Bicycle Mechanics - Minipumps and Damaged Stems

A lot of people say they like minipumps that have no flexible hoses. I started commuting with one, but it tended to damage my stems. I switched to a Topeak Mountain Morph and love it. But my question is, with a non-hosed minipump, how do you keep the pumping vibrations from damaging the stem?

edit: Corrected to change "nozzle" to "hose."

My secret is not to flat out. ;)

When I do need to use it, I just try to make sure that I'm pumping with the pump handle and not the body of the pump. It seems obvious, but the natural inclination is to bring your hands together, not to hold the one stationary while pumping with the other.

I have a Topeak Harpoon which I love just because it expands to almost a full frame pump size so you can actually pump up a tire to 120 psi without coming to hate your existance in the process.

The problem with my minipump was that my use of it created a vicious cycle--I'd get a flat. In the course of pumping up the replacement tube, I'd weaken the stem, which would lead to another flat. In the course of pumping up the replacement tube . . . .

I hook my forefinger around the rim to steady the pump against the rim. On a road bike I brace the tire/wheel/pump combination against a tree or a utility pole ti get the last 20psi or so into the tire.

I like my solution better--get a minipump with a nozzle. But I can see where super-weight-conscious roadies would want a smaller, lighter pump.

Edit: Retro Goruch is right. Of course, I meant "hose."

I like my solution better--get a minipump with a nozzle. But I can see where super-weight-conscious roadies would want a smaller, lighter pump.

By "nozzle" I assume that you mean "hose". If so, I'll agree that you have a point. Honestly, the main issue that I have with the Topeak road Morph and Mountain Morph pumps is that I think they are UGLY! I just can't bring myself to carry one.

The Topeak Morph pumps may be ugly but they are reliable and easy to use. The rubber hose, fold out T handle, foot "rest" and high-pressure capabilities make this pump well worth the money. But you're right, they aint all that purty.

You may be right about them not being the prettiest pump in the shop, but I swear BY mine, rather than AT mine, which is what I tended to do with other pumps trying to force that last bit of air in. I'm lucky, I've got a cannondale Silk Tour 800, and there is enough room to actually mount it BEHIND the seat tube, so it doesn't really stick out. I love it, it's the only on-bike pump I actually enjoy (ok tolerate REALLY well) using. I got the one with the inline gauge at the local REI.

Steve W.
Life is Short, Eat Desert First.

I ran two valve flats in two days with a crappy k-mart schwinn bicycle pump. *sigh*

It was a bad commuting week. Any link suggestions for a better pump for me?

-Nicholas M

I hold the wheel upright with the valve up, wrap my fingers around a couple of spokes and the pump head and stem. This means the pump head and stem all shift around together but won't move relative to each other. This is only for on-road use, routine inflation is with a floor pump.
The Morph pumps are great but do absolutely no good after you forget to secure them and they fall off into the dark.

A lot of people say they like minipumps that have no flexible hoses. I started commuting with one, but it tended to damage my stems. I switched to a Topeak Mountain Morph and love it. But my question is, with a non-hosed minipump, how do you keep the pumping vibrations from damaging the stem?

edit: Corrected to change "nozzle" to "hose."

There are a number of ways to avoid damaging the stem. All of them require a certain amount of experience and finesse to use. Before I discovered the morphs, I used to use Zefal HP and Zefal mountain pumps. I seldom damaged a stem after the first 4 or 5 hundred flats:eek:;)

You can hook a thumb over the wheel like been suggested. This works but is very uncomfortable. You can also wrap your hand around the tire and use it as a backstop for the pump head. Leaning the wheel up against a post and pushing the pump head into it works as does using your thigh...but that hurts a whole lot! Simply holding the pump steady with one hand and pumping with other works but often it's like trying to pat your head and rub your stomach at the same time.

Give me a Morph, however. Easier, quicker (slightly) and less painful:rolleyes:

The Mountain Morph pump is definitely nice, but it sadly doesn't have a PSI gauge, and as I'm relatively new to road biking, it's much harder for me to gauge 90-100PSI than it is to gauge 60-80PSI. So... Ehh, it looks great otherwise, and I may end up buying one, because the one I have is crum.

How do they attach to the bicycle?

I love the Topeak Road Morph. It's small, has a hose and pressure gauge, and lets me pump 120 psi into my tires.

I use one of the Performance Bicycle pump mounts (http://www.performancebike.com/shop/Profile.cfm?SKU=5750&item=40-0330&slitrk=search&slisearch=true) that attaches to the frame between the water bottle cage and the cage bosses using the bottle cage mounting bolts, and secure the pump to the clamp with a Velcro strap.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d7/k4drd/Bicycles/InstalledTopeakRoadMorph.jpg

I generally try and pump slowly and keep the pump steady in place.

I have a folder with 12 inch wheels that needs a hose shod pump as well as a recumbent trike and TT bike with disc wheels so I often use a shock pump, or get a hose from a dollar store they sell as inflation kits.

Damaging the stem is a result of applying pressure to the stem. How are you holding your hands? Obviously one is on the pump handle, but where do you position the other? A common technique is to brace the pump with that other hand and pump as if you were pushing your two hands together. This way the pressure is applied to the pump only and not the wheel or stem. The wheel will rock, but no pressure is being applied to the stem.

If you want completely effortless pumping and compactness try using CO2.

The Mountain Morph pump is definitely nice, but it sadly doesn't have a PSI gauge, and as I'm relatively new to road biking, it's much harder for me to gauge 90-100PSI than it is to gauge 60-80PSI. So... Ehh, it looks great otherwise, and I may end up buying one, because the one I have is crum.

How do they attach to the bicycle?

My Mountain Morph has a guage, and it's even accurate to withiin 2 PSI - amazed me!

The only two pumps anyone ever needs to carry on their bike is

1) Topeak road morph w/guage
2) Mini road morph for those in the pocket type rides

You will never need any other inferior pump.