[lacofdfireman]

I have been searching the forums trying to find someone that is using the 12g CO2 Cartridges for fixing flats but all I see is the debates for 23mm tires... Because of my weight of 250lbs I am switching from 23mm to 25mm Gator Skins and would like to know if I can get away with using some 12g carts of the 16g carts? I used a 16 yesterday 2 different times for flats:mad2: and both times I ended up wasting some of the CO2 because I felt like my tire had more than plenty air in it.. But then again I am currently running 23mm times.. Basically I am looking for something to keep me from being stranded so Max PSI may not have to be achieved but it needs to be enough to support my 250lbs.. So do you think a 12g will work or should I stay with the more expensive 16g's... I am using a threaded Micro inflate.. Also does anyone know if the CO2 Carts at WalMart are threaded or not threaded?

 

[Ghost234]

I'm sure you would be fine, but my suggestion is to avoid using Co2 if you can. Although it is very cool being able to fill a flat in almost no time at all I find that having a small pump in your saddlebag/jersey is a much more permanent solution and much cheaper in the long run.

 

[lacofdfireman]

I'm sure you would be fine, but my suggestion is to avoid using Co2 if you can. Although it is very cool being able to fill a flat in almost no time at all I find that having a small pump in your saddlebag/jersey is a much more permanent solution and much cheaper in the long run.

So far I have loved using the CO2... I must admit that I am new to it with yesterday being my first time for an on the road flat and using CO2 to fix it and I was more than impressed... Where can I find a pump that will fit in a saddle bag or a jersey, cuz I have never seen one? If there is one I would buy it for a backup though... Let me know..

 

[Mr. Versatile]

I ride 25s & use 12 cartridges most of the time. I like the 16g better, but I can't find them at a reasonable price. I buy my cartridges at Walmart, Kmart, or other big box stores. They're usually in the sporting goods dept where the guns are. Unfortunately they don't carry 16g. IIRC the last time I bought a box of 12g CO2 I paid about .65-.70 cents per cartridge. Be careful, though. I found some 16g cartridges on Ebay 7 bought them. They were about 2 or 3mm too long to fit into my inflater. When I buy CO2 now I take my inflater into the store & make sure they fit.

 

[Mr. Versatile]

So far I have loved using the CO2... I must admit that I am new to it with yesterday being my first time for an on the road flat and using CO2 to fix it and I was more than impressed... Where can I find a pump that will fit in a saddle bag or a jersey, cuz I have never seen one? If there is one I would buy it for a backup though... Let me know..

I agree. I always have a mini pump along in case of an emergency. Here are 2 that work well. Keep in mind that it takes many, many strokes to get a tire up to pressure, but either of these pumps will do it. After all, I'm using it only as an emergency back up.

http://www.topeak.com/products/Mini-Pumps/MicroRocketCB
and
http://www.dhwagencies.com/Mini_Pumps_2/Barbieri_Titan_One_Mini_Pump_46.aspx

 

[Ghost234]

http://www.blackburndesign.com/road_pumps.html

I use the Airstick SL and could not be happier. It actually works better than my floor pump.

 

[lacofdfireman]

http://www.blackburndesign.com/road_pumps.html

I use the Airstick SL and could not be happier. It actually works better than my floor pump.

Is the Blackburn Airstick small enough to fit in a Jersey pocket? Or does it have to mount on your bike? What is the length?

 

[Ghost234]

Mine came with a mount, but I don't use it. I tried fitting it and although it fit perfectly and held on for a few rides I decided to just throw it into my saddlebag as I seemed to have an excess of space there.

As far as how it fits into a jersey, it fits perfectly. Its about 15 cm long, but when I fully extend it its probobly close to 22 (you will only fully extend it when you have to pump a tire). It fits perfectly in my jersey and doesn't feel weird if it is pressed up against my back. Its light, functional and reliable. A definite 10/10 in my book.

 

[Pancho's Balls]

I use the Airstick SL and could not be happier. It actually works better than my floor pump.

That just means that your floor pump is a piece of crap.

To the OP: a 12g CO2 in a 25c tire will get you home.

 

[Accordion]

That just means that your floor pump is a piece of crap.

To the OP: a 12g CO2 in a 25c tire will get you home.

In my case it would get me halfway there with a pinch flat. I'm 200 pounds riding on 23s and a 12g wouldn't get me up to the 120psi I need. Especially in a 25mm tire.

I use the Lezyne mini pump. It's awesome and fits in your jersey pocket although mine shares a mount with my water bottle cage and you can't even see it.

 

[danl1]

...Carts at WalMart are.... not threaded.

See? You already knew the answer.

 

[DesnaePhoto]

I use the BB gun carts as well (*mart) -- if you need to, use two of them to get to pressure.

 

[enki42ea]

I use a road morph pump that I store in my hydration pack, although the frame mount seems good too. I generally do group rides and so far I think I've used it more to help others then on my own bike. Nice to know I can help others without worrying I'm screwing myself if I get a flat later on.

 

[tarwheel2]

I carry a pump and CO2. I buy the 12 g cartridges by the box from Walmart and find that one CO2 is enough for my 25 mm tires. The pressure is not as high as I would get from a floor pump, but it will get me home.

I started carrying a pump again after getting 2 flats in one day and having to walk 3.5 miles home in bike shoes. I still use the CO2s, however, because it takes so long to pump a tire to pressure with a hand pump -- and I have a good one, a Zefal HPX. Call me lazy, but CO2s are great. The pump is for emergencies. Also, if I have more than one flat and have to repair a tube, it is much easier finding a leak in a tube if you can pump it up. In fact, it is nearly impossible to find most tube leaks without using a pump or wasting a CO2.

 

[Mel Erickson]

A 12g CO2 cart will inflate a 25c tire to 80-85psi. If you're careful you can get home on this. A 16g cart should get you to 115-120psi. More than enough.

 

[Dinosaur]

I experimented in my garage a couple years back. A 12g co2 will get a 25 tire to around 83psi. I fudge. I use a mini to seat the tire, inflate to around 30 lbs and finish off with a 12g. I just continue on my ride, no need to head home. I buy Crosman 12g's at Kmart for about 50 cents a cartridge. I would not rely on co2 by itself, stuff happens.

I carry a full length frame pump on my old steel bike. I still use co2 with it. The co2 is so easy to use, gets me back on the road fast. The hard part is just the frustration of getting a flat.