Those little air canisters -

[Cha Cha]

Hi everybody -

When I bought Cha Cha back in December, I got two little pressurized canisters of air to keep in the seat bag (with a spare tube and pair of tire levers). They look very much like the cartridges of air used in soda siphon bottles. Problem is, there's no little gizmo to attach to the canister to connect it with the valve stem on the tire. I don't know if I lost it or never had it in the first place.

I"m sure I have the terminology totally wrong here, but can someone tell me what the little gizmo is called, and if they're sold separately? I've looked but it's hard to search when you don't know what you're searching for... sort of the bike equivalent of looking something up in the dictionary when you don't know how to spell it, if you think about it!

Thanks so much!
Amy

[Tuckervill]

They canisters contain co2, and the thing you use with them is called a co2 pump.

Karen

[VeloVT]

Yes, you will be able to buy a co2 pump separately :) . That's what you need to ask/look for. Are the cartridges you have threaded or unthreaded? To determine this, look at the neck of the cartridge -- if it's threaded like a screw, you have threaded cartridges; if it's smooth, unthreaded.

You may or may not want to buy your pump based on the cartridges you already have (if you don't, the cartridges won't do you any good unless someone will trade with you). The trade-offs are basically as follows:

1. Threaded Pumps:
Pros:
--MUCH smaller and lighter, and thus take up less room in your seatbag
Cons:
--threaded cartridges are more expensive than unthreaded cartridges
--threaded pumps ONLY accept threaded cartridges
--more minimal design may not be quite as easy to use (pick carefully)

2. Unthreaded Pumps
Pros:
--most pumps that accept unthreaded cartridges also accept threaded ones, which could be useful in some scenario where you run out of cartridges and your riding buddy only has one kind...
--may be slightly easier to use; shield fingers from cold spent cartridges
Cons:
--considerably bigger, take up more room in seatbag

I have both. My favorite is my little Silca threaded pump, I love the simple, elegant, functional design, and it's cheap, easy to use and will last forever:
http://www.biketiresdirect.com/productdetail.asp?p=SNEOL

I also have this unthreaded pump:
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=16498&subcategory_ID=4362
very easy to use, but you can see how much bigger it is.


In any case -- don't buy co2 cartridges at your bike shop! They're way too expensive that way, save that for emergencies and instead, buy in bulk ahead of time at www.biketiresdirect.com or www.bikemania.biz, or some similar site. You'll save 50% or more by doing this.

[DeniseGoldberg]

I know you didn't ask this, but...

Please remember to recycle your used CO2 cartridges.

And think about this - if you decide to carry 2 cartridges, what happens if you have one flat more than the cartridges you are carrying? You might want to think about carrying a pump too. (OK, OK, maybe I'm really a throwback to a previous generation... I know there are a lot of folks out there who use and are very happy with the CO2 cartridges. Obviously I haven't been sold on the idea yet, perhaps because I usually ride alone so I can't count on a companion to help.)

--- Denise

[Trekhawk]

Check out the link below:

http://www.genuineinnovations.com/bikeprods.aspx

I have the ultraflate plus and really like it.:)

[spokewench]

I know you didn't ask this, but...

Please remember to recycle your used CO2 cartridges.

And think about this - if you decide to carry 2 cartridges, what happens if you have one flat more than the cartridges you are carrying? You might want to think about carrying a pump too. (OK, OK, maybe I'm really a throwback to a previous generation... I know there are a lot of folks out there who use and are very happy with the CO2 cartridges. Obviously I haven't been sold on the idea yet, perhaps because I usually ride alone so I can't count on a companion to help.)

--- Denise

I love CO2 cartridges - but I usually dont get too many flats. I carry 2 to 3 of them with me at all times. One is enough to get my tire pumped up so if I flat 2 or 3 times, I can still fill my tire. If I flat more than that, I'm in trouble anyway cause something is really wrong! That's when I call for the Hubby Mobile! Has never happened though

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Each threaded cartridge says it will inflate one road tire to 130psi:
http://www.biketiresdirect.com/productdetail.asp?p=VTF6S

My tires have a max of 110....will these things overinflate my tire?
In other words, can you use part of the cartridge to get your tire hard enough for riding, and then use the remaining air of the cartridge later again? Or does one have to put all the air into one tire in one shot?

Also, how do recycle the cartridges- just in the regular recycle with your tin cans?

[SalsaMTB]

I use the Planet Bike Red Zeppelin and absolutely love it. Very easy to use, very compact.

[velogirl]

different size cartridges inflate your tires to a different pressure. so, get the appropriate size cartridge for your tires. I use 12g or 16g.

I have never over-inflated a tire with a CO2 cartridge. in my experience, even if you're using the 16g cartridge (which will inflate to 130psi), you end up with a bit of CO2 left in the cartridge after you've inflated your tire.

depending on which adaptor/pump you use, you can stop the flow of CO2 and then use the cartridge again.

[Cha Cha]

Thanks so much, everybody! You're the best!! (and yes, I do carry 2)

Happy riding and a great weekend to all -

Amy

[Aggie_Ama]

Lisa- I just stop mine with air left in it. Haven't managed to over inflate one yet.

Where do I recycle these? I keep asking the LBS but can't find a container. I have a few sitting around waiting for me to figure out where to recycle them. :confused:

[onimity]

I don't use the little cannisters since I like to be able to handle more than a couple of flats or helping someone else out without stranding myself. I was out riding with 2 coworkers a few weeks back, one guy had a tube split down the seam. We were able to patch it enough that it would hold air for a while (he didn't have a spare tube & mine didn't fit his bike...) but my frame pump came in very handy.

Plus the idea of the one-use cannisters, even if they do recycle, bugs me...
I've heard that you can just include them with co-mingled containers, but does anyone know for sure? If not I can ask at the recycle center on Sunday...

Anne

[Running Mommy]

I switched back to the old style pump as well. For both the green factor as well as the getting stranded with no cartridge factor. These days they make the pumps so small they fit in your jersey pocket.

[alpinerabbit]

Zero flats in 5000K (knock on wood) combined with easily accessible public transport, and pass and $$ always in my pocket = I am confident with 2 cartridges in my seatbag.

[DirtDiva]

Where do I recycle these? I keep asking the LBS but can't find a container. I have a few sitting around waiting for me to figure out where to recycle them. :confused:
I just stick 'em in the recycling bin. Suppose that's no use to you if you don't have kerbside recycling in your area though... :o

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Are there any good pumps that are small, compact, and light but can tell you what air pressure your tire has reached? Or is that asking too much?

[crazycanuck]

I have a smallish air pump that has a pressure gauge on it. It's a "Genuine Innovations" one and works fine for me.

C

[smilingcat]

have I ever over inflated with the cartridge?

Yes and it blew out the tire and shredded the tube. Thank goodness I also carry a spare tube, a patch kit. and extra cartridge. So on that memorable training ride where I held up the group for total of about 40 minutes... I managed to get a flat, blow out a tire, and a second flat. Had to borrow someone elses cartridge. When it was inflated after the first flat, I was going, "I think the tire feels bit too hard...?" One of the guys who came by assured me it was okay and it's supposed to be rock hard. no kiddin' buckwheat cause it blew out 4 or 5 miles down the road in a pace line. Nobody hit the brake though we freaked maybe it was just me and everyone else was fine.

smilingcat