CO2 For Road Bikes
 

I have never used CO2 Cartridges before. But I understand compared to a pump. I can fill a high pressure tire to 110psi quickly?

How reliable do you all consider them ? Are you confident to just carry a CO2 with you vs a small tire pump if you do a get a flat a long way from home?

What Co2 devices do you recommend most? One that could control the Co2 when filling etc? thanks

They are very reliable. It's the operator who screws up the inflation about half the time. If you go that route, practice! I no longer carry them.

They're very reliable, if you use them correctly. They are part of my belt and suspenders approach: I carry a CO2 cartridge and a mini pump, a spare tube and a patch kit. First flat gets a new tube and CO2. I can be back on the road in under five minutes. Second (and subsequent) flats get a patch and the pump. (It happens sometimes.)

I don't think you can get to 110psi with a CO2 cartridge, I mean I never have. It's just a temporary solution.

Grab an inflator and learn how to use it properly without wasting precious CO2 air. Everyone has their own fav but I like Giant Control Blast 1 type inflators. I never learned how to operate the kind that releases air as you turn the valve.

Caloso's approach is a wise one tho I don't like the idea of carrying a pump and all. I carry two spare tubes + two cartridges and my final option is taking Uber to the closest shop or home.

I would carry a tire boot too if you get a sidewall cut or something.

For road-side tire inflation needs, I haven't carried a pump in decades. My back-pocket tool kit includes one CO2 cartridge and an adapter. If I get in trouble after that, I have a cell phone. On longer rides in more remote areas, I might add another cartridge or 2 to my payload. Filling up a typical 25mm road tire, I don't worry about regulating how much CO2 I'm putting in. It's one cartridge, all-in, and then pull it off quickly so I minimize any losses.

I've used CO2 for years and have never borrowed a pump. I guess I must be CO2 proficient. :rolleyes:

I carry 1 cartridge, a small pump on the frame (Cannondale Airspeed LX), a tube and patches. I usually carry a tire boot also. Unless I head east toward the beach, I ride in mostly rural areas. I really do not have someone that I can call and be sure that he/she can come and get me. Also, cell phone coverage is quite spotty in south coastal Delaware. I have only used the boot once. I probably change tires a bit sooner than really necessary, but most of the flats I get occur with tires that have a fair amount of miles on them. I have no interest in going tubeless.

Fixing flats out on the road gets easier and quicker with practice. In almost 50 years of road riding, I am sure I have called someone to come and get me no more than a half dozen times.

They're pretty reliable - however, I consider them to be a one-shot deal - once I crack the cartridge, even if I don't use the whole thing, I don't depend on there being any residual gas left if I have to go back to it at a later time. If I use the cartridge at all, I vent it and dump it when I get home and replace with a new unopened cartridge in the saddlebag. I use a small Lezyne valve head which is very well made, very compact and controllable (tap controls the gas flow so everything doesn't freeze up), and brewers threaded 16g cylinders (come in 10-20-packs from Amazon - way cheaper than bike-specific cartridges). One 16g cartridge easily inflates a 25mm tire to 90-100psi, but I always carry 2 in case I mess up. One time I was in a hurry and didn't ensure that the bead was fully seated all the way around before I inflated, so I had to deflate to seat the tire and use the second cartridge to reinflate. I also carry a very small mini pump to get the tube started prior to installation, and as an absolute last resort if I mess up both cartridges. I only flat 1-2 times/year, so this setup has always been adequate. I'm planning a 150-miler in a month - I'll probably carry two tubes and 3 cartridges.

Why would anyone want 110PSI?? :foo:

In any case CO2 does work ok but you need to practice the technique in your garage. Unless you are in a hurry (like a group ride or triathlon/race) I think it makes more sense to use a small pump.

Or is it that half of the operators screw it up all of the time? ;)

I never really believed in these. Mini pumps are more efficient than ever and are doing a great job. Plus, it doesn't freeze up sealant when you run tubeless (and don't know what you are doing).

I admire your determination to separate conversations to a very specific point, but this might be going too far.

Tire Pump - To Carry On Rides


My answer for this thread is pretty much the same as in the other thread.

CO2 works fine. I've never had a problem inflating a tire with it on the side of the road. One 16g cartridge is enough to inflate a road tire to an acceptable pressure to ride it home (probably not 110psi).

There are some really cheap inflator heads out there that are poorly designed and may not operate the way you expect them to. It's worth spending a few dollars on a decent one, and practicing once in a while at home to make sure the inflator works as expected so you can get the hang of it.

I haven't carried a mini-pump in years, but I do carry a cell phone and am prepared to call an Uber if my roadside tire inflation skills somehow fail me. My flat kit includes two CO2 cartridges, an inflator head, a spare tube, two tire levers, a mini-tool, a patch kit, and now a tubeless tire plug kit. This all fits into a small saddle bag.

No CO2 system will ever be as reliable and bottomless as a good pump. Yes, the pump is more work. But...why have I had to loan my pump to more than a few CO2 users?

Hmmm....

2 bikes 250mi/week each together rides. 3 CO2's each, 2 tubes each, patches, boot and one mini pump and 2 inflators. CO2 is great when you have found the problem causing the flat with a quick tube replacement. BUT flats are sometimes multiple for various reasons and I want to get home unassisted. I have had inflators fail especially when they have been used on threaded stems.

If I have learned anything from this thread, it's that if I should have problems with my CO2 setup (which has yet to happen) and someone offers me a pump, they're actually doing it to be a braggart on the internet and should promptly be told to (figuratively) get wrecked :thumb: :p

Why carry just one co2 cartridge? They weigh nothing and take up very little space. I carry 2 tubes, 2 co2 cartridges and a small pump. It works for me. Co2 sure beats pumping up a tire.

I have used CO2 cartridges successfully for years but just bought a new Lezyne inflator after I lost my old one. This Lezyne inflate is the best inflator I have ever owned. It works perfect, has a nice dial-in valve and is very well built. I had a flat today and after repairing it on the road and returning home, I checked the pressure in the tire and it was 100 psi. I carry this inflator now with 2 tubes and 2 CO2 cartridges on every ride.

https://www.amazon.com/LEZYNE-1-C2-C.../dp/B019Y7NL8C

I carry (2) CO2 cartridges and never had to use the 2nd. I wrap hockey stick tape around them for insulation for my hand. With a 25mm tire I get about 90psi. When you get home you should replace the CO2 and replace with air since the CO2 tends to leak down quicker.

I use a rather small inflation head.
https://www.glenn-ring.com/emonda/saddlebagtools.jpg

Agreed.

I've been using bulk 16g threaded cartridges from Amazon and a PDW Shiny Object for about a decade without issue. Works well.