More than crashes or the myriad other problems anticipated before embarking on a ride, the threat of a puncture is the most tangible. I could be persuaded to leave for a ride or start a race without my trusty multi-tool or even my bidons, but never without at least one tube and a means to inflate it in case of un pneu crevé.
Those of us observing Rule #29 carry a minimum number of tools, each carefully selected for their versatility, weight, and size. Our machines are meticulously maintained, thus roadside repairs are rarely required. Chain tools and box-end wrenches are superfluous and need not feature in the Velominatus’ road training toolkit. A multitool, a spare tube or two, a simple tire lever, and a means to inflate a tire are all that is required.
The means by which we choose to inflate our tires on the road is determined by reason or whim; small, lightweight means of inflation both pump and Cartouche CO2 are readily available for all budgets. My preference is to carry a small C02 inflator with two cartridges and to distribute the weight between my three pockets. I use a rubber band to bind the cartridges together with the tire lever and put them in the center pocket; the inflator and multi tool each go in a side pocket (the mulitool goes on the right, for obvious reasons.)
Made of brass and plastic twist valves, most CO2 inflators suffer from KFC regret and are cumbersome and unnecessarily heavy. Always one to appreciate a simple, minimalistic design, it was love at first sight when my gaze passed over the Lezyne Trigger Drive CO2. Meticulously constructed of CNC-machined aluminum, it is ridiculously lightweight and possesses the soft polished glow reminiscent of the gleaming metal bits Campagnolo produced in the late 80’s and early 90’s. I almost yearn for the hiss of air escaping from my tire, just for the excuse to use it.
In the hand, it feels smooth and perfectly weighted – the folks at Lezyne do the work of a Velominatus. The cartridge threads into it perfectly, without allowing the escape of any air from its compressed confines. It threads perfectly onto the valve stem; the action required to unleash the pressurized gas is both effortless and controlled.
I am not too proud to say I carried it with me everywhere I went during the first two weeks I owned it. Magnifique.
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I used to do the CO2 thing, until a reader rant on Lennard Zinn's tech column (the only good thing about VeloNews, IMHO) made me feel guilty about how non-green it is to use this manufactured throw-away thingy to put air (really CO2 plus propane, which leaks out in a day anyway) in your tire when you have a perfectly good pump that, in combination with your stringy roadie tricep, can put good old fashioned free atmosphere inside that tire. So now I just carry my Park Tool mini-pump in the jersey pocket, and enjoy knowing that I never have to wonder what would happen if I flatted a third time after using my two CO2 charges...
Completely off-topic but given it has been so long between races, go read a report on the Aussie national champs which were held yesterday. Jack Bobridge handed out plenty of Rule 5 by bridging up to an early break solo and then by riding off on his own for the last 30kms...
@blaireau
I got news for you, that carbon frame between yer knees has a pretty gnarly footprint too, not to mention lubes, cleaners etc.
I got nuthin against pumps, but I want to ride, not spend extra time working the upper body. It's CO2 for me.
When getting a flat on the group ride in the winter, the guy operating the pump stays warm while his compatriots get cold.
As I said CO2 is for me.
At the 3 flat in my last granfondo a fantastic German 'ammiraglia' gave me for free an Alemannisch spare tube a Teutonic floor pump and a Bavarian bratwurst for my morale.
@michael
So best to puncture strategically?
I used a little pump for ages before switching over to C02. I hated how it felt and looked in my jersey, sticking out of the top and making the bottom sag. But I was reluctant to switch to C02 for the cost. Then I did the math and realized that I (almost) never puncture and the cost in that light is minimal. I still have C02 cartridges that I bought when I moved to Seattle, and the majority of those I've used have been to fix other people's (mostly Jim's) flats.
Ride good tires, maintain your gear, clean your tires, look them over for holes, replace them when they are worn out, avoid glass, etc, wipe them off after riding through debris (master the wipe-n-ride) and you reduce your. Switch to C02 and free yourself from the inconvenient and unsightly pump.
Really, triple flats? What are you on about? Luck favors the prepared - granted - but lets stay realistic, shall we?
ummm... If this is the alternative, I may start carrying a half dozen tubes...
@roadslave, @Brett
Lezyne has some incredibly nice stuff. I'm not using their multi-tool right now, but the carbon one is stunning. I might have to switch up eventually. Love the one I'm using now too much to change up, though. (Reverence to come, obviously.)
@Pedale.Forchetta
Watching the '03 Tour on the trainer (not because of bad weather, but because I like to use the trainer occasionally in winter to work on my Magnificent Stroke) and it was fantastic to watch Ullrich racing again. My mate KRX10 (of our site design fame) used to always call him "The Riding Bratwurst". Heehehehehe.
@blaireau, @sgt
The Green thing sounds so good, but I'm afraid I'm with Sgt on that one; any plastic, steel, alu, or titanium bike has quite a footprint as well. Even if it's built locally by hand, and definitely if it's been built in Asia or imported from some country you don't live in. While the pump uses good old fashioned air, it's likely made of plastic - or at least contains much more plastic than the C02 option, meaning it will be around long after we've turned to dust. Are you recycling your tires and tubes?
I'm afraid that without seeing more studies that thoroughly investigate and study all the options, I'm inclined to say it's negligibly more green at best, a little less green at worst, and probably just about the same.