To Hand Pump Or CO2....
 

After joining a few group rides I noticed there are still quite a few riders out there who carry the old fashion hand pump—albeit the pumps are much more compact and lightweight. I have to admit, I have one of those pumps that I bought “just in case”. However, I have never brought it with me except on the mountain bike. This past weekend, my floor pump failed on me while trying to inflate my tires to pressure (and sucked out most of the air from the front tire of my road bike). I was at home so I attempted to use the mini hand pump. I got to about 70 psi and my arms were wasted! I guess that’s enough to get you home but only after you are now much weaker than when you first got a flat.

Yesterday, I got a flat far from home. So like before, I used my CO2 inflator that I always carry on my road bike. My inflator allows me to load a CO2 cartridge but still be in control of how much air I put into the tire. I can put a little bit of air into the inner tube to give it some shape, then inflate it to full pressure once the tire is properly seated. The CO2 was simply effortless! In a mere 3 seconds I had a fully inflated tire using only one CO2 cartridge (I carry two). If you’re still carrying that hand pump, consider the CO2 inflator with the compact inflator head that simply screws directly onto the CO2 cartridge. Simple, extremely compact, fast, and efficient!

I carry both *shrugs*. If the CO2 fails for some reason, I am not SOL out in the boonies.

oddly enough, I have never loaned my frame pump to someone with a flat that had a frame pump... I HAVE loaned to to folks who shot their wad with a CO2 cartridge. I will take a small compact frame pump anyday,

mini pump ftw, F that CO2 ish

+1

Full sized frame-fit pump for me. Fits nicely under the top tube.

Oddly enough if you only carry one or two CO2 cartridges, you really do not know what SOL means.

Both. CO2 for the quick fix and most of the time, and the hand pump in case no more co2!

pump or co2 = paper or plastic?

I think the analogy is apropos.

I use a Topeak RoadMorph . . . morphs into a mini-floorpump (footstand, T-handle ans hose/guage). 100 quick/easy pump strokes give me 100 PSI in a 700x25 road tire.
Yes have helped folks that ran out of CO2s . . .

Hand pump is cheaper, it has "infinite" uses, whereas you need to keep buying new CO2

I use the hand pump. It's simple.

CO2 is great when you have it. What happens when you've discharged all the cartridges you have, and then you need to inflate another tube? Members of my club have had to rescue weight weenies who ride with only 1 spare tube and 1 CO2 cartridge and their attempt at fixing their flat failed.

Also, look up Leonard Zinn's online column about bike repair: butyl tubes are much more permeable to CO2 than plain old air. After a day or so, you'll have to reinflate the tube with air as the CO2 will have leaked through the butyl. (Don't if the same holds true for latex tubes.)

I carry a Silca Impero frame fit pump on my early 1980s Ciocc road bike. Unlike a CO2 inflation device, it NEVER runs out of air!

Until the seal breaks and you're SOL. They all have their problems, that's why I carry my Lezyne micro attached to my water bottle cage and my Airchuck SL and two CO2 cannisters. Haven't used any of them on the road in almost 3000 miles but have practiced with both in the garage.

I have a small super-compact frame pump, and I share your frustration. Pumping up a tire with a mini pump is a miserable experience. I also have some full size frame pumps that are quite quick and efficient: a Topeak, a Blackburn, a Zefal (until it fell and broke), and a RoadMorph (until it was stolen). So, for many of the reasons listed above, I definitely prefer a pump, but not a mini-pump.

Interestingly enough, I carry an Air chuck and two CO2 carts, as *backup* to a Pressure Drive frame pump. I do occasionally run into lone riders dealing with flats in rural-agricultural neighborhoods.

I have a mini pump that does both. I can get to 80psi reasonably on the pump side but the CO2 side is very nice for quick fixes. It came with a mount that goes behind my seat tube bottle cage that holds the pump and two cartridges. I will additionally carry another cartridge or two in the saddle bag as well. It's not about weight for me so much as the 5 seconds it takes to fill the tire that way.

Air Chuck SL + 2 Co2 cartridges.

Note: I ride out in the country where cell reception is iffy at best.

Uh, I've been using my Silca since the early 1980s with NO problems. Try again.

I'm considering charging troubled CO2 users for the use of my pump. Another year ought to pay for my bike.:D

Beanz, bro, you should really consider changing your sig. a). it's long, b). it's abrasive and is just an invitation for more attacks.

That said, Co2 has worked A-Okay for me.

You're correct. I'll replace SOL with "LUCKY".

Lucky? Hey, that's my middle name! But then again, if you take care of something (that includes periodic servicing/maintenance) it will last.

Edit: That goes for ALL pumps . . . as well as accordions and zydecos.

I have a hybrid pump, it's a mini hand pump but also has a nozzle for you to screw a CO2 cartridge onto. It's this one: http://www.rei.com/product/793154 Has worked pretty well for me.