New bike + first flat + CO2...
 

For the longest time I've ridden with a frame pump, and they've never let me down when called up for duty. Some time back I decided to shed the frame pump and use the newfangled CO2 cartridge system on local workout rides, and save the frame pump for longer rides. So I'm nearly 3/4 of the way through the tough climbing on my daily loop ride today when I ran over a pile of glass, and sure enough, ffft, ffft, ffft went my rear wheel with each revolution. I could also feel the air escaping as the leak source went past my thigh. OK, time to try out this new CO2 system. Or walk.

I honestly felt pretty anxious about trying it. I'd heard some bad stories -- dead cartridges (I only had one), flawed dispenser design, frozen fingers, over inflating... As I'm setting up (bike upside down), a chap rolled past and asked if I had everything. I answered honestly, "I think so. Check back later." The tire itself had a slice where the hole was, but the tube only had a small puncture. That was a relief given that I only had glueless patches (used my spare tube on another bike and haven't gotten another one for the seat pack). Then the dispenser system didn't seem to work at first. As I twisted the cartridge counter-clockwise, very little CO2 came out. "Crap! Dead cartridge," I thought. So I cranked the cartridge back down tight, then unscrewed it and lots more finally came out. Whew.

This little flimsy device actually worked! To be on the safe side, I didn't fully inflate the tube. I probaby inflated it to half it's normal pressure, which was enough to ride home without risking a pinch flat. What I found particularly curious was how the CO2 froze the needle valve open. Not fully so all the gas escaped, but a tiny bit until the metal thawed above freezing.

Took me close to 20 minutes, and I got yelled at twice by young dudes in cars. The good news is that even though I soft pedaled the rest of the way home (some 8 miles), I still made good time.

I screwed up my first CO2 encounter and luckily had a small pump. Now I just carry the pump which is lighter than the 2 cartridges and CO2 head.

Why did dudes in cars yell at you?

Fill the tire slowly and you wont get that freezing issue. I've been using Co2 for over 10 tears between MTB and Road and have never had a dead Co2 cartridge. I haven't carried a pump in over ten years and honestly...I dont miss it one bit.

Jealous of my massive guads and galves? I don't know. Just dudes being a-holes I guess.

Good to know. Thanks!

Maybe it's the old boy scout in me, but I would have tried out a new CO2 inflator at home before I hit the road with it.

What kind is it?

I'm thinking of getting one, but I probably would be a wus and still carry my frame pump with me. I don't mind carrying it, but the speed of the co2 inflator is alluring.

Yeah, you should NEVER ride with untested equipment unless the ride is short and close to home. Take an old tube and tire, mount them up, and then stab with an icepick. Then fix the flat at home in the comfort of your garage. Do it couple times, patching with a patch kit, so you have experience with the repair. Wasting a couple of CO2 cartridges on this is pretty cheap compared to the stress of not knowing what to do on the road.

Try also putting a slice in the old tire, and installing a boot using a dollar bill or a gel pack. This is pretty basic stuff that all cyclists should know how to do, and learning on the road is not as good as learning at home.

KiddSisko, are you sticking with CO2 or going back to your reliable pump?

If you are starting from a dead flat, one co2 cartridge won't blow your tire. If you get a perfect fill from a 16 gram cartridge, you might hit 125psi.

Just as important as practicing filling with co2 at home instead of on the side of the road for the first time, it's also good to get familiar with how a tire feels at different pressures. Start at 40psi and spend some time looking at how the tire sits and feels. Then pump to 50psi and observe again. Keep adding 10psi until you hit max psi on the tire or the pump gives out. Repeat a few times. This way you can give bursts of co2 and feel the tire until it's where you want it. If you are ride at 100psi, you should be able to feel the tire and get with 10% accuracy.

I hear you about the smart try at home first motto, but that sort of runs counter to my other "mostly correct" instinct when it comes to simple mechanical things. I'd read about how the CO2 systems work, it made sense, and that was all I needed to know.

It's the Innovations microflate nano system. Here. Can be found all over Ebay. Local stores too, no doubt.


For my local rides I'll stick with the CO2, but on longer/remote rides the frame pump will be called up for duty.

I just feel the pressure of the non-flat, and make the tire I'm blowing up feel like that! :thumb:

+1 CO2 cartridges are cheap (buy them by the box at Wal-Mart). Practice at home in the garage with plenty of light before you try to fix a flat on the side of the road. I always take 2 cartridges with me.

I've had the same two cartridges in my bag for two years now. Haven't had to use them yet, since I haven't had a flat out on the road in that time. They're in a baggie, but they're starting to look a little beat up. Maybe I should sacrifice them for practice to see if they're still good, and buy some new ones...

I had my first flat last week. I tried to CO2 it up, but I messed up. I blew as much air as I could into the tube, and rode home on the flat. No way I was click-clacking my way 8 miles home.

I'm carrying 2 CO2 cartridges now.

If you're going to rely on CO2, it wouldn't be a bad idea to also carry a minipump. Minipumps are not ideal, but they do work well enough to get you home.

Co2
 

Two sealed but totally empty (Thanks Wally World)Co2 cartridges were enough for me.
Now have a Topeak Mini Morph riding between the drops an the 44cm bars.
Far lighter and far more reliable.
Also have a Road Morph on the handlebar bag on the Paramount.
Same reason.

The one time I tried to use co2 I twisted the valve end off my spare tube-nothing but mini pump for me.It is carbon and doesn't weigh much more than a co2 holder and a couple of cartridges it fits in a large water bottle with 2 spare tubes,bus money and a couple of tools.

LOL, I've had my minipump for over 11 years, maybe 12, and it has never occurred to me to weigh the darned thing. I didn't realize it mattered. No wonder I ride so slow.