Pump or CO2 ???

Simonhi

What is the general feeling on here regardint the use of either "out and about" inflation method.

I've long been an advocate of the mini pump, clipped to a bottle holder, but after having a Topeak pump seize up after only being on the bike for three months I'm thinking maybe top replace with a CO2 inflator.

SO, do I but a new pump and keep it in my pocket / jacket where it won't get filled with crap or do I go nu-skool and get the soda syphon cartridges ?

Ta in advance guys ( and girls )

Si. :-)

BrianTrousers

Pump. Never had one pack up.

CO2 not very sustainable now is it? Think of the number of cartirdges being manufactured etc etc plus the pain in the posterior when you've used one and need to buy more.

Went out once with a couple of mates and used a CO2 inflator. It ran out of gas which brings to mind the question of what would you do if you had another puncture or want to adjust pressures up and down to suit conditions?

njee20

Co2 all the way, with a couple of cartridges, far far easier.

.blitz

Pumps are far more sociable. Over the years a number of moderately-hot MTB females have asked me if I could 'pump their tyres'...

If it's a bloke I shout 'soz mate just used my last co2' and carry on :twisted:

diy

Came across a chap on Sunday pushing his bike along the trail, he'd used up all his co2 with 4 punctures and was walking to a bike shop.

spend a decent amount of money on the pump and keep it in your back pack that way it doesn't fall off or get caked in sh**e stopping you from getting it benefit.


I haven't use Co2 on bicycles, but did do a puncture repair on my motorbike using my Co2 and the higher speed balance was shocking. I assume this is because Co2 is a shed load heavier than air. I deflated and re inflated and my get you home plug ran fine for another month.

Simonhi

Probably best stay with the old fashioned method then.

Looks like it will be a new pump. I best find a jacket with a big enough pocket to take a mini pump cos I don't wanna keep buying a new one every few months when it gets wrecked on thebike. II don't cycle with a rucksack unless i'm gonna be out all day.

Pudseyp

Crank Bros do a nice handy pocket size one...works well too.

jairaj

Both!

CO2 is quick and easy but what happens if you run out and get another puncture?

so always carry a pump for that extra puncture.

maddog 2

I only use CO2 these days

I run decent, tough tubeless so I don't puncture very often anyway. But CO2 all the way for me.

njee20

Came across a chap on Sunday pushing his bike along the trail, he'd used up all his co2 with 4 punctures and was walking to a bike shop.

Did he have 4 tubes with him as well then!? That's normally the limiting factor, on long road rides I carry 2 tubes and 2 CO2 cannisters, sorted!

bentes

njee20 wrote:

Came across a chap on Sunday pushing his bike along the trail, he'd used up all his co2 with 4 punctures and was walking to a bike shop.

Did he have 4 tubes with him as well then!? That's normally the limiting factor, on long road rides I carry 2 tubes and 2 CO2 cannisters, sorted!

I usually carry a mini pump, one spare tube and a patch kit. This way the limiting factor is not the number of cannisters or tubes but the number of patches / amount of glue.

The patch kit saved me from a long walk home a few times.

njee20

Sod that! I've never repaired a tube in my life, although admittedly I've been on tubeless for 9 years, and only had to use a tube for the first time about a month ago. If it goes that catastrophically wrong I'll phone someone for a lift!

Terrible attitude I know.

Chunkers1980

njee - often find myself agreeing with you on lots of things.

On this though you're a lazy, lazy git.

fairweather_cyclist

I used to carry CO2 and used it a couple of times but I found that for some mysterious reason that never got explained to me the tyres went down quickly and needed the track pump the next morning.
Also, I kept losing the canisters but I've never lost a traditional bike pump!

njee20

Well like I say I have used tubeless for a long time, and I'm dubious about the merit of repairing road tubes, wouldn't like one to go at 120psi, if it held in the first place, just not worth the hassle! I do work in a shop, so don't tend to pay for tubes anyway!

Apparently CO2 molecules are slightly smaller, hence the tyre going flat quicker, not really an issue though is it, just a few strokes with the track pump next time you go out!

Chunkers1980

What about the new Nissan Skyline - air is 'apparently' too unstable for the tyres so I think they use nitrogen?

Surly the place to look would be track cycling and what they use?

cooldad

Chunkers1980 wrote:

What about the new Nissan Skyline - air is 'apparently' too unstable for the tyres so I think they use nitrogen?

Surly the place to look would be track cycling and what they use?

Surely cycling on a track, and being untold miles out up a mountain, need slightly different approaches?

Chunkers1980

Yeah sorry CoolDad - just thinking about the different properties and what that means to the ride, not how that makes them 'leak' more

njee20

Huh? What's track cycling got to do with anything!? They run tubs pumped with a track pump, I can't really see too many track riders taking a lap out to reinflate a tub with CO2 or a Road Morph mini pump!

Have you looked at the composition of air? Tyres being filled with purified nitrogen is a con basically, sod all advantage for the real world.

jairaj

the nitrogen thing is a high end motor racing thing not really any noticeable difference in bike tyres in real world terms anyway.

I think its also harder to store or compress into canisters or something, CO2 seems to be the most viable solution.

Simonhi

I am tempted to try a CO2 inflator.

I think the best compromise will probably be to take a pump for longer rides but my usual mid-week loop consisting of 17ish miles on mainly hard pack will be ok for the cartridges.

After all, I've only ever had one puncture in about 250 miles on that route. It did however result in a six mile walk followed by one (or three) of the nicest pints of lager I can remember drinking in a long time ... and sore feet for a week :-)

warrerj

Both !!

I've got both in 1 pump. Got me one of these : http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/tools/cycling-tools/co2-cartridge-pumps/product/mountain-pipe-10-39495

Nice fine day when I'm not in a rush I may take the time for a break and use the pump. On a night ride inthe rain (or sleet) in Jan and it'll be CO2 all the way

njee20

I usually carry a really light mini pump with me on the road as well, never bother on the MTB, never that far from home if I goes horribly wrong!

dynamis_dk

Another vote for both... I've got a crank Bros little pump which has served well 'in the field' many times over. I take co2 too just incase i can caught in some nasty weather where i don't want to spend time pumping up with a little hand pump.

Bar Shaker

I run kevlar tyres and slime tubes and haven't had a puncture in two years. I also carry the Dacathon own brand of one of these. They are about £1.99 though I have only used them on friends bikes, fitted with non slime tubes. They work really well.

Finally, I have a mini pump in case the slime/can isn't sealing a puncture very well. This happens about once a year and is normally a result of multiple punctures. Puncture proof tyres have cured that for me but my mates won't learn.

I don't carry tubes and have never changed a tube on a ride.

njee20

But your wheels weigh a ton, all a trade off!

diy

I use 78% Nitrogen mix in all my tyres - I have a special compressor.

njee20

Indeed, I suspect many of us do :-)

UpTheWall

The real advantage of a CO2 pump is speed. if you're stuck out in the cold and rain and want to keep moving then just a few second to pump up rather than a few minutes with a minipump is worth a lot.

I carry a CO2 inflator and a minipump as backup, and a repair kit. If you spend a bit you can have them all small and light.

Pudseyp

If you use Co2 your a girl.....you go out riding to stay fit and trim...however you carry a tube of air with you in case of a punture...MTBing has gone all soft, you bunch of workshy fop's !!! get a pump and get some guns !! (in a Mr T style voice)

LoUiS1985

pumps are fine 90% of the time

but when it's freezing and your hands and feet are starting to get numb.......then Co2 cartridges are much better