Compressed air can for bicycles?

Question

all ciclysts know that flats are our enemy, so we carry a flat tire kit to fix'em, without the air we end up with ... a flat tire!!

I've been looking all over the internet for a can of compressed air for bicycles but there seems to be none.
Maybe I'm looking in the wrong places and if I am can someone shed some light on this?

I hate the "fix a flat" cans they sell in retail stores, they are way too messy and overtime eat away the rubber in the tires.

Answer 1

I have looked into these CO2 cans and I wasnt impressed, the ones I looked at were marginly heavier than my pocket rocket pump, so I dropped the idea(I'm a Roadie and weight is everything! - lol)

I think GT Rider rides MTBs, and that would be the only sort of bike suitable for slime, I certainly wouldn't trust it.

EDIT: Must be a geographical thing, cos most people I know carry pumps! The pocket rocket is pretty securly attatched by a fitting placed under the bottle cage. Horses for courses!!

Answer 2

The correct tool is either a handheld pump or a CO2 inflator (12g or 16g cartridge type). Using "compressed air" in a can, like the stuff used to clean off computer keyboards won't work becuase there isn't enough air volume to pressurize the tube/tire correctly.

I carry both, most of the time ... unless I'm racing. Then it's only the CO2 inflator (for weight reasons - and because there's usually a support car not too far behind me). The pump is handy for longer trips, or when traveling as a group (like a chairty ride), because you can be sure there will be enough flats between the bunch of riders that someone will need more air than there are cartridges.

And carry a spare tube ... I do the patches afterward, when I'm at home and can make sure the patch seats correctly.

Answer 3

As you have discovered, Fix-A Flat is made to dissolve high-carbon rubber found in car tires and will destroy a bike tube.

You can get CO2 inflation devices at a bicycle shop, but they are for emergencies only. They will not fix a flat tire, remove a thorn, patch a hole or remove the tire for you. Besides, CO2 is less dense than nitrogen (over 70% of the atmosphere) and you will have to use a manual pump to reinflate your tires anyway.

Be a man and carry a hand pump for your bicycle tires.

Answer 4

Everyone I know uses CO2 cartridges with an inflator. Pumps are clumsy to carry and seem to fall off all the time.

Answer 5

i never use tire patch kits. in my opinion, they take to much time. i just carry a spare tube and CO2 can in my seatpost bag. i bough a Geniune Innovations co2 inflation kit for $30. it comes with the inflator and 3 12g cans, each can pump up a mtb tire to high pressure.
they are very small an can fit in your backpack easily. try one of these:
http://www.jensonusa.com/store/sub/292-Pumps+And+Co2+Inflation.aspx?s=1557
theres something for any budget.

Answer 6

There are CO2 pumps that you can use. I personally don't like them much, but they can be handy if you're on a race and don't want to spend too much time pumping a hand pump.

Answer 7

smaller volume. Air = everywhere. Bike tire = small container. You are increasing density of air molecules

Answer 8

there are no compressed air cans only CO2 balloons that you attach on the valve, use slime, it will make the bike a little heaver but it is worth it,