Elbeinlaw

I had the "opportunity" to break out my compressed air tire refiller apparatus on a ride today. I was carring it instead of a pump. That--and the miles-long walk to find a bike shop who could fill the tire-- made me wonder if anyone uses them on 60-70 lb tires?

shelbyfv

IME they work well but you need to practice a time or two at home. I carry them for speed in case folks are waiting but I also carry a mini-pump just in case. If I always rode alone I probably wouldn't bother with the CO2.

jppe

I’m not familiar with what you’re what you’re talking about. How does it work?

Elbeinlaw

1. Screw the small CO2 cartridge into tge adapter ...
2. breakibg the seal
3. Attach the doohickey to your valve
4. Open the CO2 valve
5. Watch the CO2 either overindulge your tube (its hard to regular the extreme pressure) or blow into the air while youxre trying to regulate the inflation,
6. Discard the first canister, attach the second ...
7. Repeat
8. Find someone with a pump.

I bought a frame pump. Am discarding the doohickey. Useless. I mean if you have to carry a pump anyway, what's the point?

big john

CO2 inflater.

KenCT 

Don't forget the frostbite on your fingers.

shelbyfv

Choose the correct size cartridge and just let 'er rip. If the tire is too hard to suit you, burp it. Don't futz around trying to "regulate."

downtube42

You can either practice using your doohickey until your good at it, get a better one, or just use a pump.

Personally I carry both CO2, because it's super quick, and a pump, because it works n+1 times where's n is any number of flats. I could live without the CO2.

DiabloScott

Everybody's flat tire paradigm is different. Someone like me who gets a few flats per year, has had two flats on the same ride exactly three times in 35 years of serious riding, and has had three flats on the same ride having to walk home exactly ONCE... doesn't need the same first aid kit as someone who rides in goathead territory or through broken glass on every ride.

Two CO2s and two tubes on my clincher bike, one pump and one spare on my tubular bike.

big john

It's not rocket surgery.

50PlusCycling

CO2 inflation systems are not very effective. I tried a couple of different systems and was not happy with either. You need to do everything right to get the gas into the tire, otherwise much or most leaks or blows out. Even when done right, a canister of CO2 does not get the tire up to full pressure, and if you’ve buggered up the patch or new tube, and either one leaks, you'd better hope you are carrying a few more canisters in your pocket. To save yourself from all this drama, just carry a pump. I use a Topeak Road Morph pump which is small, light, easy to handle, has a built-in pressure gauge, and will easily get your tires up to 130 psi.

rsbob 

I have 3 CO2 inflators, one for each bike. Have used them about 5 times total. 50+ is right that you have to be exact, that’s why I carry a backup small hand pump. Sure like the convenience of filling a tire in 5 seconds rather than pumping and pumping.

GhostRider62

You're either doing something wrong or your thing-a-ma-jig that hooks up to the doo hickey ain't no good.

Elbeinlaw

And that's kind of where I come down. If I'm going to have to carry a pump anyway, why bother with the weight and space of the doohickey?

Elbeinlaw

Exactly!

Elbeinlaw

"Not rocket surgery"

But is it brain science?*

---------
*I have to say, I know both brain surgeons and rocket scientists, and they don't know their thingamajigs from their doohickeys.

Elbeinlaw

Technically, the doo hickey [sic] attaches to the tire tube's valve. My thing-a-ma-jig has other uses.

shelbyfv

Clearly you should not.

Elbeinlaw

Yes--that was a surprise. I should have known, but it was a surprise to be reminded about the relationship of pressure and temperature.

Elbeinlaw

But admit it: doesn't "doohickey" fit the bill better?

big john

I use a Genuine Innovations inflator. It weighs 16 grams and has no valves or controls and couldn't be simpler. I can inflate a 700x25 tire in a few seconds. It doesn't lose pressure or cause other problems.

AirChuck CO2 Bike Tire Inflator | Genuine Innovations

yannisg

I carry 2 CO2 cartridges with the inflator. They are quick, and you can get yr tire up to full pressure.
If I get a flat relatively close to home on the return I'll use the min pump and save the cartridge.
I always carry a mini pump with me. I have seen riders relying only on the inflator not using it properly, and getting stranded.
Use a cartridge cover to avoid frostbite.

GhostRider62

I take a lezyne micro floor drive, two CO2 cartridges, a pro bike tool co2 inflator, a patch kit, two tubes, tire irons, and a tire on long rides. Just two CO2 cartridges, one tube, tire irons, and a patch kit on shorter rides. If it is cold, wet, and dark.....nothing like not pumping.

Iride01

You do need to practice with CO2 inflators. While for the most part one air pump pretty much works like another air pump, CO2 inflators do not. So read the instructions. Some though are poorly written. But practice and a little use of the grey matter to puzzle about why it's not working for you can do wonders.

I've never failed to put more than enough CO2 in my 25mm tires the few times I've had to use an inflator. Once when I was a mile or so from the house I opted to just fill up the tire without fixing the leak. And I was able to use the same CO2 cartridge to top off the tire all the way home. As for pressure, I know that sometimes I've found the tires to have over a 100 PSI in them when I get home, maybe quite a bit more.

If you can't use a CO2 inflator then use a pump. Evidently they aren't for everyone. But just because you can't figure them out doesn't mean that they don't work well for quite a few of us..

jppe

I have at least 5 of them. Had to use one a week ago.