Mini-pump

kerryscoob

Can anybody recommend a good mini pump for the bike?

ashleey

Bbb carbon mini pump or the alloy one. Small enough for your pocket or to frame mount. It's the brand my lbs in kilkenny stocks. Look for fiberroad, alloyroad or compact road on their website. Or lidl are doing a really cheap one at moment

blorg

Topeak Pocket Rocket DX- I have lost mine but will buy a new one. It is very small and light but very efficient. I was actually annoyed having to bring another one around recently.

ednwireland

Lezyne -not cheap but best mini pump ive used the fact that you have the hise adaptor rather than pushing it over the valve - much less chance of valve damage. gets 100psi as well



http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Lezyne_Road_Drive_Mini_Pump/5360040898/

biomed32

i have the pocket rocket like blorg, fantastic pump and hasnt let me down yet

peteg

bbb do a range of mini pumps, got one for 13 euro. fits neatly on the bike or small bag and does the job.

BostonB

do ye bother with a pressure gauge?

Home:Ballyhoura

ednwireland wrote: »

Lezyne -not cheap but best mini pump ive used the fact that you have the hise adaptor rather than pushing it over the valve - much less chance of valve damage. gets 100psi as well



http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Lezyne_Road_Drive_Mini_Pump/5360040898/

Do you have this? Which size do you reckon is the best to go for, Medium or Large? I don't want anything ridiculously big, might fire it in the back pocket if it would fit but wouldn't want to sacrifice functionality for this (presuming the large's bigger size would mean easier pumping and higher pressures). What size did you get? Apparently it is well capable of achieving pressures of 90psi up to 100psi.

How would the Topeak Pocket Rocket DX blorg recommended compare to this? At 222mm long it is very similar in size to the Medium Lezyne at 218mm and both are aluminium and 100g. What pressures do you reckon this can reasonably achieve in reality, like when repairing a puncture on the side of the road? Reviews lead me to believe somewhere in the region of 80-95psi...would I be correct in saying this?

Does the nice screw locking head on the Lezyne and apparently minature benefits pressure wise justfy the €7.74 price difference? Let me know what ye think, cheers! (P.S. I just lost my CO2 and am not replacing it cause they are expensive things to run!)

ednwireland

ive got the medium like i say gets the tyres hard had 90-100 psi out of it.
ive bent too many valves with push fit mini pumps so thats why i went for this
spot it on the bike

The Oggmonster

I've got this one.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=3968

Can't really recommend it yet as I haven't used it. It is only €13.05 though.

If you want a pressure gauge try this one for €25.02

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=7458

Home:Ballyhoura

ednwireland wrote: »

ive got the medium like i say gets the tyres hard had 90-100 psi out of it.
ive bent too many valves with push fit mini pumps so thats why i went for this
spot it on the bike

Any chance you could just take a closer up picture of it so I could see exactly what size it is? Would it fit in a jersey pocket if you had too? How much bigger do you think the large would be (283mm compared to the 216mm medium). Do you think it would be ridiculously big or what? Probably necessary to clamp it to the frame as putting it in the pocket probably wouldn't be an option. Do you know if the benefits of the larger size are really that big...easier to reach higher pressures probably? Thanks again for your help, will probably be ordering one from PBK soon for €29.49 !!! Seems reasonable enough value considering the quality and perforamanece I can't stop hearing about! Haha

lukester

I have a Lezyne as well, the Pressure Drive, in small. Fits in a jersey pocket- it's teeny, and works very well.

It's well built, feels pretty bomb-proof, and is light. Also like the fact that it has a screw on adapter rather than having to hold the pump over the valve.

blorg

Home:Ballyhoura wrote: »

Reviews lead me to believe somewhere in the region of 80-95psi...would I be correct in saying this?

I reckon so, it certainly gets the tyres rideable. I carry CO2 but you need a pump as a backup, have actually been fortunate enough only to have one puncture since getting CO2 around the start of the summer but with that one I fecked it up and didn't have the bead seated properly- so when I inflated the replacement tube popped out, I was lucky it didn't explode. Only had the one cartridge so had to reinflate with the pump. I also carry a presta-schrader adaptor so I can top up at petrol stations, you have to be careful there not to overdo it but it's an easy way of getting back to a decent pressure.

ednwireland

Home:Ballyhoura wrote: »

Any chance you could just take a closer up picture of it so I could see exactly what size it is? Would it fit in a jersey pocket if you had too? How much bigger do you think the large would be (283mm compared to the 216mm medium). Do you think it would be ridiculously big or what? Probably necessary to clamp it to the frame as putting it in the pocket probably wouldn't be an option. Do you know if the benefits of the larger size are really that big...easier to reach higher pressures probably? Thanks again for your help, will probably be ordering one from PBK soon for €29.49 !!! Seems reasonable enough value considering the quality and perforamanece I can't stop hearing about! Haha

there you go

Home:Ballyhoura

blorg wrote: »

I reckon so, it certainly gets the tyres rideable. I carry CO2 but you need a pump as a backup, have actually been fortunate enough only to have one puncture since getting CO2 around the start of the summer but with that one I fecked it up and didn't have the bead seated properly- so when I inflated the replacement tube popped out, I was lucky it didn't explode. Only had the one cartridge so had to reinflate with the pump. I also carry a presta-schrader adaptor so I can top up at petrol stations, you have to be careful there not to overdo it but it's an easy way of getting back to a decent pressure.

OK great! Thanks for that, I might just replace my lost CO2 (threaded type) because I still have one of the cartridges from it and just get the Topeak or Lezyne as a backup as you said - I have this Topeak Master Blaster Rocket Micro CB Road for a while now and find it absolutely shocking...way too small and takes ages to reach 40-50psi. What type of CO2 do you use, the threaded or non-threaded? I like the way with the threaded units like the SKS Airgun you need basically no unit to perform the procedure, just the tiny little nozzle/valve connector (see picture of one at top of this page) which the cartridges screw into. With the other ones like the SKS AirChamp you have to bring around a tiny bit more in that you have to insert them into a compartment in the CO2 unit which makes them just that bit bigger, really a minor inconvenience when you consider the prices for cartridge replacement: the thread less cartridges for the AirChamp are €7.65 for 5 (€1.53 each) while the threaded ones for the AirGun are €7.65 for 2 (€3.83 each) which is quite a difference!

I was just wondering which you prefer to use and if you know of anywhere where you can get cheap cartridge replacements (for both types - so I can make my mind up!). They do them in my lbs but I'm not so sure they would be the cheapest. Cheers

Home:Ballyhoura

ednwireland wrote: »

there you go

Thanks for that, I already said to blorg, I already have this Topeak Master Blaster Rocket Micro CB Road for a while now and find it absolutely shocking...way too small and takes ages to reach 40-50psi. It is miniature at 16cms but the Lezyne doesn't look too bad at 21.6cms and I reckon you could certainly fire it in the back pocket? What do you think? At least it does the job well...thats the main thing I wanted to know! Cheers

blorg

I have heard that that tiny Topeak doesn't work very well all right, the Master Blaster DX is a completely different category. Lezyne one looks good also.

I use the threaded cartridges which IIRC were €12 for 5 in my local bike shop. Maybe €15. Tiny inflator head that goes in my saddlebag. To be honest I puncture so infrequently that the expense is not really an issue.

Dr_Colossus

Would you normall all carry CO2 cartridges when going on spins? Would have thought a decent pump would be sufficient for the hopefully infrequent puncture. What are the advantages to the CO2 cartridges and how do they work, pretty new to this side of things. Is it a case of pumping the tyre to what the pump will allow and then using the CO2 cartridge to get the desired full 100+ psi?

Home:Ballyhoura

blorg wrote: »

I have heard that that tiny Topeak doesn't work very well all right, the Master Blaster DX is a completely different category. Lezyne one looks good also.

I use the threaded cartridges which IIRC were €12 for 5 in my local bike shop. Maybe €15. Tiny inflator head that goes in my saddlebag. To be honest I puncture so infrequently that the expense is not really an issue.

Alright! Thats me sorted so, I also carry that presta-schrader adapter you mentioned...I think everyone should have one - best €2 you could spend, go on guys, just get one!

Home:Ballyhoura

Dr_Colossus wrote: »

Would you normall all carry CO2 cartridges when going on spins? Would have thought a decent pump would be sufficient for the hopefully infrequent puncture. What are the advantages to the CO2 cartridges and how do they work, pretty new to this side of things. Is it a case of pumping the tyre to what the pump will allow and then using the CO2 cartridge to get the desired full 100+ psi?

A 16g cartridge of CO2 will pump standard road 700x23c tyres up to 120psi (from flat - no need to pump up with anything else first) in less than five seconds. That is all the benefits right there. SIMPLE

No, not everyone carrys CO2 in spins. Very few actually in my experiences - the reason being that a decent pump will be sufficient to pump you up to very respectable pressures of around 90psi.

blorg

Dr_Colossus wrote: »

Would you normall all carry CO2 cartridges when going on spins? Would have thought a decent pump would be sufficient for the hopefully infrequent puncture. What are the advantages to the CO2 cartridges and how do they work, pretty new to this side of things. Is it a case of pumping the tyre to what the pump will allow and then using the CO2 cartridge to get the desired full 100+ psi?

No, you just stick the CO2 inflator on the valve and you are at 100+ psi in under two seconds. The advantage is instant tyre inflation to full pressure. Even a decent pump you will be pumping away for a few minutes and may find it difficult to get over 100 PSI.

Dr_Colossus

OK thanks for the explanation Ballyhoura and Blorg, would make sense alright especially if you're in something like Gaelforce or other timed event.
In getting a pump is it practical to consider a dual funciton pump that'll also take the cartridges. Anyone have any experience with the Planet X dual function minipumps?
http://www.planet-x-warehouse.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Pumps_108.html

blorg

I usea seperate inflator, they really are tiny things, easy to keep in a saddlebag.

Lumen

blorg wrote: »

I usea seperate inflator, they really are tiny things, easy to keep in a saddlebag.

But if you use a combined pump with a frame mount then you don't need a saddlebag.

I have the Innovations Second Wind Road Carbon Mini. Works fine. Pump is not much fun, but then it's unlikely I'll ever need to use it.

kerryscoob

Lumen
Do you leave the CO2 bottle with the pump on the frame all the time.

Lumen

kerryscoob wrote: »

Lumen
Do you leave the CO2 bottle with the pump on the frame all the time.

Yes.

[/QUOTE]

kerryscoob

Thanks for advice.

Mind made up I'm going to go with Lumens choice of the Second Wind Road Carbon.
€26.76 delivered with Merlin Cycles.

PS
Has anyone got a Cannondale Synapse Carbon Si 105, if so good or bad.??

blorg

Lumen wrote: »

But if you use a combined pump with a frame mount then you don't need a saddlebag.

It's a difficult one, both frame mount pumps and saddlebags are against the rules... I have so many bikes though that I gave up on frame mount pumps, while the saddlebag is easy to transfer.