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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@sgt
Ahahahah! KFC regret!!!
I have this same tool and I love it. I have only had to change a flat once while on the go and it was during this past years Nations Triathlon in DC while I was coming out of T1. Needless to say it worked without a hitch and I was able to be back up and ridding in under 5 minutes! Not bad for a first time. I would definitely recommend it to everyone. Plus it just looks nice!
I started using CO2 last year (I purchased a Silca brand one, which is very nice, but does not have the same "fit and finish" level of the Lezyne tool), and besides using it once just to test and see how it worked, I haven't had to use it at all.
While I don't put on the miles that some of you may do (only about 3,000 km last year once I purchased my Garmin and started to keep track), I am a firm believer in keeping equipment in good working condition, and checking everything before each ride. I try not to ride over glass, but the few times I couldn't avoid it, I came away without punctures, which I would credit to running tires that are in good condition, combined with proper inflation pressure and immediately wiping the tire off with my glove.
As far as "green" goes, if you are getting enough flats to care about using a ton of those little CO2 canisters, aren't you wasting a lot of tubes in the process? If you are worried about being green, I think the notion that you are simply moving yourself from point A to B, without the use of a automobile should enough to feel good.
@sgt
@frank
All things are relative. If you want to reduce your carbon footprint more, take up running. I mean, really! You get on a bike, turn over the pedals, and start to consume oxygen... producing... CO2! Before you go splitting the hairs of all the angels dancing on the head of your pinstripes, sell your 18-wheeler and buy some CO2 cartridges already!
I've always used a mini pump & have thought about switching to co2 since I saw the Lezyne. But if you use co2 don't leave them in the road.Pick em up.
I've been considering moving back to a mini-pump from Co2. I probably go through 3 or 4 Co2's a year which is no big deal. But like someone has already mentioned, if I nut out more than twice on a ride I'm hosed. Plus I like the idea of a mechanical device that draws in the atmosphere under my own effort. It's subtle, but there's something more elemental about it. Weird as it may sound, I'm drawn to the tradition of it. When/if I do, I'll probably go for the Lezyne Pressure Drive in aluminum. Red or Black if anyone from Lezyne is reading this and would like to send me one for a future reverence article.
I figure I'm going to have the bike either way (cartridge or pump), so it's a wash. Plus the fact that I ride about 4000 miles a year (close to half my annual total) just on the commute back and forth to work (i.e. miles not driven) means that I've offset the bike's footprint already. In fact I think I've offset all six bikes' footprints (see Rule 12) by now.
But I will agree that the "multiple flat" argument is a weak one - I would mention how very rarely I personally flat except that to do so would jinx me and guarantee that I will flat tomorrow morning in the dark when it's 16 degrees (F) out.
Oh Damn...
I use a Stans NoTubes Hutchison kit and have never had a puncture since I have been using it. Pretty much eliminates the need to carry a pump, tube or co2 (unless on an epic - just in case)
Just on the off chance that you aren't joking, I'm going to do the knee-jerk geek thing by pointing out that the CO2 you are breathing out doesn't count - because it is part of the food chain carbon cycle. Only fossil carbon adds to the total atmospheric CO2 load.
@blaireau
What about farting in the pace line (aka "le Toot de Course")?