High tech tire inflators. Good/bad?

"Badger South" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I was given one of those C02 bike tire inflators for my b-day, but it looks dangerous, or at best
likely to explode my tire.

Are they actually worth packing under the seat for emergency inflation?

They work great, and I've never heard any stories of explosions.

The thing is, you only get one shot. Once your cartridges are used up, you're stuck, unless you
carry a pump too.

Their main advantage is that they're much faster than a pump, plus being small enough to fit in a
jersey pocket or seat bag.

Matt O.

Brilliant piece of kit.. For a roadie or a trail rider, they make the day much better!! I don't care
how good your arms are... those dinky little pumps we pack around are terribly inefficient.. As to
your safety issues... How many little old ladies have related stories about their seltzer bottles
blowing up...same power source... I pack a small "REMA" kit.. patches, air, and valve kit all in
one..both presta and schraeder.. Hope your decision to venture out with your new kit is not a
difficult one.. Murray

(Badger South) said:

I was given one of those C02 bike tire inflators for my b-day, but it looks dangerous, or at best
likely to explode my tire.

Are they actually worth packing under the seat for emergency inflation?

-B

I tried these once, used the two CO2 cartridges that came with it the first two times I got flats.
Worked fine.

Then I thought, do I want to keep on buying replacements, when a pump will keep on working
for years?

I got a flat during a 50 mile ride on Saturday. Since I was with a group, I really hurried to fix
it. Was done in 10 minutes, inflating the tire with a frame pump.

Since yours were free, though, definitely hang on to them and use them when you need them. Just read
the instructions. :-)

(Badger South) said:

I was given one of those C02 bike tire inflators for my b-day, but it looks dangerous, or at best
likely to explode my tire.

Are they actually worth packing under the seat for emergency inflation?

-B

Mon, 27 Oct 2003 15:44:43 +0000 (UTC), <[email hidden]>,

(Badger South) said:

Are they actually worth packing under the seat for emergency inflation?

-B

In an earlier discussion of cycling related costs, someone posted that they'd spent $80 on
cartridges before buying a $15 frame pump.
--
zk

Quoted message said:

In an earlier discussion of cycling related costs, someone posted that they'd spent $80 on
cartridges before buying a $15 frame pump.

for 7.50 you can get 15 cartridges at walmart. but trying to get 120 pounds in a tire with a regular
frame pump is pretty hard.

--
Knight-Toolworks & Custom Planes Custom made wooden planes at reasonable prices See
knight-toolworks.comknight-toolworks.comOpen ↗ For prices and ordering instructions.

Tue, 28 Oct 2003 05:46:37 GMT, <[email hidden]>, Steve Knight

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

In an earlier discussion of cycling related costs, someone posted that they'd spent $80 on
cartridges before buying a $15 frame pump.

for 7.50 you can get 15 cartridges at walmart. but trying to get 120 pounds in a tire with a
regular frame pump is pretty hard.

If those cartridges fit your inflator. Sure it's pretty hard with a frame pump, but it's absolutely
impossible with a dead inflator 20 miles from Walmart.
--
zk

I love mine, been using it for two years. I ride a road bike with 700c tires. They recommend using
16 grams for 700c. On one flat I was thinking the pressure would even out between the cartridge and
the tire before it would blow so I just held it on the tire until I no longer heard an exchange of
air. Bad idea, I blew the tire right on the rim. Once the tire gets as hard as you think it should
be, STOP. You'll have a bit of air left in the cartridge to start your next flat but that's about
it. I now carry only 12-gram cartridges, two or three in my seat pack. Luckily, I was with a friend
when I blew mine and took his spare tube.

Have fun riding.

[email hidden] (Badger South) wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I was given one of those C02 bike tire inflators for my b-day, but it looks dangerous, or at best
likely to explode my tire.

Are they actually worth packing under the seat for emergency inflation?

-B

In article said:

I love mine, been using it for two years. I ride a road bike with 700c tires. They recommend using
16 grams for 700c. On one flat I was thinking the pressure would even out between the cartridge and
the tire before it would blow so I just held it on the tire until I no longer heard an exchange of
air. Bad idea, I blew the tire right on the rim. Once the tire gets as hard as you think it should
be, STOP. You'll have a bit of air left in the cartridge to start your next flat but that's about
it. I now carry only 12-gram cartridges, two or three in my seat pack. Luckily, I was with a friend
when I blew mine and took his spare tube.

Have fun riding.

[email hidden] (Badger South) wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I was given one of those C02 bike tire inflators for my b-day, but it looks dangerous, or at best
likely to explode my tire.

Are they actually worth packing under the seat for emergency inflation?

-B

Thanks, and best to all the great replies. I'll take the thing when I go to get the new Trek in the
next week or so and have the LBS guy check it out. ;-)

-B
--
Email Replies to johnson<nospm>01j <att> ntelos <dott> net

Zoot Katz said:

If those cartridges fit your inflator. Sure it's pretty hard with a frame pump, but it's absolutely
impossible with a dead inflator 20 miles from Walmart.

they fit mine I looked ahead and got one that can handle any cartridge. I carry three cartridges
and it all fits in my little tool bag that I carry in my backpack. two spare tubes too I think I
will be ok.

--
Knight-Toolworks & Custom Planes Custom made wooden planes at reasonable prices See
knight-toolworks.comknight-toolworks.comOpen ↗ For prices and ordering instructions.

Quoted message said:

they fit mine I looked ahead and got one that can handle any cartridge. I carry three cartridges
and it all fits in my little tool bag that I carry in my backpack. two spare tubes too I think I
will be ok.

Until the day you get 4 flats.

Chris Neary [email hidden]

"Science, freedom, beauty, adventure: what more could you ask of life? Bicycling combined all the
elements I loved" - Adapted from a quotation by Charles Lindbergh

Take a step back for a moment.

Whats a little more disposable rubbish to the world? After all, it'll save you 3 minutes right!

Hell, save your arms a little more... get someone else to ride the bike for you!!

Im in disbelief!

(Badger South) said:

Are they actually worth packing under the seat for emergency inflation?

They're GREAT! I haven't pumped a tire on the road or trail for three years.

One word of wisdom. Try a cartridge at home first. Emptying your only CO2 cartridge on the side
of the road or trail, without inflating the tire, because you didn't understand how to use it is
a pain. <G>

Barry

Zoot Katz said:

If those cartridges fit your inflator.

Inflators are what? 10 bucks? <G>

When a cheap source of cartridges is found, get the proper head for
it. Sometimes a few bucks spent can make a cycling experience a whole lot better. For me, saving 10
minutes a flat is well worth the cost of using CO2.

I've ridden in groups that have gladly provided CO2 to a person with a flat, just so we didn't have
to wait for the tire to be pumped up.

Barry

On Wed, 29 Oct 2003 01:23:39 GMT, Chris Neary <[email hidden]

Quoted message said:

wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

they fit mine I looked ahead and got one that can handle any cartridge. I carry three cartridges
and it all fits in my little tool bag that I carry in my backpack. two spare tubes too I think I
will be ok.

Until the day you get 4 flats.

And then they're will be the day you get more flats then patches, or the pump breaks, or you've only
got winter air, and it's summer...

I guess the real answer is to drive, with the bike on a rack, so the bike won't break down.

Barry

Quoted message said:

And then they're will be the day you get more flats then patches, or the pump breaks, or you've
only got winter air, and it's summer...

I've had 4 flats in a day.

I've never run out of patches.

I've never had a pump break.

I carry CO2, but also have a mini-pump as backup.

YMMV.

Chris Neary [email hidden]

"Science, freedom, beauty, adventure: what more could you ask of life? Bicycling combined all the
elements I loved" - Adapted from a quotation by Charles Lindbergh

"Chris Neary" <[email hidden] > wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

And then they're will be the day you get more flats then patches, or the pump breaks, or you've
only got winter air, and it's summer...

I've had 4 flats in a day.

I've never run out of patches.

I've never had a pump break.

I carry CO2, but also have a mini-pump as backup.

YMMV.

Ah, but you conveniently ignored the seasonal air issue.

Bill "harder to distinguish here in San Diego" S.

B a r r y B u r k e J r . said:

One word of wisdom. Try a cartridge at home first. Emptying your only CO2 cartridge on the side of
the road or trail, without inflating the tire, because you didn't understand how to use it is a
pain. <G>

Carrying only one CO2 cartridge is a pain. Carry enough for three tire fills. I also have a frame
pump on my road bike, and a CO2 inflator with a backup pump (Innovations Slim Jim
mtbreview.comproduct 86286.shtmlOpen ↗ )

I also like the "Big Air" cartridges, which give you a lot more air without weighing you down.

Quoted message said:

Barry

--
Rick Onanian

troyq said:

Take a step back for a moment.

Whats a little more disposable rubbish to the world? After all, it'll save you 3 minutes right!

CO2 cartridges are recyclable. I pride myself in my recycling and reuse efforts, along with choosing
products that have the least packaging in the first place.

Using a few CO2 packages isn't going to trash the world. Oh, that's right, it'll cause global
warming! Oh, my god!!!!

Barry

troyq said:

Take a step back for a moment.

Whats a little more disposable rubbish to the world? After all, it'll save you 3 minutes right!

Hell, save your arms a little more... get someone else to ride the bike for you!!

but do you drive? I don't so I don't think my contribution will make much difference compared to
yours if you drive.

--
Knight-Toolworks & Custom Planes Custom made wooden planes at reasonable prices See
knight-toolworks.comknight-toolworks.comOpen ↗ For prices and ordering instructions.