co2 inflators

[lordjenks]

i have just bought a co2 inflator, i thouight that a mini pump would runi the beautiful asthectics of my bike can i attatch the cartridge to the mechanism and then leave it in my bag untill it is needed or do i just attatch it when i need it becuaase it will loose the gas over time?
thank you very much

 

[jig-sore]

depends on the model you have. the one i have has a handle section that you can keep the cartridge in "the other way round". it also has a lockable trigger so it doesn't accidentally go off in your bag.

apparently you can leave an "unfinished" cartridge connected and use it later, but i don't see the point of breaking the seal on a "new" one until just before your going to use it

i always make sure i have two cartridges with me, one in the handle and one loose in the bag (with a big rubber band around it)

 

[Will1985]

I only use a C02 pump for racing and sportives when time matters. Otherwise it could get costly, especially in the winter. There are plenty of hand pumps which are small enough to fit in a saddle bag or jersey pocket?

You're going to "spoil" the aesthetics when you stick bottle cages on anyway.

FWIW I have an SKS Airchamp Pro and don't open the cartridge until necessary.... even then I don't really trust the locking mechanism!

Anybody keep theirs in a jersey pocket? I do but it occured to me the other day when it was particularly warm that this could be a silly thing to do having heard cartridges explode in the past on hot days.

 

[HeartAttack]

I only ever use CO2 nowadays, I used to keep them only for important rides but since finding this website I'm not bothered, at about 50p a time its worth the cost for speed of getting back on the bike, lets face it we know if you're going to need to pump up a tyre it'll be when its wet and cold.

 

[stoatsngroats]

Anybody keep theirs in a jersey pocket? I do but it occured to me the other day when it was particularly warm that this could be a silly thing to do having heard cartridges explode in the past on hot days.

Good point - on the site linked by heartAttack, there's a warning...

"Do not expose to sun and heat. Explosion danger - 50C max temperature."

I'll keep mine in my saddlesac!

 

[lordjenks]

ahh, tahnks very much, thats exactly the one i have. do you carry tubes in your saddlebag or a repair kit? i suppose a tube would be quicker but takes up a tad more room

 

[buggi]

depends on the model you have. the one i have has a handle section that you can keep the cartridge in "the other way round". it also has a lockable trigger so it doesn't accidentally go off in your bag.

apparently you can leave an "unfinished" cartridge connected and use it later, but i don't see the point of breaking the seal on a "new" one until just before your going to use it

i always make sure i have two cartridges with me, one in the handle and one loose in the bag (with a big rubber band around it)

+1

i only use CO2 out on the road, unplanned deflations are a pain enough with standing around wasting energy and time to pump it back up. as said always carry one more cannister than you think you need. i don't find it costly at all. cheap cartridges here

one thing to remember, when you get home, let the CO2 out and refil with air from a normal pump. CO2 is thinner than air and very slowly seeps out, and if you don't do this you will have another flat tyre in 2 days time.

 

[Aperitif]

I carry my spare bombs in sections of innertube, to protect them a tiny bit and to stop them jangling about. Often can't be bothered to undo everything and get them out but for someone in Will's position - crucial.

 

[jig-sore]

ahh, tahnks very much, thats exactly the one i have. do you carry tubes in your saddlebag or a repair kit? i suppose a tube would be quicker but takes up a tad more room

i have one spare tube and a repair kit. the tube would be the first to be used as it's quicker, (so much nicer to fix the p###ture at home), and then the repair kit is there as a back up.

i take the pump, spare cartridge, tube, repair kit, tyre levers, multi-tool, zip ties, spoke key, a rag and some cash and it all fits in my saddle bag, with room to spare for my phone and keys....

 

[peanut]

I thought that they were originally designed to fit and store in the ends of your handlebars ?My cannisters came with a thin covering of felt as a shock absorber and to make a snug fit in the bar ends.

Mine have small brass bush screwed onto the end. I have never actually used one but I believe you screw the brass bush onto your inner tube valve and then screw the cannister onto the bush until air is released.
When the tyre is inflated you screw the cannister out of the bush and it should self- seal the remaining gas

 

[Bigtwin]

Baled out a guy in the village last week with a CO2 pump. Apparently it was the sort where you can part-use the cannister and re-seal.

Only you can't, as it had lost all its gas since he last used it.

 

[Bman]

These canisters are also used in CO2 air guns. IME the pressure will leak out over time. Depends on how good the seal is in the device your using. Usually with air guns, it can take weeks to lose all its pressure.