c02 inflator vs pump
Thread started by
goosegoose at 01.13.10 - 11:27 am
Thinking about getting one of those c02 inflator thingys to replace my broken bike pump..
Do they work better/worse/same as a pump?
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I have both. each has their place depending on how prone to flats you are and how much you're willing to carry. co2 will also deflate your tires quicker than air because the co2 molecules are smaller.
spiraldemon01.13.10 - 11:30 am
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what's the point of using arcane codes when you can't be understood
Joe Borfo responding to a
comment by spiraldemon
01.13.10 - 11:33 am
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Quick fills or C 02 cartridges will always work, but can get costly.
Pumps ? often fail or cannot provide adequate inflation pressures.
Dedicated81801.13.10 - 11:42 am
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i tend do get flats a lot.. maybe once a month.. not because i don't properly inflate my tires.. I'm just careless when running into potholes and bad luck..
but when i do run into flats i just want to quickly fix my flat quickly.. pumping obviously takes longer.
i also like keeping my tires at the full psi level.. (mine is 120)
also never really minded carrying a pump with me either.. carrying something smaller would be cool though..
also how long does those c02 cartridges last?
goosegoose responding to a
comment by spiraldemon
01.13.10 - 11:42 am
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One problem with CO2 is you have a hard time KNOWING exact pressure... Over-inflating can be a problem and each cartridge generally has like ~1.5-2 tires worth of gas from my experiences
CO2 is lighter and faster but less accurate
Pumps are heavier and slower but cheaper and more accurate (assuming it has a gauge)
Jakuta responding to a
comment by goosegoose
01.13.10 - 11:55 am
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Never owned C02 before but a smallish pump with a gauge has made my life easy on the road. I think Jeff is right, CO2 can be good if you are clad in the dex and don't carry a lot of weight. But for most peeps that carry half their life in their messenger bag, a lighter CO2 will not make a huge diff.
Foldie01.13.10 - 12:00 pm
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Only reason I use CO2 is when I am training AND don't have a bag. CO2 fits nicely into phanny packs, jersey pockets, or seat post bags. Just make sure you bring a couple extra cartridges.
CO2 = WAY MORE EXPENSIVE
Jakuta responding to a
comment by Foldie
01.13.10 - 12:07 pm
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what are you riding on? once a month seems pretty frequent – then again I don’t know how much you commute. If you are off-roading or on shitty roads all the time maybe consider getting knobby tires if they can fit? Or higher quality tires?
What kind of flats are you getting? Check your tires and check the rim tape if it is always near the same spot etc etc…
Kakihara responding to a
comment by goosegoose
01.13.10 - 12:20 pm
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I'm a commuter and ride on rides almost everyday.. i ride to Venice from Silverlake everyday for work and back.. I do ride on Venice Blvd where it does get shitty at points around Culver City.. That's where most of my flats tend to happen..
I don't know what my problem is with flats.. I believe i have great tires.. The nice Continental kinds.. and I had my tape and rim checked to see if there were nics and cracks and there were fine.
I always get the small cut/ slow leaks flats.. I usually don't have time to patch tubes up especially going to work so I carry about 2-3 new tubes with me and change them all the time.
And I have never had a flat in my front tire.. Always the back.
i think i just have bad luck.
goosegoose responding to a
comment by Kakihara
01.13.10 - 12:35 pm
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i once ran over a piece of metal on the venice bike lane that sliced my tire in half. if you're having that many problems, i have the following recommendations:
1. make sure your tires are properly inflated, generally about 10psi under the maximum
2. buy a gatorskin or armadillo for the back. the kevlar threading will keep you from getting flats.
3. buy tire liners. it might save you having to buy a more expensive tire.
based on the fact that you get flats on the back, it sounds like you might have underinflated tires. since most of your weight is over the rear wheel, being a few psi low can cause a pinch flat.
try this: take the last tube that went flat and pump it up, then look for where the leak is. if you can't see it, it's probably a puncture. if it looks like a snake-bite, it's likely from underinflated tires.
tortuga_veloce responding to a
comment by goosegoose
01.13.10 - 12:45 pm
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Cartridges are for on the road repairs
All cyclist should have a good floor pump for at home.
Check your tire pressure daily before you leave the house,
topping off your tires with your floor pump which should have
a built in gauge.
Dedicated818 responding to a
comment by Jakuta
01.13.10 - 12:53 pm
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A REAL 'RIDA' GOES SEVERAL MONTHS WITHOUT GETTING A FLAT.
LOL
eddieboyinla01.13.10 - 12:53 pm
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I've used both.
Recently I started using CO2 cartridges with an inflator that could use both 12 gram and 16 gram cartridges along with some Park self sticking patches.
The CO2 is a gas which expands in the heat, so for my high pressured clinchers, it was not quite the fix. I got a flat in cold weather, patched the tube...inflated to a pretty high pressure (like the statement above, there is no gauge)...and rode back to where I started...unfortunately, the temperature rose...and the CO2 blew out the patch....CO2 when used for inflating comes out very cold and is full of moisture, so I don't know if that had any effect on the self sticking patch.
If you're going to use CO2, on a smaller race tire like 700 x 20...I would leave it a little low to account for expansion.
I was lucky that my buddy had a new tube...or it would have been a 5 mile walk back to the car...
I decided to go back to a pump, even though the CO2 was quick. And I wouldn't leave the CO2 in the patched tire, I would deflate it and refill it with air at the first chance you get.
adrian01.13.10 - 1:23 pm
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If you don't have much room for gear and want a quick fix the CO2 is definitely the way to go. I've been really happy with the small "Air Innovations" air chuck (photo). Use to use it all the time when I was doing spandex roadie rides and all I had for space were the jersey pockets. A must in that instance. Also, I was disappointed with the bigger plastic CO2 inflators. One broke on me. Don't go that route. Get the one in the photo and some threaded CO2s.
But when I'm just normal riding around, and have more room for storage, I often toss my small bike pump in my bag so that if I flat and have the time I will just do it by hand. If I take the mtn bike out, I definitely use the hand pump because mtn tires take more than one CO2.
0gravity01.13.10 - 4:19 pm
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my two cents...
like spiral, i have both. for road rides and training where weight and space are paramount, i only carry the co2 pump. it's fast, easy, gives great pressure, is light and small. just make sure you know how to use it or you'll use up your cartridges figuring it out on the road.
when riding on the street and carrying a bag and weight and size aren't real issues, i carry my pump. make sure, though, that you are confident that the pump you have works to your satisfaction... i've gone through 2 trying to find a decent one.
indigis01.13.10 - 4:32 pm
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cO2 infaltor is a waste of money, you also increase the amount each flat costs you, and creates another piece of unwanted bicycle waste.
Stay green, use your arms and get a pump.
Just thinking about all the flats I have had and fixed with a pump. Then think about a pile of cO2 inflators sitting in a trash pile somewhere. Don't worry someone can show it to your great, great, great, great grandkids to show them how lazy and stupid you were.
parlorbikes01.13.10 - 4:36 pm
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My pump got hit by a bus .... its dead... Kim had a sick pump foot pump that was small and I think thats my next one ...
OsnapsonJC01.13.10 - 4:38 pm
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"co2 will also deflate your tires quicker than air because the co2 molecules are smaller." - spiraldemon
CO2 molecules are actually bigger than air molecules. Air is ~78% N2, and ~20% O2, both smaller than CO2.
CO2 does deflate faster though, this has something to do with CO2 being soluble in the carbon based rubber.
zombiefiesta responding to a
comment by spiraldemon
01.13.10 - 5:10 pm
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The co2 cartridge is one time use. Fix your flat. Shoot the gas in and throw away the cartridge. What it is not useful for is adding a little pressure from time to time to keep your tires properly inflated.
frumble01.13.10 - 5:22 pm
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Goosegoose's pump isn't broken it's missing a little piece that switches It from a Schrader pump to a Presta pump which I acidentally lost. Quit being lazy and google search the brand of you're damn pump. If you want I'll even call the company to get back that little piece.
palucha6601.13.10 - 5:28 pm
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those c02 cartridges were expensive... i went with a good ol' pump again..
@palucha66 it's too late... i bought another pump today you ass... i couldn't go any longer without riding without caring a pump.. that shit was 40 bucks.. it's another nice one.. plus i like this one better.. it has a bigger gauge on it.. don't ever touch my pump palucha... lol
goosegoose responding to a
comment by palucha66
01.13.10 - 5:38 pm
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I've tried CO2 a couple of times but I don't like dealing with a used CO2 cartridge and I can't believe how quickly my tire gets flat again as the CO2 leaks out. They tell that after you fill your tire with CO2, you have to let it all out when you get home and then pump in air with a hand pump.
I have a Topeak Road Morph, it's got a small foot stand, hose and pressure gauge so I can pump my tires to 120psi.
mk4524 responding to a
comment by goosegoose
01.13.10 - 5:47 pm
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I'll eventually give you 50 bucks.
palucha66 responding to a
comment by goosegoose
01.13.10 - 5:50 pm
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Invest in expensive tires. Always use ur home pump to keep it to the correct psi. Then forget about ur pumps needs... ill have like 2 flats year @ most...
Debut21301.13.10 - 5:59 pm
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It's true...I keep really high PSI and very rarely flat. Yep, two or three a year tops.
0gravity responding to a
comment by Debut213
01.13.10 - 6:02 pm
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so wait..
do i keep my psi at full 120 for my tires at all times?
some people tell me not all the way because the roads suck here in LA.. around 110-115
other people tell me me to pump it to 125..
i've always kept it at 120 always.. yet i still tend to get flats on my rear all the time..
suggestions?
goosegoose01.13.10 - 6:51 pm
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If ur not getting pinch flats then ur psi is ok.
If u get glass and thorns popping yo shit then up grade ur tires to a higher tpi rating...
Debut21301.13.10 - 6:56 pm
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There's a way to solve all your problems.
1. Get armadillos.
2. Get the pump that has a co2 holder so you can have wam balam... BOTH if you so please.
problem solved.
imachynna01.13.10 - 6:59 pm
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If you can't get armadillos, I suggest 5 psi OVER the psi on your tire. This probably only works because I'm small, but yeah. Trust me, I rode over all kinds of stupid shit when my tires weren't build for it, and I survived many possible flats.
imachynna01.13.10 - 7:01 pm
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Then think about a pile of cO2 inflators sitting in a trash pile somewhere. Don't worry someone can show it to your great, great, great, great grandkids to show them how lazy and stupid you were.
Yeah, 'cause it's not like steel can be reused and recycled or anything.
PC responding to a
comment by parlorbikes
01.13.10 - 7:02 pm
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I'm currently using co2 but I really need to switch to a pump. Co2 inflators work great and inflate your tires quickly but they have a few major drawbacks. The worst one is if you run out of cartridges, you're walking. Also if you've got more than one flat, no more tubes, and have to use a patch, it's very difficult to use the co2 to inflate the tube to find the hole(s) and still have enough to inflate the tire (if someone knows a good solution for this please tell me!). Then there's the waste issue that has already been mentioned. I would suggest some Gators or Armadillos and the best pump you can afford.
Velocipede01.13.10 - 7:48 pm
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Zombie is exactly right, molecularly speaking. Glad somebody else corrected that before I had to.
I might not have been as polite as Zombie.
---------
As for the original question, CO2 is great when you are in a hurry, but expensive, and can leave you stranded if you don't find the hole in the tube the first time (or worse, if you use your last patch on the slow, harmless leak and miss the bigger one).
Plus, the extra CO2 in the atmosphere might slow the onset of the little ice age that seems to be hitting us now.
NixonTwin responding to a
comment by zombiefiesta
01.13.10 - 9:31 pm
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I think the lesson learned here is don't let Palucha borrow your pump....
Hey Palucha get your own pump to break.
Foldie01.13.10 - 9:50 pm
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the reason you want to slightly (5-10 psi) underinflate your tires is because when you get on the bike, your weight compresses the air in your tires and brings them up to the max.
Check out "Width and Pressure"
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tires.html
And i dont know how accurate this is, but it's all relative, right?
http://www.dorkypantsr.us/psi-rx.html
tortuga_veloce01.13.10 - 9:51 pm
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The pump isn't broken whatsoever. Plus he let me borrow the pump to fix someones flat tire
palucha66 responding to a
comment by Foldie
01.13.10 - 9:52 pm
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who patches tubes on the road ?
carry spare tubes and be on your way in minutes.
Dedicated818 responding to a
comment by NixonTwin
01.13.10 - 9:53 pm
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Zombie is exactly right, molecularly speaking. Glad somebody else corrected that before I had to.
I might not have been as polite as Zombie.
I hear you, bro. I hear you.
Nothing gets me into a FROTHING RAGE faster than a person who makes an innocent error regarding the relative sizes of molecules. In fact, you know what? I'm angry RIGHT NOW. OH GOD I'M SO ANGRY.
PC responding to a
comment by NixonTwin
01.13.10 - 10:12 pm
reply
I'm going to go to a bar right now and see if I can get in a fight. Wanna come with?
PC01.13.10 - 10:14 pm
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I love this pump and it can get up to 130 psi if need be (has a guage). The flexible hose prevents snapping the stem like similar pumps will that don't have a hose.
Also you can put the pump on the ground to the resistance to get those last few pumps up to 120 psi. Don't know if someone already posted this but i love this thing and don't have to worry about running out of little metal canisters of compressed air.
http://www.amazon.com/Topeak-Road-Morph-Bike-Gauge/dp/B000FI6YOS
onemanstrash01.14.10 - 5:18 am
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psht! There's a reason why Reduce preceded Reuse & Recycle, PC.
canadienne responding to a
comment by PC
01.14.10 - 10:07 am
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That's the exact pump that palucha broke.. I loved that pump too.. I used it more then my floor pump cause it worked so well.. I think I got a newer model yesterday that has a bigger gauge, same Topeak brand..
goosegoose responding to a
comment by onemanstrash
01.14.10 - 10:16 am
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who patches tubes on the road ?
people who get double-flats and only carry one tube and the poor.
tortuga_veloce responding to a
comment by Dedicated818
01.14.10 - 10:47 am
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Thats the pump I want ... Thats why my tires were perfect last night .... i miss my old pump but this one is way better ...
OsnapsonJC responding to a
comment by goosegoose
01.14.10 - 10:52 am
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the topeak road morph is definetely the best "on the go" pump by far.it almost eliminates the need to have a regular floor pump.almost.self adhesive patches suck balls.they brreak down after a while.co2 carts are good when your triyng to look good in your spandex.for me, when im out on pch ,loggin in the miles in my team kit ,thee only thing i worry about having with me is some cologne and an accordion of rubbers..
mandingo responding to a
comment by onemanstrash
01.14.10 - 10:53 am
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I too have the Road Morph. It's light and reliable. The foot thing at the bottom comes in handy when my weakling arms give out.
canadienne01.14.10 - 11:14 am
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I've had to walk due to a co2 pump not working right and using both of my cartridges...I've never had to walk due to a regular pump. I am sticking to a mechanical pump.
marleydog01.14.10 - 11:26 am
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you made my day mandingo: "thee only thing i worry about having with me is some cologne and an accordion of rubbers.."
Commando!
onemanstrash responding to a
comment by mandingo
01.14.10 - 8:47 pm
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