PSI. The 16g cartridges can fill a road tire pretty well, but they are expensive to replace ($4 each).
If you want to buy in bulk, this place has several options.
http://www.gas-depot.com/products.ht...=0&sort=normal

You can buy a box of the 12g cartridges for $5-10 bucks at Walmart. They will fill a 26" MTB tire to an okay pressure, but they don't fill a road tire enough. You'll have to break out the hand pump to top it off.

This is what I bought.

And ordered these twice:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

That's what I'm sayin'! Get a damn pump...air is free, and you don't have to go around generating waste with those spent cartridges.

I don't even want to get into the discussion about the costs of manufacturing CO2, the cartridges, and the fitting bits, but I will say that I take a pretty dim view of those who use them, particularly those who use them as their sole inflation mechanism.

Not that I want to be snob, but unless you've got some kind of physical handicap, it seems like you give up a lot just to save a few minutes of hand pumping, and I just don't get it.

I carry both - a mini pump on the frame and a CO2 with one cartridge as a backup. I have never used the CO2, as I have only had a hand pump fail once, and it was on a charity ride and there were pumps everywhere. You are much more likely to double-flat than have a hand pump fail. If you double flat (either flat both tires or have to have the same tire flat twice) and have CO2, you are out of luck.

edit: I just weighed my setup and my Blackburn airstick - 59 grams. This is one gram heavier than a CO2 cartridge - 58g. For the same weight of a second cartridge, I have a pump and a CO2. In my case, however, I have a backup for ~85g - CO2 cartridge and head.

I know that money is tight, but if you can only afford one and have no physical limitations, I would really go with the more reliable solution (pump) than a CO2 inflator. Of course, your OP never actually said that you did not have a pump, so this is all inference on our part.

Torn bicep,rotator cuff,amputation on right foot,both legs crushed,skin grafts,bone grafts left leg,non functioning kidney,autonomic failure 9 on a scale of ten,degenerative joint disease both hips and knees,type 2 diabetes and I don't care about your view of me.

I do carry a frame pump.It just takes to long having to stop and rest the arm.My right shoulder has been injured on 3 different occasions.

http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Bike-Ki.../dp/B000IQEAMA

That one is nice and cheap and works well for me. If my small, oddly shaped frame allowed mounting of a frame pump, that's the route I'd go.

Haha! That's quite a litany of ailments! I'd say you fit pretty squarely in my 'physically handicapped' category, which I'm happy to rename if it offends you...though I know you don't care.

couldn't have said it better me self ... save the $20 or whatever on those CO2 toys and just hang a hand pump on the frame or carry one in your backpack. Unless you're at absolute minimal weight (physically) just skip that extra Big Mac and carry a hand pump. I mean, how much weight is a hand pump going to add to overall bike weight, really?

Read a few posts higher. That's not the issue.

J.

OP said money was tight so why toss out $20 or more for a toy that's not even needed? Maybe I misunderstood your reply. What are you referring too, exactly ?

I like the 12-gram cartridges for group rides because the cartridges are cheap. I don't mind if I have to use a couple and I'm not afraid to burn one or two for someone else either.

When nobody else is waiting on me, I much prefer to use a pump but it's a hopeless cause without a good one.

C02 is worth it for the convenience factor alone. Anyone who suggests otherwise doesn't have much experience changing flats on the side of the road. If you ride around with a giant frame pump attached to your bike I'll exempt you from this rule (small pumps take forever to inflate a tire.) Any cyclist who suggests C02 cartridges contribute to global warming lacks any sense of perspective on their "carbon footprint."

I'll reply to them in order: Takes me less than 2 minutes to make a MB 26 x 2.0 @ 45 lbs using a small hand pump and for the second comment that was made ... Only if you're a girly man, handicapped some how, elder and so forth and that means it's not the norm.

Post #8.



Post #9.

It takes me about 5 seconds to inflate my tire using a C02 inflator. Try inflating a 700C tire up to 90-100psi using a small hand pump then get back to me on your manliness.

+1

I've only had 4 flats in the last 2 years. If I were riding in conditions that resulted in a greater frequency of flats, I would probably agree that the cost is greater than that of carrying a hand pump. As it stands though, I don't mind the $3.00 cost for a cartidge compared to always carrying a hand pump in the pocket. I ride on 25 mm tires, and one seems to pump it up very well - I'm not sure of the actual pressure the tire is running at, but I wouldn't mind riding it home, however far the distance.

Until you made that reply, no one made any mention of a 700C tire, not even the OP. I did mention earlier on about hand pumping a MB 26 x 1.90 tire. You assumed I never hand pumped a road tire before, then asked me to get back to you about my manliness. I don't think so.

The OP said they have the following ailments: "Torn bicep, rotator cuff, amputation on right foot, both legs crushed, skin grafts, bone grafts left leg, non functioning kidney, autonomic failure 9 on a scale of ten, degenerative joint disease both hips and knees, type 2 diabetes and I don't care about your view of me."

Seems they decided to add the 3 times hurt right shoulder later on. Hey JustMe, what else is physically wrong with you that you forgot to mention ? You have more suffering going on than poor ole Job of Old testament fame and yet, you can climb on a bike and ride ? Anyone can say anything in a forum and after working and volunteering at the local VA hospital for the past few years I ain't never met a single patient had anything near all the SERIOUS aliments this JustMe says they have.

get a full length frame fit pump.. thats how you get the PSI up there ,

though the master-blaster , being like a mini floor pump lets you push against the ground.

Agreed. Serious respect for getting out there and riding. If Co2 inflator is he says, then that's what it takes.

J.

Thanks for your work at the VA.We do appreciate your effort.I am glad that the Vets you come into contact are doing well.As to my shoulder injuries my ortho Dr. assures me that the rotator cuff is part of the shoulder(some consider it a major part) and I did take certain liberties in assigning my torn bicep to the shoulder.I did leave out other injuries including a nasty impalement and where they opened my chest right below my armpit(both part of the three).I shouldn't have reacted in a negative way to the earlier response as to his low opinion of me.If you ever want to come to Dallas and do volunteer work here regretfully I can introduce you to Vets that are truley remarkable in what they have overcome.IEDs have done much worse than my none service related injuries.Once again thank you for the years of work for those of us that served.

Justme V1 DIV CVN 68