[Closed] co2 cartridges: lots and lots of questions

It's bad for sealant. The cold doesn't do it much good.

I've used 16g ones on 26" wheels, I'd probably go one up for larger volume 29". I only tend to use them for racing though. Pump does fine most of the time as long as it's still on the bead. If the tyre gets damaged then your down to a tube anyway, if you drop it off the bead then the smaller one will generally seat it but I'll top up if needed.

Your also going for about a 1/3 of the pressure in a mtb tyre so thats a lot less volume of CO2 needed.

As for cheapest try google.... They can be bought in bulk and the thread should be standard.

Can the cartridges be refilled/reused?

Nope, you puncture them to use them.

Don't bother. Just use a pump.

If you take Co2, you still need a pump in case you mess up the Co2 or run out. If you run tubeless your only likely to need to top up, which is a waste of a Co2, a pump is more accurate. A pump wont run out of gas or freeze your hands when you use it. Plus a pump is free to use. If you use a Co2 and it doesn't quite fill up your mtb tyre you still need a pump to top it off, or two cartridges.

Seems a lot of hassle for very little advantage.

Having been out on the weekend with a mate who lost the bead on his front the co2 popped it back on, much less faff than a pump.

See above for racing and those cold shitty nights when everyone is looking at you, it's a good bit of emergency kit.

Don't bother. Just use a pump.

Except that when racing a c02 inflater is smaller, lighter and faster to use.

Otherwise I agree, I can't see why you'd bother using a co2 canister on a recreational ride.

As mentioned, if it's for mountain biking and you ride with a pack, I wouldn't bother as it's easily enough to carry a pump. Only time I use mine is if I'm doing a competitive event where time lost on a stage reinflating tyres can be a real PITA

They're good when your mate has got a puncture at the top of Helvellyn (or anywhere else that's cold) when it's windy and about 1C and raining and you just want to get back down the hill and out of the cloud.

Here was cheapest when I last looked, I use the 16g ones for 26" and 650b wheeled bikes.

https://www.co2cartridges.co.uk/

I use c02 cartridges. I've used them for nearly 20 years and wouldn't consider using a pump. Another vote for> https://www.co2cartridges.co.uk/
they do all kinds of sizes.

I'd never rely soley on a Co2 inflator, it's the first thing I'll try if I have a cart with me simply because it's quicker and less effort when inflating an emergency tube...

I tend to tack [url= http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lifeline-16g-co2-inflator-cartridges-pack-of-6/ ]these[/url] or [url= http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lifeline-16g-co2-inflator-cartridges-pack-of-2/ ]these[/url] onto my wiggle orders as they're relatively cheap...

I try to leave one or two carts distributed around my bikes, along with a pump, spare tube(s) and multitool, just so I don't have to remember to pack such essential things before a ride...

IME a 16g CO2 carts will blip a road tyre up beyond what most people need, and happily inflate a ~2.2 x 26/27.5/29er to a rideable pressure, [u]with a tube[/u], but I'd not use them to try and fit/change tubeless tyres, especially when out and about, if I flat a tubeless tyre while out riding, I'd simply bung a tube in it to get me home, however I haven't needed to do this many times TBH...

Great on a cold night ride when you just want to get going quickly. But a pump weighs hardly anything, won't run-out and if you get another puncture...

Any reason not to use N2O?

Only there's a few rather cheap suppliers round here....

A pump wont run out of gas or freeze your hands when you use it. Plus a pump is free to use.

Your doing it wrong if you are freezing your hands. A co2 cart is peanuts if bought in bulk and for the road the ability to get up to a decent pressure makes it well worthwhile to me. Plus CO2 carts don't strip the core out of your valves unlike certain pumps and pumps can fail too.

Don't bother. Just use a pump.

If you take Co2, you still need a pump in case you mess up the Co2 or run out

I have a couple of those mini-pumps that can also take a CO2 cartridge, lives on the bike and best of both worlds, weighs bugger all either way but you can use it with CO2 if you have it, or use as normal pump to top up or if you haven't got any cartridges with you.

like this, although others available too:

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. ninfan - Member
Any reason not to use N2O?
Only there's a few rather cheap suppliers round here....

Are you having a laugh? 😉

I carry both on recreational rides. A CO2 inflator for the speed/convenience, and a pump as back up in case I can't get tyre to seat and use up all my cartridges trying (as has happened before).

I've never noticed issues with sealant and CO2, but just for future reference does anyone know which sealant brands work better with CO2 cartridges?

+1 www.co2cartridges.co.uk - bulk buy for value. Vastly cheaper than the LBS.

CO2 + sealant... I've not really mixed the stuff but always been told it doesn't mix well. It turns the sealant into Stanimals 😀

I'd use CO2 on the trail even if sealant is in there to get me going or get home. Though times I've used CO2 on the trail has either been from a slow puncture hole that won't seal because the sealant has dried up, or to inflate a tube after a big sidewall rip.

As for capacities. Can't really say about road tyres. Smaller volume capacity I guess but then pressure needs to be a lot higher.

I do find with MTB tyres, a single 16g may not get it up to pressure, and I'm just aiming for 20psi tubeless.

CO2 however is great for popping the bead onto the rim very quick. Great for tubless set up or fixing a burped tyre that has unseated.

ninfan - Member
Any reason not to use N2O?

Likely to be banned as part of the ban on legal highs.