Really amateur pump question

HeidiHeidi

I'm a semi-regular bike (short) commuter, so hope I'm not intruding in a purists' space here.....

I have a footpump which I bought in Lidl or Aldi a year or two ago. Got it because I have a dodgy back and leaning over the bike pumping with a regular pump used to wreck me. It was the business.

Last time I went to use it, the lever you use to clamp the pump tube onto the valve had broken - the bit that holds the pin on one side was broken (don't know how to describe it any better, sorry).

Result is that there's no (or very little) pressure clamping the pump onto the valve.

Just wondering if this can be fixed, or is the pump for the bin now? It cost half nothing, so having to bin it wouldn't surprise me - but the second question would be, where would I find a replacement that wouldn't cost the earth? I don't need things like pressure dials etc - just the ability to pump efficiently and easily.

Thanks in advance!

crosstownk

I got a foot pump in my local bike shop a few months back for €25. It has a pressure gauge. I'm not sure of it's quality but it does the job. The brand is Beto.

moonshadow

In lidl on Thursday I believe.

No Pants

Are you looking for a pump to carry with you or a pump to leave behind?

HeidiHeidi

Thought I'd hit the all-time jackpot of good timing there with Lidl - but although there's cycling stuff on Thursday, I don't see pumps mentioned. Ah well.

Will check my local cycle shop and see what they have to offer (I'm assuming the pump is toast)

HeidiHeidi

No Pants wrote: »

Are you looking for a pump to carry with you or a pump to leave behind?

Leave behind. It's just used occasionally to top up the tyres.

Unknown Soldier

Argos do a foot pump with gauge for about 7 euro.

http://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/1479331/c_1/1%7Ccategory_root%7CGarden%2Band%2BDIY%7C14418702/Trail/searchtext%3EFOOT+PUMP.htm

HeidiHeidi

Unknown Soldier wrote: »

Argos do a foot pump with gauge for about 7 euro.

Do they really??? Cheers!

johnk123

Any motor factors or hardware store will have the pump you are looking for. Can't imagine them being too expensive.

EDIT: You probably won't want to look any further than what unknown soldier has just posted!

Unknown Soldier

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

Do they really??? Cheers!

I bought one at Xmas for my Da so he could blow up a bunny hopper for a grandchild

Added link above...

HeidiHeidi

Unknown Soldier wrote: »

I bought one at Xmas for my Da so he could blow up a bunny hopper for a grandchild

Added link above...

Multifunctional

Ta v. much, sounds like just what I need!

HeidiHeidi

Oh! I've just realised I may have mis-described what I had before.....

It was a stand-up pump with little "feet" that you stood on to hold it, and pumped up and down with both hands. Not a pump that you actually operate with your foot.

Although, as long as it has an attachment for a bike-valve, I think the "actual" footpump may be an even better solution......

Ole Rodrigo

I wouldn't skimp on a track pump and a good one isn't expensive.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/topeak-joe-blow-sport-ii-track-pump/

HeidiHeidi

ror_74 wrote: »

I wouldn't skimp on a track pump and a good one isn't expensive.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/topeak-joe-blow-sport-ii-track-pump/

40 quid (and a bit) :eek:

Don't intend to sound mean, and that's the sort of thing I was talking about - but I was really hoping not to spend quite that much on it! I'm not looking for precision pressure or anything, just something that'll pump up my bog-standard commuter tyres.

Mind you, look where cheap got me last time, I suppose.......:(

No Pants

My local bike shop does one for €25. Will pump presta and schrader valves. I'm assuming the OP has schrader.

HeidiHeidi

No Pants wrote: »

My local bike shop does one for €25. Will pump presta and schraeder valves. I'm assuming the OP has schraeder.

Not the foggiest - they're skinny valves with the little bits that you screw open before attaching the pump? Not the "car valves" as we used to call them.

No Pants

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

Not the foggiest - they're skinny valves with the little bits that you screw open before attaching the pump? Not the "car valves" as we used to call them.

Schrader are car valves. The ones you describe are presta. A foot pump from a motor factors won't work.

TychoCaine

The track pump (not a foot pump, which is an entirely different object) that Lidl sell is trash. They all break in pretty short order one way or another. The Joe Blow one is the other end of the spectrum though. Go to Halfords and you'll pick up a usable one for €25 that'll last forever.

HeidiHeidi

TychoCaine wrote: »

The track pump (not a foot pump, which is an entirely different object) that Lidl sell is trash. They all break in pretty short order one way or another. The Joe Blow one is the other end of the spectrum though. Go to Halfords and you'll pick up a usable one for €25 that'll last forever.

Cheers - that's an acceptably middle-ground price for one that might actually last a while.

Thanks everyone for the advice and knowledge (including my new word for the day - presta valves!)

Keep_Her_Lit

Airwave Strom sounds good for you at €22.49 ...

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/ie/en/airwave-storm-track-pump/rp-prod47804

I bought one of these for the bike shed in my workplace a couple of years ago (so it's used regularly) and it's still as good as new.

10 Carrolls

Have a Joe Blow from Halfords for a few years now. Does everything required, bikes, airbeds, pools, footballs etc. Well recommend it.

Jawgap

Lidl and Aldi - for all the good stuff they do - tend to sell pretty crap pumps.

You need something with a metal barrel, which unfortunately means paying a few quid - but on the plus side no reason to think a well constructed metal track pump won't last for years.....

I have one of these in the back pack when I commute.....



Cost about €45, but it's good enough and portable enough to be used at home or on the road (no gauge though).

I also have the Joe Blow - and it's perfectly serviceable for the last five years or more.

inc21

replaced my broken lidl pump on Friday with Giant one from LBS (€24). Metal body and and gauge. It made huge difference. 120 in to a tyre now is now big ask. Was literally standing on lidl one to reach this pressure. I am not knocking Lidl stuff, some of it is excellent value but to splash out on a pump a bit more.

No Pants

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

Thanks everyone for the advice and knowledge (including my new word for the day - presta valves!)

There are also Woods valves, but I can't recall the last time I saw one.

cdaly_

Last time I saw a Woods valve was in a tyre and tube pack in Lidl about 6 months ago...

Lusk_Doyle

OP, I hope I can piggy back on your thread now that you have got your question answered.

My pump, purchased many moons ago in Halfords, has a twist action to secure it on the valve. The problem with this lately is that it requires two people to operate as one is needed to stop the pump from flying off the valve with the pressure that is going through it as it tends to lean to one side and then continue to keep going the more I pump.

My question: Can you get replacement parts for the end of the pump that would enable me to use a clamp action valve cover as opposed to the twist action, or do I need to buy a new pump?

Ziboo

Lusk_Doyle wrote: »

OP, I hope I can piggy back on your thread now that you have got your question answered.

My pump, purchased many moons ago in Halfords, has a twist action to secure it on the valve. The problem with this lately is that it requires two people to operate as one is needed to stop the pump from flying off the valve with the pressure that is going through it as it tends to lean to one side and then continue to keep going the more I pump.

My question: Can you get replacement parts for the end of the pump that would enable me to use a clamp action valve cover as opposed to the twist action, or do I need to buy a new pump?

You can get replacement hose and ends. Here is one on Chain reaction :http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/us/en/sks-multi-valve-replacement-head/rp-prod65846

Lusk_Doyle

Ziboo wrote: »

You can get replacement hose and ends. Here is one on Chain reaction :http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/us/en/sks-multi-valve-replacement-head/rp-prod65846

Thank you. I clearly have no google-fu!

HeidiHeidi

TychoCaine wrote: »

The track pump (not a foot pump, which is an entirely different object) that Lidl sell is trash. They all break in pretty short order one way or another. The Joe Blow one is the other end of the spectrum though. Go to Halfords and you'll pick up a usable one for €25 that'll last forever.

Picked up the last of those ones in Halford's today. Hopefully it'll last a bit longer than the cheapo one!

Thanks again all for the replies!