My LBS is 120 miles round trip. Therefore, I pose my newbie questions to the wisdom of the forum. I would like CO2 cartridges instead of pumping my frame pump (with very little results). Is this all I need to order or do I need some type of attachments?

https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...3A%20Inflators

Thanks, in advance, for any help.

Dave

https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...3A%20Inflators

You still need this or similar, I recommend on that takes threaded or non threaded

you will need a CO2 pump firts.. I hjavew no experience with these so Im not much help

then a compatible cartridge... depends on your pump type whether you need threaded or no-threaded

like this https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...3A%20Inflators

You'll need an inflator that matches the type, threaded or non-threaded, of cartridge you want.

I use threaded because the inflator is smaller. It's called an Air Chuck.

Thanks Grumpy.

Along with the cartridges, would this work?

https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...3A%20Inflators

Are you talking about pumping up at home, or when fixing a flat on the road?

If you're talking about regular pumping at home, get a floor pump -- no frame pump (and especially not CO2) will be as easy as a decent floor pump.

If you're asking about CO2 for road repairs, you need more than just a cartridge. Poke a hole in that and it'll launch itself into the woods (hopefully without smacking you in the face first). You'll need an inflator, which has a regulator that controls the flow of the CO2 coming from the cartridge -- not just on/off, but it restricts the speed of the flow to a manageable level.

I have one of these, mainly for its ridiculously small size and the fact that it can still be switched on & off:
https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...3A%20Inflators

Its drawback is that it needs threaded CO2 cartridges, which means that I can't just go to Wal-Mart (or anywhere they sell paintball or pellet gun supplies) and buy a big box of unthreaded cartridges for six bucks. For that kind of convenience, this is the way to go:
https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...3A%20Inflators

CO2 is no replacement for the free air of a frame pump, but honestly, it sure is nice when it inflates a tire so quickly.

Heh... I took too long to type.. LOL

Barrack,

Thanks. I ride mostly for exercise, but I am out at least five days a week and riding over 120 miles per week. In your honest opinion, which do you feel is better for me?

Keep in mind that my LBS is 120 miles round trip.

And yes, it is for flats on the road.

CO2 is the way to go. Just beware that it deflates quickly over time so a few days later you will have a flat tire without a puncture; just pump it up with your floor pump.

Wow -- so going to your LBS is a two-week excursion.. I can see why online shopping works for you.

j/k

Here's what I do --

I have two different seat bags, one larger than the other. The bigger one holds what I'd need to change a flat on the mountain bike -- spare 26"x2" MTB tube, that Air Chuck SL mentioned earlier, tire levers, two cartridges, and a patch kit and Presta-to-Schrader adapter "just in case." The smaller bag holds the same things except that the tube is a smaller size for my road bikes.

I also have a Topeak Road Morph G pump that I leave mounted on the bad weather/commuter bike. It's also just small enough that I could easily pack it (and another tube or two) on a really long ride.

I've used CO2 twice so far. The first time was a flat just two blocks from home -- I was returning home anyway, so I decided to use it as practice when I changed the tube at home. The other flat was this past week, riding from home to my LBS (1.2 miles away ).

I've used the Road Morph a couple times, the last time to help out some guy who needed some air in a tire. I use the floor pump every few days, usually just topping off the tires on whichever bike I'm going to use that day.

Here's the catch: I'm never far from civilization. If I have a really bad day of flats and run out of CO2 cartridges, tubes, and patches, I can call a cab to take me home or to a subway station. I also try to use tires that are reputed to have good flat protection (replaced some OEM tires with Serfas Seca on one bike, scored some Schwalbe Marathon Plus off of Craigslist for the commuter), hopefully reducing the chances of getting a flat in the first place.

Get whatever you want; just understand the drawbacks of each. CO2 can leave you stranded after just two flats, but even a frame pump won't help if you run out of patches to repair your last tube. I have to admit, though -- after pumping many tires over the years by hand, the first time I shot CO2 into a tire made me laugh with glee.

definitely get an inflator that can use the non threaded 12g co2's, that way you can get them for cheep from walmart or any sporting good store for cheep.

I have started carrying a small frame pump as well as my co2, that way I will never be without air, even if I have to work for it.

this...

Plus this and 2 12g's = good to go.


When I get a flat, I use the pump to put a little pressure in the tire and make sure the bead is set, and there is no leak, than I use the co2 to bring it up to pressure.

I run 23's and using this method, I get the pressure in the tire up to 100+psi no problem.
ooh and I have a small seat wedge that holds a tube, the inflator above, an extra co2 (2 total) 2 tire levers, a small screw driver, and 2 allen keys. and works very well.

https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...3A%20Inflators

this is the kit I have, its real nice, you can put a multitool in the bag too, plus cash, and it fits really well in the middle jersey pocket

I agree with the above. This is the smallest lightest kit that fits in a very small seat bag. This works fantastic.

I carry two of these inflators in the threaded version, 16 grams

https://www.competitivecyclist.com/ro...-779.47.1.html

One of these threaded air chucks

https://www.competitivecyclist.com/ro...3538.47.1.html

Three nested lightweight tire levers

https://www.parktool.com/products/det...t=11&item=TL-1

One of these patches

https://www.parktool.com/products/det...17&item=TB%2D2

One inner tube

https://www.competitivecyclist.com/ro...420.263.0.html

And it all fits in this very small seat bag

https://www.competitivecyclist.com/ro...1702.42.1.html

I forgot to say that I also stuff a Crank Brothers minitool in my own small Fizik bag (there's a Pedro's tool with integrated tire levers in my "medium" Fizik bag). Both of the bags that I have are the ICS version, which makes it super-easy to move one bag between bikes (and, IMO, is great for pulling it off the bike in one second, making it really easy to dig stuff out).

I'd never trust just a CO2 for on long commutes or rides I have a Innovations SecondWind Road Carbon CO2 Mini Pump Combo - CO2/Hand Pump in one, or just get a good hand pump like a Topeak Road Morph.

I have had a Blackburn frame pump, a Topeak Road Morph and now an Innovations Air Chuck SL. I I like the Topeak Road Morph much more than the Blackburn frame pump. I find it much easier to get the tire up to pressure and the Road Morph as a gauge. However, I will never go back to a pump. The Air Chuck SL and 4 threaded 16 gram cartridges weigh about the same as the Road Morph. I have never had even two flats in a day let alone four flats.

I carry the Air Chuck, two tubes, three cartridges, patch kit, a tire boot and one lever. I can get the threaded 16 gram cartridges for about $1.50 each delivered and this is cheap enough for me. The 12 gram un-threaded cartridges will not give you enough air volume to fill up a road tire to 120 psi.

I just play it easy--bought two extra tubes for $10 and bought a no thread co filler and a box of canisters for airsoft. It is super fast-so I am not late for school-and allows me to patch up the other tubes when I get home. It has worked well so far.

I'm guessing that 120 miles a week tranlsates into something between 20 miles a ride, 6 days a week, or 40 miles 3 times a week. So if your typical ride is between 20-40 miles (as is the case with many cyclists), you're theoretically never more than 20 miles away from home in an out-and-back route (shorter if you have more of a loop).

Assuming that you have a cell phone and somebody to come to your rescue in extreme situations, you really don't need to prepare like you're crossing the siberian tundra on your bike.

IMHO, if you flat more than twice, then there's probably something wrong that you may or may not be able to correct on the road assuming it's the same tire. Maybe you missed a piece of glass in the tire the first time, but if you miss it the 2nd time, you probably won't have much luck figuring it out without spending some time figuring out what's going on.

So if you're still buying into my assumptions which are based on my own experience, I carry one spare tube, a patch kit, and three CO2 cartridges. As long as I'm not intentionally riding through glass, I've never needed more than one cartridge to get home. Having 2 extras is a good safety margin as far as I'm concerned.

I also figure that if I'm out on a 2-3 hour ride (<50 miles or so, max of 25 miles from home) I'll probably plenty pissed off if I've flatted 3 times in that amount of time, and will be more than happy to call the cavalry for a ride home (or just take the $20 in my seat bag to the nearest bar to wait for a ride).

Anyway, if you get the CO2 thing, buy extra cartridges right up front and practice using them a couple of times at home. It's not difficult, but it's probably less stressful to figure out in the comfort of your own home than on the side of the road in a rainstorm.

Maybe I am just a grumpy old man, but I dont "get" C02. Why not just use a pump??

co2s take up less room than a pump and will fill your tire with zero effort in about 3 seconds

Also, save yourself some money and buy your cartridges somewhere else. Here, for instance:

https://www.gas-depot.com/index.php?m...&products_id=9

Here are a few more places that have good prices on CO2 cartridges:

https://tinyurl.com/65ktwa

https://www.biketiresdirect.com/cizz/...s/products.htm

I always had a problem getting a tire to 120 psi with a frame pump. With a CO2, one cartridge will get the tire to 120 psi in a couple of seconds. My CO2 inflator and 4 cartridges weigh about the same as my frame pump. Plus, the CO2s fit easily in my seat bag. No need hang a pump from the top tube.

Maybe I should try C02 then....I would want one that also is a mini-pump, is that a reasonable unit?? It's always on sale at performance for about 15 dollars (I believe it is the secondwind unit mentioned above).

If you get a flat while riding in a group and any of the other members are 'grumpy' they might not want to wait for you while you flail away pumping your tire.