Pump vs cartridges (tools, tools, oh my)

[OakLeaf]

You can usually blow enough air into a Presta valve tube to get it into a tire. You just have to kind of bite the valve to hold it open as you blow.

IMO, one drop of chain lube per link is WAY WAY WAY too much. Different lubes behave differently, but most people apply way too much chain lube. Apply the lube to the inside surface (that is, the side that faces the cog teeth) and wipe not only to spread the lube evenly but to remove the excess. I think I usually use about 10 drops of Pedro's Go! for my whole chain. Maybe less.

And, while a work stand definitely comes in handy for some jobs, lubing the chain isn't one of them, unless you have a fixie. On a freewheel bike, you can distribute the lube just as easily by pedaling backwards.

[Catrin]

Is it possible to use the Road Morph pump for double-duty, (as a floor pump)? My cycling guy/spinning instructor who is advising me on all of this suggested that I ask the collective wisdom here. If I need to do so, then I will get a floor pump for my apartment, but it would be nice if I didn't need to get two of them right away.

[HillSlugger]

Is it possible to use the Road Morph pump for double-duty, (as a floor pump)? My cycling guy/spinning instructor who is advising me on all of this suggested that I ask the collective wisdom here. If I need to do so, then I will get a floor pump for my apartment, but it would be nice if I didn't need to get two of them right away.

The Road Morph can stand in for a floor pump.

[Catrin]

The Road Morph can stand in for a floor pump.

Cool! I've noted there is the Road Morph Mini and then the regular Road Morph. Thanks!

[tulip]

I just carry a pump. I've never figured out cartridges. I'm a bit Old School, though.

[krisl6]

I'm not a big fan of the cartridges. You only have one chance to get it right with them and they're not very environmentally friendly.

[7rider]

I'm not a big fan of the cartridges. You only have one chance to get it right with them and they're not very environmentally friendly.

If your area recycles steel, you can recycle spent cartridges.
http://co2pros.blogspot.com/2008/08/...vironment.html

I used to be afraid of cartidges. Little bombs, they are. But I've started using them, and they are fine. Get's you on your way MUCH faster than a pump can ever hope to. My inflator has some measure of control so I can meter out the air going into the tube as I want and need it. I got a case of cartridges from Amazon for cheap. Still, I do keep a frame pump - for extra insurance and to shape the tube, as someone noted - on my road bikes. I don't have a pump on my commuter. That pump died and I haven't replaced it (yet?). I do carry 2 or 3 cartridges in my saddle bag at all times.

[krisl6]

Recycling aside there are still other ways cartridges impact the environment such as packaging and shipping. But that's just my personal opinion and I know a lot of people like cartridges. I'm perfectly happy with the frame-mounted pump I have. I also like the idea of just buying a pump once rather than spending $$$ on new cartridges every time I've used them up.

I also read somewhere that regular air lasts longer in the tires than CO2. So the cartridges are really only good as a quick fix to get you home.

[Bike Goddess]

Road morph pump, although a little cumbersome, is a great addition to your bike frame. I've got these pumps on both of my bikes, and when someone else in my riding group has a flat, we get out one of these gems. They have a gauge on them which is also nice.

Also, on recommendation of my bike buddies who have been riding many more years than me, I carry two tubes in my underseat bag, a multipurpose tool, and tire irons. To make changing a flat easier, put some (real) talcum powder on your spare tubes. Works for fitting them on the rim.

I also have a "bento box" bag on my top tube where I carry "shot bloks", cell phone, other stuff. The bento box idea came from some folks here on the forum a couple of years ago (maybe JoBob or Sadie Kate or Veronica- not sure who).

[Crankin]

Well, some of us can't put a pump on our frames. I used to have one, but now, just cartridges. They work fine. Ours came from an industrial supply place, in a brown box that was recycled. We throw them out at hazardous waste day. Of course, we only used one this year.

[nscrbug]

Well, some of us can't put a pump on our frames. I used to have one, but now, just cartridges. They work fine. Ours came from an industrial supply place, in a brown box that was recycled. We throw them out at hazardous waste day. Of course, we only used one this year.

+1 on this! I bought a Road Morph G, 2 years ago. Great little pump that used to fit my Trek 2100 WSD just fine. But now that I'm riding a Cervelo S2, the Road Morph simply will not fit on my frame. So, for the last season I've been carrying only C02 and an inflator. The Road Morph now lives permanently on my hubby's Lemond. I am, however, in the process of finding a smaller pump that will work with my frame. After lots of online searching, I think I may have found my new pump - a Lezyne Pressure Drive. It comes in a small and medium size, and I think the small one will just fit on my downtube, using the bottle cage mounts....I hope.

[silentlysailing]

I found it terribly hard to pump a road tire to riding pressure using a typical mini pump. If you go the pump route I highly recommend the Road Morph pump.

These days I only carry C02

I have trouble with the small pumps too. I just got some cartridges recently. Until then I hadn't ever had a pump on my bike or or anything. I just hoped I wouldn't get to far away from anything or that someone could help me out. To me the cartridge seems easier at least.

[OakLeaf]

No room on my frame for a pump that's actually useful, but you bet I carry a mini-pump as backup to my CO2. I've had to use it, too. Took me about 20 minutes to inflate my tire, but it was good enough to get me down the road.

I don't like them for the environmental reasons everyone else has mentioned (yes I recycle them, but recycling is NOT reducing or reusing, plus I can't believe no one else has mentioned plain ol' adding CO2 to the atmosphere! - but it's only a couple of times a year, justify justify justify), but also, in a group ride it's simply rude to not be able to inflate your tires and let the group continue, either with CO2 or with a man-frame-sized pump.

[HillSlugger]

No room on my frame for a pump that's actually useful, but you bet I carry a mini-pump as backup to my CO2. I've had to use it, too. Took me about 20 minutes to inflate my tire, but it was good enough to get me down the road.

I don't like them for the environmental reasons everyone else has mentioned (yes I recycle them, but recycling is NOT reducing or reusing, plus I can't believe no one else has mentioned plain ol' adding CO2 to the atmosphere! - but it's only a couple of times a year, justify justify justify), but also, in a group ride it's simply rude to not be able to inflate your tires and let the group continue, either with CO2 or with a man-frame-sized pump.

The amount of CO2 released to the environment from a tire inflation pales in comparison to EVERYTHING else we do.

[IFjane]

I just carry a pump. I've never figured out cartridges. I'm a bit Old School, though.

What Tulip said!

I carry an old Road Morph and love it - it has saved me and other cyclists for years now.