Genuine Innovations Race Day MTB Kit
The fastest way to get back into the game
It is pretty much game over if a racer punctures any time past the
halfway mark of an event unless he or she is carrying a CO2 inflator. No
company knows this better than Genuine Innovations. They offer lots of
fast-inflation solutions for racers and the rest of us who would rather not sit
in the sun, rain or cold pumping a tire. The $25 Race Day MTB kit includes
everything you need to get back in the race fast after a puncture.
Tech features: The Race Day MTB kit includes an Air Chuck Elite nozzle with
push-to-inflate technology, a 40-gram BigAir cartridge and a mounting system.
The all-metal mini inflator accepts most of Genuine Innovations’ threaded
cartridges and BigAir cartridges. The universal mount attaches to the frame or
component using hook-and-loop straps. The made-in-the-USA kit with all-
mounting hardware and a BigAir canister weighs 3.1 ounces. You can reach
Genuine Innovations at (520) 295-3936.
Field test results: The mounting bracket is a lightweight design that
allows you to mount the kit on a frame tube or component like a stem, handlebar
or, in our case, seatpost. We mounted it on the front side of the seatpost to
protect it from rear-wheel debris. It stayed in place, never got in the way of
our legs and was easily accessible. A pin on the mounting hardware tucks into
the Air Chuck and does two things: keeps the chuck right where you want it and
keeps the grit out.
Once needed, just screw the BigAir cartridge onto the inflator until the
cartridge is pierced. Back it off a fraction of a turn. Hold the Air Chuck by
its sides (don’t put your thumb over the black circle, because that has to move
to release the gas), slide it onto the valve and then push the inflator forward
to release the gas into the tire. Don’t freak out, but the cartridge gets
ice-cold when your tire inflates. A $7 BigAir cartridge will inflate two tires
to over 30 psi, so it is a good thing that you don’t have to blast the entire
cartridge. The Air Chuck Elite allows you to use the gas you want and save the
rest for the next puncture.
There is no faster
way to inflate a tire— unless you happen to be within
reach of a compressor. If you are a racer, it is a no-brainer. It would come in
handy for any rider who flats while trying to beat an approaching storm or the
setting sun. The MBA wrecking crew is a cheap bunch, but we always have
a Race Day MTB kit on the bike. If we have time, we’ll use a hand pump. If we
need to get going fast, we know we can count on our Race Day MTB kit to get us
rolling again.
Reprinted from our November 2011 issue. Subscribe today and get your own copy of Mountain Bike Action to your doorstep.
