Inflating tyres on the roadside.

[ethan5]

Hello,
Hope you had a nice Christmas. I've been looking at my local cycle club and their weekly rides. One question: I bought a small hand pump soon after I got my roadie, only to realise that I find it impossible to properly inflate a tyre with it; then I bought a stand pump, no problem but what about roadside? If I carry spare tubes what is the right way on the road? I've seen little CO2 cannisters but what's that about?
Have a good new year, thanks

 

[biggs682]

co2 cannisters normally insert into a differant little pump and shoud inflate most tyres up to a rideable pressure with no problems , i am speaking from my understanding rather than experiance , hope that helps

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Get a CO2 inflator which has a controllable trigger. Some just dump the entire contents of the bulb. They work fine but when you get home, deflate and re-inflate with a track pump as C02 molecules diffuse through the tube more quickly than air.

 

[numbnuts]

I use this one OK up to 120psi
http://www.wiggle.co...ini-morph-pump/

 

[PaulSecteur]

I have obne of these...

http://www.specializedconceptstore.co.uk/Detail/70/hand pumps/2010 AIRTOOL ROAD

No presure gauge but easy enough to get it up to "get you home, or carry on" pressure.

 

[Oldlegs]

You should be able to get 60psi (ish) with the mini pump. That' s enough to get you home with a bit of care avoiding potholes.

 

[redjedi]

+2 to the mini morph. Great little pump and easily gets you up to a pressure to carry on riding.

But I've recently started carrying a CO2 pump as well. Inflates your tyre up to full pressure in seconds.

 

[accountantpete]

The mini pump you have should be alright (unless it's a real cheapy).

It just takes a bit of practice - pop the pump over the valve, palm of hand on tyre and fingers pulling the pump onto the valve with one hand (this secures the connection) and pump like billy ho with the other.

You'll only get 80psi in but it will get you home.

 

[nosherduke996]

I have both pump and co2 but i prefer a pump.The co2 you have to be careful because they freeze up if you let the air out to quickly.With a pump just keep pumping hard and you will get 80 plus pounds easily.

 

[gbb]

Mini pumps are ok and you can inflate a tyre well up if you keep going...like 200 plus strokes. I just use a Zefal frame pump
http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/zefal-zefal-rev-88-frame-fit-cycle-pump-prod20613/
...very effective and cheap. had mine for a few years, still going strong, inflates far quicker than a mini pump.

 

[itboffin]

It's as annoying as hell when it happens but when it does it's usually wet, cold & dark so I use a hand pump for about 20+psi check all around for pinched tube, then let rip with a 16g co2 that usually sees me back up to 100psi and enough to continue the ride rather than limp home.

If you go down the co2 route then be sure and have a back up hand pump because its easy to mess up the inflation and end up stranded or worse still get several deflations in one ride and run out of co2 canisters, also practice using them at home and wear a glove on your hand when you use, they get cold quickly really cold, like stick to the skin kinda cold.

Oh and good puncture proof tyres are worth there weight in gold.

 

[gbb]

Each to their own...but i dont get why its worth carrying C02 capsules AND a pump. Decent frame pump takes 1 minute to fully inflate a tyre. Foolproof...they dont potentially freeze like capsules, they inflate much quicker than minipumps.

Capsules i assume have their value if you're racing, and want to re-inflate really quickly, minipumps are smaller and i assume lighter, but a plastic frame pump weighs bugger all anyway. Isn't it technology for technologies sake ?. Still...whatever suits each individual.

On the same note, i asked my LBS about CO2 capsules when i thought it might be a good idea for emergencies...he said they dont reallly recommend them...a bit too hit and miss. How much are they BTW ?

 

[itboffin]

Or if like me you've recently had shoulder surgery and have trouble using a pump

insert tiny violin

 

[jay clock]

I have a COMBINED pump and co2 device http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/vision-air-pump-cartridge-17251615/

The pump is great for starting it off and seating the tube and then I use the CO2 for the full blast. It has a gauge and will easily go to 120psi in a road tyre.

 

[zacklaws]

Decent frame pump takes 1 minute to fully inflate a tyre. Foolproof...they dont potentially freeze like capsules, they inflate much quicker than minipumps.

Totally agree, but sadly my frame pump will not fit the frame and probably a lot of other carbon frames, unless I was to tape it on somewhere and ensure it was not going to scuff the frame, so I have to carry minipump and CO2