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CO2 cartridges or a pump?

07.29.2008 by Ray Niekamp // 39 Comments

I’m probably flirting with danger here, but it’s been awhile since I’ve flatted.

Even so, I try to be ready if it should happen. My seat bag has a spare tube, a patch kit, and what I would most likely use in the event of a flat — a CO2 inflator and several CO2 cartridges.

The CO2 is convenient, but it’s not a panacea. When I have flatted in the past, I’ve found it’s not easy to get the right amount of air into the tire. I’ve resorted to a series of short bursts on the inflator trigger, and try to determine by feeling the tire whether it’s got enough pressure. When I first started using it, at a time when flats were much more frequent, I sometimes wasted a cartridge and needed two to fill the tire. And sometimes, I only managed to inflate the tire enough to make it home.

Another concern is the cost. The cartridges run about $3.50 each, so if one or two are wasted by fumbling around, the tire repair is suddenly costly. I usually carry four in my seat bag, so I can give one or two to another biker who might be flatted with no air.

Then there’s the environmental issue. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas. Do I really need to contribute to the Earth’s problems?

What’s the alternative? A pump. The choice is between a frame-mounted pump and a mini-pump that can mount to a frame or even fit in your jersey pocket.

A Zefal frame-mounted pump.
A Zefal frame-mounted pump.
A Blackburn mini pump.
A Blackburn mini pump. It's actually less than one-half the length of the Zefal.

The issue with the pumps is also one of convenience, and efficiency, too. I’ve had occasion to use a mini-pump, and I’m not crazy about them. They have trouble supplying enough air pressure, especially to a road tire that may take over 125 psi. But I like the convenience of the CO2 inflator, and I’m not sure if another gizmo fastened to my bike frame would be worth the bother.

For now, I’ll continue to go with the cartridges and inflator. I’ve had enough experience with them that I’m confident I won’t waste them in future situations. And for every day that I go without a flat, cost becomes less of an issue. But I’d sure like to hear your opinion. Inflator or pump?

(Since this post last July, I’ve resolved the issue to my satisfaction.  Here’s what I decided.)

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Categories // Accessories, Equipment Tags // Accessories, C02, cartridges, Equipment, pumps

Even wear on cleats

06.16.2008 by Ray Niekamp // 4 Comments

I’ve been working diligently to click into my pedals without looking. I can do it about two-thirds of the time now, and I’m hoping to get even better at it. Imagine my surprise Sunday then, when I didn’t seem to be able to do it at all.

Every time I put my foot down, I was unable to click back in smoothly. It took three — even four — tries before I heard the satisfying click. Finally, when I took a break about 20 miles into the ride, I discovered the problem.

I clip on my right foot (dominant side) 98 percent of the time. That has put excessive wear on the right cleat.

Excessive use of the same cleat has caused more wear than on the other cleat.

The cleat is ripped at the front, which makes clip-ins very difficult. Once I started disengaging the left cleat and keeping the right one in the pedal, things improved right away. Although the left cleat’s looks are little better than the right one’s, at least it’s still all in one piece, and works the way it should.

The left cleat. Yeah, I could probably keep them cleaner. The left one still works, though.

It’s awkward for me to use my left side to do anything, but I forced myself to disengage from the left pedal for the rest of the ride, and when re-engaging the cleat, I was able to do it on the first attempt without looking down about three out of four times.

These are Shimano SPD-SLs, and I’ve had them for about three-and-a-half months. I’ll be making a trip to the LBS this week to get replacement cleats, but from now on, I’ll alternate the foot I click into and out of. With any luck, equal use will mean longer life.

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Categories // Equipment Tags // cleats, clipless pedals

Base layers — even in hot weather?

05.25.2008 by Ray Niekamp // 5 Comments

Speaking of jerseys, I have some base layers along the lines of Under Armour (mine are by Jockey). They fit tight to the skin, which is somewhat disturbing to look at in the mirror, but work like a charm.

The base layers are thin polyester material that wick moisture away from the body. They add to the rider’s comfort, because they can warm a bit on a chilly day, and cool a bit when it’s hot and humid. I have a t-shirt and a tank top, and have used them both throughout the spring.

But today, the temperature was already well into the 80s when I left on my ride, and it was only going to go higher. I skipped the base layer. When I got back after a 24-mile hill workout, the temperature had risen to 94°F (34°C) — hey, this is central Texas and will probably be this way until late September — and I was drenched with sweat.

If I had worn the base layer, it might have minimized some of that drenching. But it might also have made me warmer on an already hot day.

Do you use base layers? Is there a temperature cutoff point at which you won’t wear them anymore?

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Categories // Accessories, Equipment

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