Pumps and/or CO2 Cartridges

[Bethany1]

Now that I have several bikes (didn't know they were addicting) is it just easier to buy the CO2 cartridges instead of having a pump with your bike?

I hate to buy two more pumps to screw into each bike. It would be great if you could just buy one pump, 3 clips and switch out when needed.

I haven't used a CO2 cartridge so I don't know how well they work.

Since I have different bike tire sizes (My 29er should be here today), the Sirrus and a Trek, would it be easier to buy a saddle bag for each bike instead of switching out the bag? I was told that keeping a spare tire was more convenient than carrying a patch kit even though the tire takes up more room.

I know it's more personal preference but with my ability to go farther from home now, if a flat happens, a quick easy fix would be nice so I'm not stranded by the side of the road looking for a hole in my tire to patch up.

[indysteel]

Wait....you got a 29er? As in a mountain bike? I thought you were eyeing road bikes?

I prefer to carry Co2 (2 of them) and have separate, fully stocked seat post bags for each of my bikes. It's more costly, but it means that I don't accidentally ride off without it. I'm new to MTBing, but DH always brings the floor pump in the car when he/we go. It came in handy last week, because he got a flat in the parking lot and didn't have to burn through any cartridges to repair it.

[Crankin]

I had a nice Road Morph pump on my Trek, but when I got my Kuota, I switched to cartridges. A pump just doesn't fit anywhere. I carry the CO2 inflator and 2-3 cartridges at all times in my seatbag, as well as 2 tubes. We buy the cartridges from a hunting supply store, so I have enough to last until I die or stop riding . And very inexpensive, too. I am sure you will hear pros and cons of both, but I am happy with what I have.
The pump is in my pannier on my around town bike.

[Bethany1]

My first bike is a Specialized Hardrock as I couldn't get on the men's 29ers to save my life despite being tall. I needed a MTB to get through the back gravel roads so I got the Hardrock. My son got a 29er and if I stand on the curb I can get on. It rides so much easier over the large gravel than my Hardrock and thought it would be awesome to have one.

While lamenting to my LBS he walked over to a purple/black bike and said that he just got a Trek Women's Mamba 29er in. He ordered me one in my size and fingers crossed it will come today. I'll take my Hardrock in for a partial trade and pay for the rest when it comes.

I realized I needed a street bike and picked up a Specialized Sirrus. So far I love it. I just didn't realize that street/racing bikes are stiff and you feel every bump when you ride it. That's why I asked in a post about carbon and aluminum frames/carbon forks and how they ride.

I thought I'd get brave and try a bike with the drop bars since I'm a little more coordinated. I had been looking at the Specialized Dolce but being new wasn't sure I could ride one. I tried one out and was able to ride fairly well, but didn't want to invest a a lot of money on a bike style I still wasn't sure of.

LBS just had a guy bring in an older Trek 1.2 to trade for another bike. He said he'd sell it to me and see if I liked the drop handle bars and if I wanted the Dolce he'd take the bike in for a trade. I figured for 300 bucks, it was worth it. If I totally wrecked it, I wasn't out too much money.

With the drop handle bars, I've discovered that my right peripheral vision issues I have are a big hinderance when you are lower down. I don't have vision in the top right corners of both eyes which blocks me from seeing cars when low to the ground. If I'm riding sitting up, I can catch cars out of the bottom of my eyes making the Sirrus an ideal bike.

[indysteel]

What tire pressure are you running in the Sirrus? You might try lowering it a tad and/or getting better tires to lessen the harshness of the ride. It won't make the bike plush, but it could help.

[pinsonp2]

Have you thought about buying extra frame holders/clips for the pump you have. I have done that with both the Road Morph and a Lyzyne. If your manufacturer does not sell spares, Performance has one that I glued a piece of old inner tube to the round clips and it holds the road morph just fine. I also carry CO2 on the road bikes (I use a Topeak bag that has fixer a clip so it it easier to move from bike to bike).

P2

[sundial]

I have a frame pump on my Fargo as one source of air for when my tire goes pllllllll. I've found that I am less likely to damage the presta valve with a CO2 cartridge than with a mini pump. If you are tired, hot, sweaty and you have to fumble around with the air pump to get a good seal, you risk bending, or worse, breaking off the valve. On the other hand, you may have a cartridge that is a dud or the mechanism that screws into the cartridge is faulty so it's always good to have a backup for that very reason.