Spin Doctor is an accessory and tool brand for bicycles. They specialize in various performance-focused accessories, which make the cycling experience better. From their inflation and air pumps section we got the opportunity to test out the Quick Shot CO2 Inflation System and here is what we thought.
The Spin Doctor Quick Shot 16g CO2 Inflation System is designed for speed, control and portability, to help fill up your tire in a jiffy after a flat. The system comes with a threaded cartridge that delivers a precise and controlled flow of CO2. The inflation system works with both Presta and Schrader valves and is compatible with both threaded and non-threaded cartridges. The inflation system includes a removable base into which the CO2 canister is inserted and screwed on, a nozzle at the head that fixes onto the valve of the tire and a trigger attached to the nozzle to release the gas into the tire. It is a simple, yet an intelligent mechanism that makes it simple, easy and leak-proof to use CO2 canisters even for newbies.
The most useful feature of this tool is that is eliminates direct contact between your skin and the CO2 canister, and this is extremely important as the CO2 canister quickly reaches freezing point during discharge and if held directly, can freeze and stick on to the fingers, making it unpleasant and painful to remove.
The Spin Doctor Quick Shot has an innovative and smart design, with a threaded base into which the cartridge fits, eliminating the need to have a threaded cartridge, an innovative trigger that releases the CO2 gas when pressed and held down, a lock switch that slides into place to prevent the trigger from being accidentally pressed when fixing the nozzle to the valve and a clamp to attach the inflator to your bicycle frame or seat post.
The mechanism is simple, but can become complicated if not executed in the right sequence. First, the base container has to be screwed off, the cartridge has to be inserted into the base container with the head up (it usually comes with the container placed head down so that it’s not accidentally punctured), and the base has to be screwed on till you hear a click and a tiny hiss, which is the indication that the canister has been punctured and the inflator head is now charged with the gas. Next, there is a small slider switch under the nozzle latch that has to be pulled down to lock the trigger so that the gas does not disperse if the trigger is accidentally pressed when fixing the nozzle to the tire valve. Then, the nozzle is to be pressed onto the valve and the latch behind the nozzle is lifted up to lock the nozzle into position just like in a normal air pump. Once all these are done. The lock switch is slides into position and the trigger has to be pressed and held down until all the gas in the canister is fully discharged into the tire, inflating it to a maximum of 120 PSI.
Care should be taken to see that the nozzle is properly locked on to the valve and the CO2 canister is correctly engaged into the nozzle before engaging it, or it might end up as a waste of the gas, and being a one-time use tool, you really cannot afford to lose out on this.
Overall Rating
A well thought-out, well-implemented product, but the only thing that is not very impressive about the product is its build quality. The base container is made of a very brittle and flimsy plastic layer that might easily break if the inflator is accidentally dropped on the floor or the road, rendering the inflator useless if broken. The nozzle and lock switch also sometime don’t engage properly, making some of the CO2 gas go waste. One has to use the tool a couple of times to get the hang of it, but if maintained and used in the right manner, it is a very effective and quick way to get flat tires fixed in a flash.
Prices are subject to change by the brand, without due notice.