Might Drink the CO2 Koolaid
 

My stance has always been:

1. I must carry a pump in case I have multiple flats,
2. So if I'm carrying a pump anyway, why carry a CO2 inflator?

But I'm starting to think this:

1. I could a CO2 inflator, and also a super-small pump that is slow and hard to use, but use it only if I have multiple flats.

The two advantages of this new world view are (1) faster flat repair for most flats and (2) the pump and inflator stuff all fits in the seat pack, so the frame is neater.

I'm thinking of these:

http://www.amazon.com/Portland-Desig...9O9KTIAC&psc=1

http://www.amazon.com/Topeak-Micro-R...I1SDZKUMSODL5R

I have a CO2 inflator on my race bike and a pump which will really inflate to high pressure on my go-to road bike. I was in a race once where I had 2 flats and 1 CO2 shot, I did not finish that race. The big advantage to CO2 for the average roadie is that you can get good pressure in the tire quickly but a road morph pump will also do the job over and over again.

I carry both, in large part because I commute. There are days when the least amount of time spent repairing a flat the better. When I have time or the weather is better, I use the pump.

I carry this one http://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Innova...ords=inflators

It will use threaded, unthreaded, and if you drop a #10 washer in the bottom it will use 12 gram air rifle cartridge .
I find sometimes the co2 inflate to fast and the tire can pop off the rim I tend to pump the tire to ~20# seat tire in the rim and use co2 to get to good tire pressure usually with a 12 gram co2 (cheeper and more avialable )
Roy

Just carry an extra CO2 cartridge.

The Genuine Innovations rep visited our shop a few weeks ago and gave me one of these to try. CO2 and pump in one unit. It worked well in a dry run, though I haven't had the need to use it in the field yet. The carbon tube is blingy, but if I was buying I'd probably go for the $20 cheaper aluminum version.

http://www.genuineinnovations.com/im...uct&image_id=6

I still like a full-length frame fit pump, and that is what I use exclusively. The Bianchi and Capo #1, neither of which has pump pegs, have size 3 Zefal HP-X pumps. The Peugeot commuter has a trusty Blackburn between its factory installed downtube pegs; the Schwinn was designed for a 16" Mt Zefal behind the seat tube, so that's what it has.

That is a good system BD. A few years back I bought this one and have been pretty happy with it. Sometimes a second CO2 cartridge isn't quite enough. Especially if you grab a spent one headed out the door.:innocent:

http://i858.photobucket.com/albums/a...don/lezyne.jpg

I have a Genuine Innovation minimalist chuck. Works good and is tiny.

Worth saying although you probably know it already. Buy a few spare cartridges and practice at home. They can be a bit tricky the first time or two you do it. Also, wear gloves. The bare cartridge will burn your hand if you're not careful.

My Silca frame fit gets up to about 80 psi or so. You're gonna get a real workout if you try to get above that. But it's red and goes with my bar tape, me being fashioned conscious and all :)

So I'm thinking of getting a C02 myself. I'll probably be reminded to do that upon my next flat.

I was anti co2 until I had 3 flats on a 54 mile ride the other week. The little frame pump just wasn't the ticket after the 2nd flat.

Just remember to do what all CO2 users I've seen do:
1. Attempt inflation
2. Screw it up
3. Throw empty CO2 cart on roadside
4. Ask me to use my pump.

#BitterOldMan
#IHateLitterBugs

The advantages of CO2 are that it's compact to carry, convenient to use and gets up to full pressure FAST.

The disadvantages of CO2 are that you have to be very precise with your flat repairing technique and, when you run out of CO2 you're out.

When I was riding road bikes I relied 100% on CO2 for years and was never stranded. In the interest of full disclosure, I don't live in the goat head belt so I don't get very many flat tires. Since I switched over to recumbents I also switched to using a pump because my bigger volume tires need more CO2 than a 16 gram cartridge will provide.

You're not wrong for sure. I just got the s$$ts of stroking that stupid little mini pump about 1000 times to get my pressure up. I wish the old long frame pumps were still available.

My thoughts exactly. It is always my pump that is used when out on rides as even though it is a "Mini"Topeak Morph--it will get tyres to 120 psi before the arms and body wear out.

But even manual pumps fail. I try to ensure mine keeps working by checking and servicing it about every 3 months. Hasn't let me or my mates down in the 6 years I have had it.

A nice long frame pump works much better than a CO2 cartridge when you need to "cinzano" someone.:D

I carry a pump on most of my bikes, pumps don't run out of air. I do use CO2 on some of my bikes but I carry about 4-5 cartridges.

They are still available.

Lol. Showing our age here.

Makes me wanna watch "Breaking Away" again.

I use a Silica Imperio frame pump with Campy head.

It weighs less than the three or four or five CO2 cartridges I'd otherwise carry. It can be used to help out another rider. Beating a dog or hipster with the Campy head is more effective than beating them with a CO2 cartridge. I don't need to carry an underseat bag, just push the rolled-up tube between the seat rails, and put the small stuff sack of tools, levers, and patch kit in a jersey pocket.

I've been the guy knocking on doors, asking if anyone has a bike pump I can borrow after my CO2 failed.

Yep. +1

I have this and love it. It mounts to the frame (with 2 C02s), so it is always there.

http://i858.photobucket.com/albums/a...don/lezyne.jpg

I use a frame pump because I need exercise, and air is free. My lifestyle in a nutshell. Spend effort, Save money. ;)

If getting to pressure on a portable pump is the issue - the Road Morph is by far the best I have found. It is almost like taking a floor pump with you on the road.
http://www.topeak.com/mediafiles/products/3847/

Giyo air supply. Gets my tires up to 75 which is what the tire asks for pretty quick. has a little built in pressure gauge and its not huge. Works on road tires. not sure I'd want to use it on high volume low pressure mtb tires though. Could take an AGE to pump them up. For my mtbs I use a much larger pump. It can't handle the pressure, but it moves more air quickly.