SORRY FOR SHOUTING BUT..............

Cotterend

ugo.santalucia wrote:

CO2 is sign of the times... on the one hand we are all concerned about climate change, on the other hand we use one of the most energy wasting source of gas because we can't be bothered to do a bit of exercise, while we are out doing exercise...

It's no different from those Americans driving two blocks to the gym... shame on you all

Ah, but has anyone done an assessment of the CO2 emissions of the process of filling CO2 canisters compared with the CO2 emissions of the cyclist pumping tyres up by hand? With an offset for the benefit of stored CO2 in everyone's tyres!

homers_double

Wut???

kingstongraham

964Cup wrote:

nobody wants to stand around for 15 minutes while you change a tube

Did anyone ever want that?

drlodge

I had 4 punctures last weekend, the CO2 canister got me the rear nice n hard but then had to revert to the handpump. CO2 is never a substitute for a hand pump, but complements it very well.

homers_double

KingstonGraham wrote:

964Cup wrote:

nobody wants to stand around for 15 minutes while you change a tube

Did anyone ever want that?

Maybe at the top of a massive hill.

Ben6899

964Cup wrote:

ugo.santalucia wrote:

CO2 is sign of the times... on the one hand we are all concerned about climate change, on the other hand we use one of the most energy wasting source of gas because we can't be bothered to do a bit of exercise, while we are out doing exercise...

It's no different from those Americans driving two blocks to the gym... shame on you all

That's not why. It's Strava. It's changed group rides into eyeballs-out chases after PRs, KOMs and high average speeds; nobody wants to stand around for 15 minutes while you change a tube (or worse, in my case, a tub) and then pump away for ever with your weight-weenie mini pump to get 130psi back in the tyre. We've forgotten how to be patient and just enjoy the countryside. It's part of the way cycling now seems to be all about pretending we're racers all the time and that everything is "training". Yet the two nicest rides I've had this year were a 200 at a 26kph average where the distance forced us to take it easy, and a solo return to the Cotswolds section of that ride, where I took the time to enjoy the views - which were utterly, utterly stunning - and so posted another 26kph average. Ride the same kind of hilly territory at 30k+ average and all you see is the rear wheel in front of you or the power number on your Garmin.

[/threadhijack]

Agreed. I ambled over to the New Forest last summer, with a Carradice saddlebag of overnight clothes. No PRs, no KOMs and a Garmin solely for navigation.

It was bliss.

keef66

ben@31 wrote:

I stopped using CO2 cartridge inflators when I unscrewed one from the wheel then "BANG"! 100psi to 0psi in 1 second.The inner core of the valve had got stuck inside the pump and had unscrewed the inner core out of the valve, as I removed the pump.
I was thinking in bewilderment how do I re-inflate the tyre a second time with a one shot cartridge? Not a problem with a hand pump, just screw the inner core back in and re-inflate.

Easier said than done. I thought I had a slow puncture which turned out to be a Conti valve core leaking because it wasn't tight enough. Nothing on my multitool was any use, so I had little choice but to do it up finger tight, pump it up and quickly sprint for home (It was snowing, and I CBA freezing myself to death changing the tube)

Now I try to remember to nip up any removable cores before using the tubes, but have a preference for non removable ones (I don't need valve extenders or sealant...)

apreading

Just found this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cdolc0sybgs

keef66

apreading wrote:

Just found this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cdolc0sybgs

Ingenious! I'll have to see if any of the slots on the chain tool of my multitool are the right size...

drlodge

keef66 wrote:

apreading wrote:

Just found this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cdolc0sybgs

Ingenious! I'll have to see if any of the slots on the chain tool of my multitool are the right size...

Me too! I carry one of the little plastic spanner thingys in my cash pouch, but knowing the chaintool has the right sized slot would be comforting.

mpatts

i'm dead against Co2, for environmental reasons, and a frame pump/saddlebag is against The Rules, and anytihng in the back pocket of my skinsuit would disrupt the air flow too much.

So, now I just have Mrs Mpatts follow me in the car, with a few sets of spare wheels in the boot, and at least one spare bike on the roof. If I have a flat, Mini Mpatts is dispatched to fit while I impatiently remove my water bottles and stand looking useless. if required I am paced back to the group by my loyal domestique, or if required take a few 'sticky bottles' to get back on.

We had to buy a bigger car recently as my pre strava segment warmup rollers only allowed space for 3 sets of wheels.

apreading

keef66 wrote:

apreading wrote:

Just found this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cdolc0sybgs

Ingenious! I'll have to see if any of the slots on the chain tool of my multitool are the right size...

Me too...

ayjaycee

I paid £4 for one of these little Park Tools jobbies when I was looking for something very cheap to take a £16.99 order over the magic Wiggle £20 free delivery threshold:
http://www.parktool.com/product/valve-core-tool-vc-1
I looked just now but they are £10 which seems a lot for what it actually is but which would probably worth it if you found yourself needing one when out on the road with a loose valve core. They are small enough so as to fit into even the tiniest saddle bag or anywhere else if you're a saddle bag nazi.

apreading

ayjaycee wrote:

I paid £4 for one of these little Park Tools jobbies when I was looking for something very cheap to take a £16.99 order over the magic Wiggle £20 free delivery threshold:
http://www.parktool.com/product/valve-core-tool-vc-1
I looked just now but they are £10 which seems a lot for what it actually is but which would probably worth it if you found yourself needing one when out on the road with a loose valve core. They are small enough so as to fit into even the tiniest saddle bag or anywhere else if you're a saddle bag nazi.

or one of these: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lifeline-valve-core-remover/

drlodge

apreading wrote:

or one of these: http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lifeline-valve-core-remover/

That's the chappy I carry in my cash pouch. Got them with some valve extenders.

ayjaycee

That really is a bargain. I'll be getting a couple the next time I need to order from Wiggle. At that price there's no reason not to have one with each bike and the toolbox!

drlodge

ayjaycee wrote:

That really is a bargain. I'll be getting a couple the next time I need to order from Wiggle. At that price there's no reason not to have one with each bike and the toolbox!

I've seen them sold as a bunch of 5 or 6 I think, somewhere, for a couple of quid.

savaphil

I know it's a slight detour but speaking of environmental damage...
Carbon bikes from the other side of the world?
Components from Japan?
Energy drinks/gels with what chemicals?

I agree, CO2 canisters are bad, but is there not more we can do to reduce our footprint than just that?
Go back to British made steel frames maybe?
Just some of my musings...

Bobbinogs

savaphil wrote:

I know it's a slight detour but speaking of environmental damage...
Carbon bikes from the other side of the world?
Components from Japan?
Energy drinks/gels with what chemicals?

I agree, CO2 canisters are bad, but is there not more we can do to reduce our footprint than just that?
Go back to British made steel frames maybe?
Just some of my musings...

Quite right, every little helps. I've just tried to setup a carbon offset agreement...I told the wife to stop farting.

pilot_pete

http://www.genuineinnovations.com/uk/faq.php

You do need to compare apples with apples when deciding if a mini pump is actually 'greener' than a CO2 cartridge. Simply stating that it is does not stand up to scrutiny.

Where was the pump manufactured, what materials were used, where were they sourced, what process did these material go through and how environmentally friendly were the factories that did the manufacturing? How much transportation was used and what was the environmental impact of that transportation to your retailer? How much fossil fuel was burnt from raw material to fitting on your bike frame/ jersey pocket? How environmentally friendly will the disposing/ recycling of the pump be compared to a simple steel cylinder? I could go on, but comparing apples with oranges usually is not as clear cut as some would have you believe, or what looks to be obvious.

Consider hybrid cars and some of the very nasty chemicals used in the batteries which will have a huge environmental impact when the cars are eventually scrapped. It doesn't necessarily make it greener just because the user is making a smaller environmental footprint than they were before...

PP

pinno

Double post.

pinno

mpatts wrote:

i'm dead against Co2, for environmental reasons, and a frame pump/saddlebag is against The Rules, and anytihng in the back pocket of my skinsuit would disrupt the air flow too much.

So, now I just have Mrs Mpatts follow me in the car, with a few sets of spare wheels in the boot, and at least one spare bike on the roof. If I have a flat, Mini Mpatts is dispatched to fit while I impatiently remove my water bottles and stand looking useless. if required I am paced back to the group by my loyal domestique, or if required take a few 'sticky bottles' to get back on.

We had to buy a bigger car recently as my pre strava segment warmup rollers only allowed space for 3 sets of wheels.

Well, I liked it even if no one else did.