Does anyone have any experience of using CO2 pumps on the go? Any you'd recommend or advise to avoid?
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CO2 pumps
(38 posts)- Started 9 years ago by Edinburgh Cycle Training
- Latest reply from Neil
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Posted 9 years ago #
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Personally I'd always carry a pump anyway, a pump never runs out of cartridges. I think it's probably money better spent to just buy a better pump.
It's just one more gadget that I personally don't think is required. And I'm not in so much of a hurry that the seconds saved will really matter.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Yes. I've used them in anger for both racing in a triathlon and on a century ride. Triathlon race got me back on the bike in about 4 minutes which isn't bad. Century ride also got me going in about 10 minutes, but taking my time. I'd recommend them if you don't wish to carry a pump about, like in a race, or when your jersey pockets are already filled with other things for a long ride.
Personally, I recommend any 16g threaded type. 16g will pump up a 18mm race tyre to about 100psi. Threaded as you can screw it in and not worry about putting a hole in the top by not pushing it in correctly and killing it.
Connect your adaptor to your valve first, then thread the bottle on.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I keep a track pump at home and one at the office. On my commute I have a wee pump in my backpack.
I'm thinking about for longer road rides when I'm looking at travelling light, that these might be handy.
I've tried those foam things several times, very unsuccessfully.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I used a CO2 inflator for years, sorted countless punctures without issue, and then..
That one time on the commute when your wife is working, your 16 miles away from home, and 4 miles away from the nearest train station, and you find you have 2 faulty canisters, and no air in your tyre.
I've got a mini pump now.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I had a similar experience, the one time I really need it the first cartridge didn't work. I over tightened it thinking the cartridge simply hadn't been opened. When i put the second cartridge in the inflator had taken some damage and started decompressing near my hand I dropped it and it shot towards the directors car narrowly missing it.
I have a minipump now.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I only keep a track pump at home and use CO2 everywhere else (commute / long rides / MTB whatever).
+1 for the 16g threaded - you can buy them online very cheap (tyreinflators.co.uk - £20 for 30 cartridges) v the likes of Evans etc
Not sure if there are differences in adapters - mine is a screw on type and works really well.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I carry a mini-pump in my rucksack, but also have a CO2 inflator (Proflate Elite, I think) plus two cartridges in my saddlebag.
Gives me the option of getting up and running again much quicker if the weather's not the kind for hanging around in for too long.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Years ago my daughter screwed the adapter onto a threaded cartridge and got such a shock when it started hissing that she ran to the back door and threw it into the back garden. Took ages to find.
Posted 9 years ago # -
A couple of queries for users:
- can you pump up the inner-tube a little bit, as you should do before fitting it in the tyre?
- how many refills = one pump? I only ask because sometimes on a ride you need to deal with multiple p****s (not usually me cross fingers)
Posted 9 years ago # -
@amir
I usually blow up the new tube with my mouth before seating it.....but I might be odd that way !
One cartridge = one road tyre to very hard. I guess you could use less?
Also, even when you pump up using CO2, you still need to use the track pump when you get home, because the tube will have lost some CO2 by the next day and feel softer (I'm sure a scientifically minded person could explain why).
Posted 9 years ago # -
Carbon dioxide molecules can dissolve their way through (butyl) inner tubes, whereas oxygen and nitrogen molecules have to physically batter their way out.
Posted 9 years ago # -
CO2 is denser than atmospheric air, therefore tyres pumped up to the same pressure will be heavier when filled with CO2 than with air. -1 for the weight weanies.
Anyway, just how much lighter is an inflator plus 2 or 3 cartridges than a semi-decent track pump?
Posted 9 years ago # -
Are the empties refillable/recyclable?
Posted 9 years ago # -
Aluminium, so recyclable, but single use.
Posted 9 years ago # -
They were great when mini pumps weren't able to put more than 60-70psi into a tyre. Good too for sportives and club rides when you don't want to keep people waiting.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Good too for sportives and club rides when you don't want to keep people waiting.
Or you don't want the assembled waiting persons entertaining themselves by critiquing your tyre-fixing skills or bicycle riding fashion sense ;)
Posted 9 years ago # -
"Anyway, just how much lighter is an inflator plus 2 or 3 cartridges than a semi-decent track pump?"
A lot?
Unless you can get track pumps that are significantly smaller than ours!
Boyfriend of Fimm has used CO2 in triathlons. I've never tried them. My understanding is that they are quicker.Posted 9 years ago # -
Or you don't want the assembled waiting persons entertaining themselves by critiquing your tyre-fixing skills or bicycle riding fashion sense ;)
Don't worry, @kaputnik, you've been judged :)
Posted 9 years ago # -
I'm not convinced by the weight saving but it's the convenience factor that pushed me to them. Particularly in winter when inflating a tyre in literally a couple of seconds if far more preferably to hammering away with a mini pump for ages.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I found an unexpected benefit of CO2 the other weekend on the Innocent path - had a 'quick' puncture (tyre completely flat before I came to a halt). Didn't have a spare tube with me so patched it and inflated with canister - at half pressure I could hear the unmistakable sound of gas rapidly escaping - patch mustn't have taken fully. Decided to press on quickly and the quick addition of pressure must have clamped the patch against the tyre and the repair has held ever since, probably well cured now. Not sure I'd have managed that with a hand pump.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Thanks everyone. Defo food for thought.
Any decent mini pumps that you'd HIGHLY recommend?
Posted 9 years ago # -
Any decent mini pumps that you'd HIGHLY recommend?
Lezyne Road Drive. It's screw-on rather than clamp on, some people don't like that but personally it's the whole reason I got it; no more fighting to get the thing to bind on different valve neck designs, no chance of ripping the valve out and just plain easier to hold the pump at a useful angle and position for the hard work of pumping. Will do 100-110psi, although I found I had to take mine apart once and reassemble with replacement (and greased) seals as although the component quality was great, assembly wasn't up to the same scratch.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I'm not convinced by the weight saving but it's the convenience factor that pushed me to them.
+1 my gateway was last winter, when I had a Revolution mini pump on the saddle bag but chucked in a CO2 cartridge just to save me spending ages freezing my hands off in the snow. It will even blast up a chunky studded Marathon to enough-to-limp-home pressure in half a second.
Posted 9 years ago # -
+1 for the road drive. Solidly built and as Kaputnik will handle the pressure if you really need more than "enough to get you home" psi.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Good to hear the Lezyne recommended....I bought one (the micro) to replace a broken Topeak but not actually used it yet. Really must try it out at home before I have to use it in anger- no idea how long it would take to pump up to a usable psi and I read there a risk with the screw on attachment of accidentally removing a valve core??
Posted 9 years ago # -
I read there a risk with the screw on attachment of accidentally removing a valve core??
Oh yeah, if you have removable valve cores, make sure you tighten them tighter than the factory tightness, I've had the insta-deflate experience before with it.
Posted 9 years ago # -
I have lezyne too. Can pull the top of the valve out, so watch out (you can just put it back in but it is a faff)
Posted 9 years ago # -
Hmmmm must practice then....I vaguely remember watching a Lezyne youtube video that showed how to use their multitool (which i also have) to tighten the valve core before attaching the pump...
What psi do you think you can you reasonably reach with the micro (with 25c) tyres? It wasn't that difficult at all to get >80psi with the Topeak
Posted 9 years ago #
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