4 Irresistible Benefits of Using Bicycle Tire CO2 Inflators

For a long time, a hand pump was the only thing that could save the day if your bicycle got a flat tire while out for a ride. But in 1989, Genuine Innovations created the first bicycle tire CO2 inflator, freeing cyclists to ride further and faster without the need to strap a pump to the frame or carry a heavy kit to fix a flat bicycle tire. Here’s a quick list of reasons why bicyle tire CO2 inflators are such a huge win for cyclists.

What are CO2 inflators?

CO2 inflator heads are compact devices designed to inject carbon dioxide gas (via CO2 cartridges) through your bicycle tire valve stem and into your tire. Offered with a variety of technologies, including push-to-inflate, twist-to-inflate and trigger controlled, CO2 inflators are commonly used by cyclists to re-inflate flat tires, to fill up new tire tubes, or set the bead during tubeless tire installations. CO2 inflators generally work with a variety of cartridge sizes (for example, 16 gram and 20 gram) and can be compatible with threaded or non-threaded styles of cartridges.

What are the advantages of CO2 inflators?

CO2 inflators have several benefits over other inflation solutions. Here are some of the key advantages.

No. 1: The Time Factor – CO2 inflators are time-saving, because they fill up your tire much faster than air pumps. When you have a flat tire, a CO2 inflator can refill the tire and get you going in just a few minutes.

No. 2: The Effort Factor – Unlike air pumps, CO2 inflators hold gas at high pressure, making them extremely easy to use with minimal effort. All you need to do is place the inflator head onto the valve stem and twist/press, without worrying about the exertion that hand pumps require.

No. 3: The Portability Factor – Being extremely compact (most inflators are just about the size of your thumb), CO2 inflators are easy to carry around in your backpack or even taped to the frame of your bike. They’re also lightweight, making them a great addition to your kit.

No. 4: The Usefulness Factor – When it comes to inflating tubeless tires, CO2 inflators easily win over hand pumps. If you’ve suffered a flat tire on a tubeless tire, chances are your hand pump is not going to be of any help. You’ll either need to use an air compressor (which is heavy to carry with you), or you’ll need to use a CO2 inflator. This is the only technique that can create a tight seal between the tire and the rim, and deliver the fast burst of air that’s needed to set the bead on a tubeless tire.

When all is said and done, CO2 inflators come in handy when in a pinch. So it’s always a great idea to keep an inflator head or two around; you never know when a flat tire may occur and you may need to re-inflate!

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