jyl

OP might want to install liners in his tires and/or use flat-resistant tires. Removing tire, changing tube, reinstalling tire is a task he might want to avoid, especially if the tire is a tight road tire.

Carry extra cartridges for the CO2 inflator, because it really sucks to run out. I once had two punctures in five minutes because it was dark and raining and I couldn't find the tiny wire embedded in the tire casing. I've also had to go knocking on doors, asking to borrow a bike pump because I ran out of CO2 cartridges.

justme23

I have rhinodillo(ms?) liners.I just got some Vittoria Adventure Trail Tire Black/Reflective 700X35 and slime tubes.I've had 3 flats in a month so I hope this set up helps.I leave myself a hour leeway in the morning but I would rather use that time eating and reading at work.I carry backup(2 tubes and a patchkit) so thank you for the advice.Respect for your fleet.I may be slow in the saddle but I still can salivate.

cycle_maven

I have a couple of these:

https://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...72_-1___202562

$14 and they take standard 12 gram unthreaded Co2 cartridges. I unscrew the barrel and they fit into a wedge pack with a mini tool, a few cartridges and a tire patch kit.

The 12 grams don't quite fill a road tire (they fill a 700x26 tire to about 80 pounds), but I use the mini pump to set the bead and put about 20 pounds into the tire, then shoot a cartridge into the tire. The cartridges are cheap ($5 a dozen). The most I've ever used on a single ride was three- one flat and I wasted a extra cartridge accidentally, then let another guy use my last one. But you always have the pump for worst case scenario. It's tough to get any pressure into the tire with just the pump, though.

bhop

I use the Genuine Innovations nano microflate.. it's cheap and tiny and works flawlessly every time. I get a lot of flats, L.A. roads are crap, so i've gotten a lot of use out of it. It's not metal so it doesn't get cold on your hand. You can twist it a little to let air out slowly, or twist it a lot to just let all the air out at once. Highly recommended.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...pf_rd_i=507846

Those saying "use a pump", well, not everyone wants to. My tires on both my bikes inflate to 120psi, that's hard to do with a hand pump, while a 16g cartridge will do it in a few seconds, plus the cartridges aren't that expensive, also most seem to be made of steel, which means it's recyclable. Three cartidges and the inflator take up less space as well (than a 'good' pump, like a topeak road morph for example).

RubeRad

A month or so back I was in Walmart and saw a starter CO2 kit with a valve and one or two cartridges on sale I think for $8 or $10.

Also, I saw somewhere on the Hints and Tricks Thread (sorry, I know that's pages and pages, you'll have to find it yourself) that you can do something simple to to jimmy paintball cartridges to work with bike inflator valves, and apparently cartridges for paintball guns are way cheaper.

Stryver

I have a couple of the Genuine Innovations little thread-on inflators. They seem to have changed style a bit, mine don't look quite the same, but I think the function is still identical. I'm happy with them. A big cartridge will fill my MTB tires full (26x1.95), a small cartridge makes my road tires rideable (700x23). I chose them for size purposes, and typically carried two cartridges, one tube, and a dinky patch kit. Using them is a bit tricky. You screw the cartridge in, and then unscrew it a bit to start the air and screw it back in to stop it again. It's a bit tricky, I would advise practicing at home so you know how it works before depending on your ability to use them to get you home.

If I were to make the purchase again, I might consider something that used non-threaded cartridges (like the Ultraflate). The cartridges are much easier (and cheaper) to find outside of bike shops, and the inflators have triggers and other features making them easier to handle/use.

Caution: Tubes and tires are more permeable to CO2 than to Nitrogen (the primary component of what we call "air"). CO2 will "leak" out of a perfect tube. If you fill on the road with CO2, you should empty the tire at home and fill with normal air. Don't use CO2 at home. Get a floor pump (or foot pump) that is comfortable, or a compressor.

JohnJ80

I like the Portland Designs "Bright Shiny Thing" and the Silca one. They both have valves so if I need to, I can save part of the CO2 cartridge for a bit if I have to nurse it home (slow leak).

J.

justme23

Thanks to all .I now know the difference between a threaded and non threaded cartridge.I still am up in the air as to which one to buy.I searched the hints and see where the paintball cartridge fits with a minor adjustment to length.

JohnJ80

Threaded. The smallest inflators all take threaded. Some of them are no bigger than a 50 cent piece. That way you don't have to schlep a big one around.

You can get threaded in bulk really cheap. Just do a google search. I bought 100 bulk a few years ago for something like $32 or something like that - anyhow way cheaper than what you get for the "bike" specific ones. There are a lot of things that use these and it's not rocket science nor cycling specific.

J.

Stryver

30-something for 100 threaded would be a good deal. Best I've found is just under $1 each in bulk.
https://www.amazon.com/90-threaded-ca...+co2+cartridge

The threadless are easier/cheaper to find in bulk, and I have them on hand for a seltzer bottle now. I've found them for under 50 cents each. https://www.amazon.com/100-Leland-Sod...+co2+cartridge

When I looked for the threadless in bulk, I didn't find any local stores that competed with that price. I have moved since then, and haven't looked around here. Walmart came close on cartridges for pellet guns, but someone convinced me the "made for food" vs. "made for gun" was mildly important for making fizzy water.