C02 a convert

[cloggsy]

I'll bet you can't get that into a seat tube with bottle cage mounts.

Bet he can; he'll just need to be 17' 6" to reach the pedals

 

[jonny jeez]

The fairy visited this morning. Raining. Whipped the inner tube out, new one in and loaded a cartridge into my 3 month old, never used C02 gizmo.
Praise <please insert Deity of choice>.
After years of Blackburn mini pumps, which I am not impressed with, it is a revelation. In fact I thought it had not worked until I noticed the tyre was full, and a good pressure.
If you don't have one I recommend them.

I converted a year or so ago and re-converted... and bought a good minipump.

CO2, whilst excellent when deployed properly doesn't come without issue.

When its raining, dark and i'm tired, its very easy to pinch or heaven forbid, twist a tube when hurrying to get her in the tyre. CO2 has a tendency to shred the tube in those instances (I've lost 3 so far) also its near on impossible to add "a little" air to help seat the tube before you inflate. Its all or nothing and if the tube isn't perfectly seated, it'll herniate off the rim at best...explode at worst.

My most epic explosion was as I lifted the bike up into the hangers in the workshop and the rear tyre exploded at as near to face height as it could get.

Almost every time I have an issue its around the valve where the tube isn't popped into the tyre and is sitting too far into the rim. I used to add air and push the tube up into the tyre, rolling the tyre to ensure it was seated all the way around but cant with CO2

 

[ianrauk]

also its near on impossible to add "a little" air to help seat the tube before you inflate. Its all or nothing and if the tube isn't perfectly seated, it'll herniate off the rim at best...explode at worst.

Not so dear heart.. my C02 inflater is trigger activated so you can use as little or as much C02 as you like.

 

[Leodis]

Same here, regulator on the back is excellent. 5-10 mins with a mini pump or 5-10 seconds with CO2? No question in my mind, only draw back is the cost of carts.

 

[jonny jeez]

Not so dear heart.. my C02 inflater is trigger activated so you can use as little or as much C02 as you like.

Mine too, but it takes 2 seconds to totally inflate, so putting 20 PSI in is almost impossibly for my banana fingers and tiny brain to handle.

 

[Jon2]

I've got one of the tiny screw on CO2 inflators. You screw the canister all the way on, then back out again to release the CO2, twisting it a small way out lets you control the flow very easily.

 

[youngoldbloke]

I've got one of the tiny screw on CO2 inflators. You screw the canister all the way on, then back out again to release the CO2, twisting it a small way out lets you control the flow very easily.

Yes - agree, I have two - Lezyne Speedrive, and a Lezyne Triggerdrive.

 

[goo_mason]

I carry an inflator, spare canisters and a Topeak Road-Morph pump. The inflator came into its own one afternoon when I was fixing a flat and two junkies appeared, then stood near enough to me so that I was able to overhear them making plans on who'd hit me and who'd grab the bike. Being able to get enough air in quickly enough to ride off and finish the job with a pump somewhere safer was a real relief!

Getting quickly on my way in the wet / dark / cold is also a good reason for having CO2 on me.

There's plenty of time and opportunity for a slower, steadier puncture repair when the weather's grand and you're not somewhere you'd rather not be hanging about for too long!

 

[DRHysted]

I carry an inflator, spare canisters and a Topeak Road-Morph pump. The inflator came into its own one afternoon when I was fixing a flat and two junkies appeared, then stood near enough to me so that I was able to overhear them making plans on who'd hit me and who'd grab the bike. Being able to get enough air in quickly enough to ride off and finish the job with a pump somewhere safer was a real relief!

Getting quickly on my way in the wet / dark / cold is also a good reason for having CO2 on me.

There's plenty of time and opportunity for a slower, steadier puncture repair when the weather's grand and you're not somewhere you'd rather not be hanging about for too long!

I'd go with that, I got a Co2 after pumping up a tyre whilst being attacked by midges (haven't used it yet).

 

[Davidc]

Not so dear heart.. my C02 inflater is trigger activated so you can use as little or as much C02 as you like.

I can too. I do find though that it's easier to use the mini pump for that tiny bit of air to give the tube a bit of shape during the initial fitting.

I find that the content of the CO2 cylinder is near enough right to fully inflate one tyre. Getting the pressure 'right' can wait until back at home.

The last time I used one, last November I think, the temperature was about 5 degrees, it was dark, sheeting down with rain, and the wind was blowing hard. None of those present was in any doubt that it was better than a pump. Ice on the cylinder afterwards was annoying though.

 

[mrandmrspoves]

I always thought that a good mini pump was best......but recently realised that if I am riding solo and get a flat my ability to reinflate a tyre would be severely limited due to my knackered shoulders.
So I am also a convert. I found this on eBay for less than £7 - it takes the smaller 12g cartridge (most are 16g I believe) but it can be used as a standard pump or by unscrewing the barrel a CO2 inflator.

 

[fossyant]

OK need gadgets. Whats the recommended inflator with a trigger ?

 

[ianrauk]

THIS is the one I have.
Cheapest cartridges are from HERE

 

[cloggsy]

Cheapest cartridges are from HERE

Thanks for the link