There are some items we get in for testing we hope we’ll never have to use. The oversized CO2-plus-sealant Caffélatex Espresso Doppio is just such an item because, well, its use means we’ve flatted. But, as (mis)fortune would have it, our chance came just a couple weeks after receiving it.
Announced last month, the double shot canister contains enough compressed gas to fill a large volume 27.5″ or 29er tire, all the way up to 29+. As it fills the tire back up, it also sends in a healthy dose of Caffélatex sealant to close up whatever hole caused the flat in the first place. Pretty simple concept, and a great way to quickly get moving again without having to remove your wheel or do any tire or valve core fiddling to add sealant some other way.
Standing aside the trail as Daniel inspected his tire, we slid the soft, pliable hose over the valve stem and got the camera ready. Inflate in three…two…whaaaaaat the heck – POOF!
Turns out, you need to slide the hose ALL the way onto the valve stem. Inserted just half way, the pressure blew the hose off, instantly creating a cloud of foam that covered my arm, helmet and the tire. Thankfully I still had my glasses on!
Once the laughter died down, a second attempt was made with the full length of the valve stem inserted into the hose. It worked perfectly. The 29×2.2 tire quickly filled and remained solid for the duration of our ride. Whatever hole caused the flat was nowhere to be heard, seen or felt.
Our only concern is use with very short valve stems as they may not have enough real estate to firmly hold the hose in place during filling. That, and once used, it’s kind of a lot of material waste. But it’s good insurance for those times when other options aren’t available or practical.
At $17 a pop, it’s not something you’d likely use for everyday flats, but it could just save the day during a race or backcountry outing. To put that price into perspective, you’d otherwise need to use a 2oz bottle of sealant ($3), a large 25g CO2 canister ($9) and have a an inflator head and either tire levers or valve core removal tool handy. So, you’re really only paying a few bucks more for convenience…and about 10 minutes time saved, not to mention the comfort knowing that Caffélatex won’t be negatively affected by the CO2 like some sealants may be.
Available in the U.S. through Cantitoe Road.
