Pump and CO2 cartridge, need advice

[Sindyeli]

Hi,
I'm pretty new here and somewhat new to road riding (was a mtn biker, got a road bike 2 mo. ago), and I love this forum: so much info, and such cool people, apparently!
I have a question about pumps and CO2 cartridges: what is the smartest set up, carrying a cartridge + new tube, and a pump (or no pump?), or even just the pump and patches for tube (which appeals to me more as it's costly to replace a tube each time) but certainly takes longer to fix.
Thanks for any advice.

[mudmucker]

This is just my opinion in what I would do. I always and only carry a pump, in case the CO2 cartridge system fails. The cartridges failed on a friend of mine once. I also carry a new tube. I have a new tube on reserve at home also. You can always carry a new tube with you to change outright. Keep the punctured tube to patch later at home and then use that as a backup.

[pll]

I always carry a spare tube, a patch kit, a pump and a cartridge.

Some days ago, cycling on a rental bike and without any cartridges, I had 3 flat tires in one day (bad rim tape). No only did I use 2 spare tubes, but I had to patch one!

[makbike]

I always carry a couple of spare tubes, a couple CO2 cartridges, a pump and a patch kit. I was advised when I started riding to carry more then one tube and/or cartridge and this advice has paid off in the past. A patch kit and pump won't do you much good if the valve stem breaks. I would rather carry a few extra things then to find myself stranded far from home.

[withm]

yep - 2 tubes, patch kit, pump, and co2 w/ 2 cartridges. You never know when a valve will fail on a new tube - it happens. Also you may want to help out someone else that is otherwise stranded, and don't want to leave yourself short should you get a flat later on. I always replace the tube on the road, but bring the old one home to patch later. Or not. Tubes are just a few bucks, and my time is worth a lot more /hour than the price of a tube.

[Mr. Bloom]

I also carry two tubes and at least 4 canisters...because I'm often riding rural, alone, and with no one to call.

I don't carry a pump, because I don't really have anywhere to put one because of the frame size on my bike.

I haven't gotten a patch kit yet...I hear that they have a shelf life and unless you rotate them out periodically, they may not be useful when you need them either.

[pll]

The pump I carry attaches behind the water bottle cage. And the kit I used to patch the third flat I had bought in 2003! I did wonder about shelf life when I opened it, but it worked...

I also carry two tubes and at least 4 canisters...because I'm often riding rural, alone, and with no one to call.

I don't carry a pump, because I don't really have anywhere to put one because of the frame size on my bike.

I haven't gotten a patch kit yet...I hear that they have a shelf life and unless you rotate them out periodically, they may not be useful when you need them either.

[OakLeaf]

Always carry a pump and a patch kit. That's your backup if everything else fails.

If you're doing group rides, carry CO2 and a spare tube. It's not fair to hold up the rest of the group while you're taking 15-20 minutes to do a 5 minute job.

If you're on your own, it's your call.

[melissam]

Sindyeli,

Welcome to TE and to the wonderful world of road riding! I'm pretty much with everyone else: I carry a tube, a patch kit (periodically check that the tube of glue hasn't dried out), and a pump.

Whatever you use (CO2 or frame pump), make sure that you can use it to get your tire up to the appropriate PSI. Ideally you'd perform this experiment in the comfort of your own home rather than find out that it doesn't work when you're on the road. I had a lovely little Crank Brothers Pump that I borrowed from my Mtn. Bike. Unfortunately, when I was on the road, I discovered that I had neither the time or energy to get my tires up to 120 psi. I now have a lovely Road Morph pump that has served me quite well.

Mr. Silver,

I ride very, very small frames (a 47 cm Trek and a 40 cm Merlin), and I had a heck of a time figuring out where to mount my Road Morph. Ebay came to the rescue! I bought a Blackburn frame pump holder that attaches behind the water bottle cage. The pump is on the side of the down tube, and I can use two water bottle cages! The Blackburn pump holder is designed to hold a pump with a larger diameter than the Road Morph, but I was able to use a bit of padding and strips of an old inner tube to make it work.

- Melissa

[lph]

Depending on the length of the ride and the crappiness of the roads I carry one or two tubes and CO2 cartridges, no pump. I switch tubes and patch at home. If I "expected" to need 3 tubes I'd carry a pump instead.

But I always carry a cell phone, and in my neck of the woods I can either catch a bus, call home or call a taxi if necessary.

But this is also because I rarely flat (pretty good roads and Conti GP 4000 tires which have a good rep for flat resistance) and don't have a good frame pump. I've helped others with an CO2 cartridge or tube more often than I've used it myself.

[tulip]

2 tubes, patch kit, CO2 cartridge, and pump here. I have a really small pump that I can fit in my back pocket. Can't remember the name of it. On my Bike Friday, that has a rack, I've strapped a Road Morph onto the underside of the rack with bungies.

[Crankin]

I carry 2 tubes and 2 cartridges. I can't mount a pump on my frame because of the design and size. When I had my Trek, I had a Road Morph pump on the down tube.
I don't waste time with patching. Tubes are cheap. Plus, I've only had 3 flats in 8 years...

[sundial]

I carry 2 tubes, a patch kit and an Axiom pump that is a combination hand pump and CO2 cartridge inflator. I also keep dollar bills handy in case my tire is punctured and I can slip the dollar bill in between the tube and tire to get me home.

If you decide to carry a compact hand pump, know that you could snap off the valve if you are tired and you are struggling to inflate it to pressure. It happened to my mtb. I like the Topeak Master Blaster road pump because it has a retractable hose which makes it unlikely that you'll break off the valve during inflation.

[Sindyeli]

Wow, thanks for this amazing bunch of posts ! It's great to read about everyone's preferences. I'm going to research the frame pump option.

I realise I don't know how much a cartridge fills up a tube. I doubt it gets it to the perfect psi, so can any of you tell me your experience with using them? Have you had to top off the tube with your pump or the opposite, being careful not to blow your tube up with too much air? And do you carry a gauge or just go by feel?

[sundial]

Have you had to top off the tube with your pump or the opposite, being careful not to blow your tube up with too much air? And do you carry a gauge or just go by feel?

One of my methods for putting on a new tube is to partially inflate the tube, seat the tire on the tube and deflate the tube. I re-inflate the tube and check that the tire is equally seated on the rim and then inflate the tube all the way if it is. This method had helped me decrease the liklihood of a pinch flat. If you have a CO2 cartridge, you have one shot to inflate it to the max psi. That's why I think it's a good idea to have both a CO2 inflator and a hand pump.