SKS Infusion Mini Pump - Any good?

donal7

Hi,

I just need a pump for a bike with Presta valves and will get regular use.

Is thid pump any good?

Only €7 from chain reaction

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=25826

Cheers

blorg

What sort of bike/tyre width; that page says both a max of 115 psi and lower down 86 psi. Generally you can take a third at least off what they claim. This is pretty critical as you will get away with a worse pump (in general) if you don't need high pressures. Indeed you might even be better off with one that focused more on volume than high pressure.

I had a slightly more expensive SKS mini pump myself (SKS Wese) which I bought in France while doing the Alps. It did me OK for around six months but failed during the Tour of Ireland. I replaced with a Topeak Pocket Rocket Master Blaster DX which thus far seems very good indeed (unfortunately I had to use it in my first race after purchase )

stopped_clock

blorg wrote: »

I replaced with a Topeak Pocket Rocket Master Blaster DX which thus far seems very good indeed

Does that get past 100psi as advertised, and does it take long to get there?

blorg

stopped_clock wrote: »

Does that get past 100psi as advertised, and does it take long to get there?

Difficult to tell as I didn't check with the gauge when I got back home, but subjectively it did seem easier to get up to a "hard" pressure. Took a while. To be honest I have since just invested in C02- haven't had to use it yet though.

stopped_clock

blorg wrote: »

Difficult to tell as I didn't check with the gauge when I got back home, but subjectively it did seem easier to get up to a "hard" pressure. Took a while. To be honest I have since just invested in C02- haven't had to use it yet though.

Thanks.

A guy in an LBS told me CO2 couldn't get up to proper pressure, so I'd be interested to hear how you get on. Hope you don't get to test it for a while of course!

blorg

I have used (other people's) CO2 before and it gets up to proper pressure instantly on 700x23 racer tyres. Certainly further than you would get with any mini pump I have ever used and 2 seconds rather than 5-10 minutes. You can of course faff it etc so I would always carry a pump as well as a backup.

stopped_clock

blorg wrote: »

I have used (other people's) CO2 before and it gets up to proper pressure instantly on 700x23 racer tyres. Certainly further than you would get with any mini pump I have ever used and 2 seconds rather than 5-10 minutes. You can of course faff it etc so I would always carry a pump as well as a backup.

Good stuff. Might invest myself too.

Diarmuid

After getting one puncture in 5000km of cycling I've given up on pumps and just carry 2 levers, a tube and CO2 in the jersey pocket.

Jawgap

I've been toying with getting this for a while - any opinions as to whether it would be any good?

blorg

Jawgap wrote: »

I've been toying with getting this for a while - any opinions as to whether it would be any good?

CO2 inflator heads are so ridiculously small I don't entirely see the point of these combo jobs, just go with inflator in the saddle bag and lightweight pump in the jersey pocket. Mind you I have not yet had to use my ridiculously small inflator head so hope I don't find that the ridiculously small ones don't work when I do

Diarmuid

blorg wrote: »

I have exactly the same one. Can't remember where I got it. (where did you get it?) It works fine but you have to really twist the CO2 cannister harder than you would think to pierce the seal.

Lumen

blorg wrote: »

just go with inflator in the saddle bag

Euro FAIL.

Raam

Lumen wrote: »

Euro FAIL.

Agreed. What exactly is a saddle bag anyway? Is it a kind of "man purse"?

blorg

Raam wrote: »

Agreed. What exactly is a saddle bag anyway? Is it a kind of "man purse"?

I sometimes take the saddle bag off when racing I got the CO2 in Joe Daly's.

Jawgap

Raam wrote: »

Agreed. What exactly is a saddle bag anyway? Is it a kind of "man purse"?

Oh dear - I just bought a saddle bag (small one) - to save me carrying a back pack or having gear stuffed in the pockets when I 'm coming into work.

If I'm just out for a spin on an evening or a weekend I just have a pump, spare tube and levers, and some munchies - but on the commute I've to fit in a wallet, phone and keys - I end up looking like this:-



.....only with a bigger hump!

I suppose I could fit a second bottle cage and keep stuff in an empty drinks bottle!!!:)

Lumen

Jawgap wrote: »

I suppose I could fit a second bottle cage and keep stuff in an empty drinks bottle!!!:)

Genius idea - stealth saddlebag. Except I need the extra fluids. I've been considering coke recently after watching some Giro stages.

Perhaps all petrol stations should have mini-coke can dispensers outside.

Or better still employ half-naked flabby-bellied Europeans, trained like dogs to run out along the road holding out the cans to passing cyclists who pass the Euro rules.

That'd fix the unemployment problem.

Jawgap

Lumen wrote: »

Genius idea - stealth saddlebag. Except I need the extra fluids. I've been considering coke recently after watching some Giro stages.

Perhaps all petrol stations should have mini-coke can dispensers outside.

Or better still employ half-naked flabby-bellied Europeans, trained like dogs to run out along the road holding out the cans to passing cyclists who pass the Euro rules.

That'd fix the unemployment problem.

You'll be glad to hear that in Euro terms we (Ireland) is already there. Last week coming through Laytown a couple of half-naked scroats whose DNA is probably more in common with dogs, thought it would a whizz of an idea to douse a passing cyclist (me) with coke (cocoa cola, rather than any other kind).

Their pasty complexions, milky white pigeon chests and general demeanour suggested they did not bring this behaviour with them from the Continent.

Unfortunately they missed my gob and despite trying to wash off what they sprayed me with, the last few Km weren't much fun with sticky legs!