Road Cycling - Which pump to use? Short or long?

I have kind of odd question....

I am considering buying a new portable pump for my road bike.
There are two possibilities I consider:

a short pump - very light which will be mounted under wather bottle cage, or
a long one - which will be placed in the frame - head tube/seat tube

Which one would you recommend
short - lighter, but longer time to pump, bigger wind resistance (I probably won't be able to feel it)
long - heavier, shorter time to pump, lower wind resistance

I saw some pictures on which guys like aitor gonzales or hincape (spelling?) were using a long pump attached to frame

So what is your preferred choice?

I bought the small schwinn pumps at nashbar.com because they were on clearance for $5 less 20%. It turns out they are very light, work well, and have a handy mounting bracket that lets you mount them alongside your water bottle.

I think it also depends on your tires too. I had a pump I used for my commuter/touring bike that I quickly found out was not suitable for my new road bike. It had good volume and pumped the 700c/32 tires of my commuter up quickly but I could not get the pressure in my 700/23 tires up to 120 psi.

On my road bike I now use a small pump with a small diameter barrel that attaches under the water bottle cage.

are those samll pumps capable of pumping your tire up to 100-110psi?

I have a small pump on my bike(w/ 700x23C).. I have never used the pump since, no flats yet...

Originally posted by dexmax
are those samll pumps capable of pumping your tire up to 100-110psi?
Yes

Originally posted by dexmax
are those samll pumps capable of pumping your tire up to 100-110psi?

Yeah they can get the pressure up that high but they do take forever. But it does depend on the pump you have. It needs to have a pretty small diameter to get the high pressures. Unfortunatley that also translates into small volume so it takes a long time.

You got a good point with the diameter of the pump - mine has quite small, is easy to pump but it does take ages.

For my MTB I use SKS Airboy alu - very good pump. I tried it for my road bike - it can pump up to 8 bars which is somewhere close to 110-120 psi
It is also light at 110gr.

It seems like most of you use short pumps - so probably I will, too.

http://www.sks-germany.com/final2001/low-quality/pr_airboy_e.htm

If you wanna see the pump - above there is web address - it is a german product

I have a small pump which I carry most of the time as a get-me-home measure, a long frame pump (Zefal HPX) which I take when touring and a track pump for use at home.

Does nobody here use CO2?

I carry several cartidges, but one is always enough to fill my 26 X 1.25 and it takes about three seconds. As for checking the pressure, I use the highly calibrated five-fingered squeeze method to make sure it's hard enough to get me home. Then at home I pull out the pump with the gauge to tweak it if necessary.

Yeppers. CO2 for me, too.

hey multisport,

I notice you're in Lewisville. Where do you ride around here? I just moved to Dallas not long ago and haven't found many good routes except neighborhoods and White Rock Lake. I rode up to Lake Lewisville, but nearly got killed on the road near Little Elm (I think). Any good country roads around here with less traffic or more shoulder?

Back to the topic...
I was in REI today and their product information cards showed that most of the frame pumps and mini pumps were capable of inflating to 110-120 psi. But it didn't say how many hundreds of strokes that would take.

Get a good frame pump like the Zefal hpX. You can get the tire up to 110-120 psi pretty fast without too much effort. A small pump will be able to get you home--that's why I bought a frame pump. I was fed up with having long rides marred by a puncture early in the ride and not being able to get the pressure up to a satisfactory level for the rest of the ride. I think that if you are serious about riding and fixing flats fast and effectively, you should have a frame pump. Have your LBS set you up with a frame pump under the top tube. BTW, if you get the Zefal hpX, be sure to keep it well oiled.

Rich

CO2 all the way! I don't like to put anything on my frame, especially an ugly pump. Being very small, it fits in my seat bag with all the other necessities

Another vote for the Zefal HPX for a roadie -- the Rolls Royce of tyre pumps. The narrow bore enables high road-bike pressures to be achieved. An MTB tyre, with the need for lower pressure, needs a larger diameter bore that shifts air in volume.

In my experience, the extra diameter in the bore will make the tyre much harder to pump up after about 50psi. When it comes to this point, I have the wheel off and press the end of the tyre pump against a tree, post or something solid to avoid straining fingers, valve and spokes.

R

Chuvak,

Relying on CO2 will see you regretting not having some sort of manual pump. One day. Mark the words of those who have experienced emptying of a cartridge and not having a pump.

The Zefal hpX is definitely the best frame pump out there. A spare tube, a patch kit, and an hpX pump and you'll never have to worry about getting stuck in a remote area. If you're going to take pictures of the bike or are racing, go ahead, take off the seat bag and pump. Trust me, no one's going to notice your frame pump tucked underneath the top tube.

My vote goes to CO2s.......I always carry 2 spare cartridges just in case. Never had a close call where I wish I had a pump.

Originally posted by SteveE
The Zefal hpX is definitely the best frame pump out there. A spare tube, a patch kit, and an hpX pump and you'll never have to worry about getting stuck in a remote area. If you're going to take pictures of the bike or are racing, go ahead, take off the seat bag and pump. Trust me, no one's going to notice your frame pump tucked underneath the top tube.

I have a Zefal Z-flex Frame pump.. This is the one with the flexible "tip". I believe its is for MTB/Comfort bike tires.. Or am I wrong?

I use this on the hybrid. Can I use it on the roadbike as well? I pump the hybrid tires up to 60-70psi. I'm not just sure about it going up to 110psi.

Any info on this pump?

I "used" an Avanir small pump on the Trek and my wifes Schwinn Siera Sport. Getting to 65 lbs was very easy. When I started using my C'dale I got some CO2 and have been very happy with it. I wonder if I can use those CO2's in my whipped cream maker too?

-Wynn

Originally posted by George
Never had a close call where I wish I had a pump.
I've never had more than two flats on a single ride but I've also been able to stop and aid numerous cyclists who did have flats without having to worry that I wouldn't be able to repair my own flat if I had one later down the road. Also, I ride in areas that generally don't have good cell phone coverage so calling for help can be problematical.

I use CO2 for my roadbike. I have the SKS Airgun which is pretty small and mounts alongside my waterbottle cage. The holder can hold two cartridges (one on either side). The disadvantages to it are that it requires threaded cartridges which can be more expensive. I've never had a situation where I've run out of cartridges as I immediately head for a hardware store (gives me a new purpose to ride somewhere too) to replace the one I just used.

http://www.neebu.net/~khuon/cycling/bikes/Aegis/2001-Aro_Svelte/images/PICT0020.JPG
http://www.neebu.net/~khuon/cycling/bikes/Aegis/2001-Aro_Svelte/images/PICT0018.JPG

However, if I'm loaded up for an extended ride and am already carrying a Camelbak or something with a bit more cargo capacity, I'll throw my minipump in just because. I've yet to have to use the minipump on a road ride. I have used it for MTB'ing though but I don't carry CO2 for offroad rides.

For those weight-weenies, it can be argued that CO2 is heavier than air so you're adding additional rotational mass if you refill your tyres with CO2 instead of air at sea-level. :D

I too have been using a Schwinn pump. It takes some effort once you get over 90 psi, but it will do it. It just adds to the workout. Everyone's arms need a little extra now and then anyway. :D The cool thing is the stickers pull right off. Then it looks like all the other, more expensive, pumps.

Originally posted by SteveE
The Zefal hpX is definitely the best frame pump out there.
No way! Topeak Road Master Blaster! :D

Both are good pumps. Used to have a HPX 'til I bent it on a dog's head... the other reason for a long pump.

CO2 for me too. It is lighter, less weight to carry. I went to my LBS looking for a pump. I left with the CO2 setup. Best -

I use a Topeak "Road Morph" It is a short pump. Works loke a floor pump. Fold down foot rest - T handle. I have pumped up to 150 PSI in a road tire. Best pump I have ever used. They also make a "Mountain Morph". On sale at Performance for $29.95.

I use CO2 and love it. I carry one in the pump and 2 extra in the bag.

First of all...get a good track pump. Buy the one your LBS stocks spare parts for. Pump your tires up to recommended pressures before every ride (HARD, in other words), prevention of flats being better than cure.

Buy a pump, on the same basis as the workshop model; quality pays for itself on the roadside and in the long term. Arguments against a frame fit, or in favour of CO2 all seem to be aesthetic (spoiling the line of your bike). Frame fit pumps work better and for longer that little ones of similar quality.

I remember being unimpressed when MTB racers first adopted CO2 for tire inflation, more so when it became a training habit, even more so when this unsustainable practice crossed over to road cycling. If you're too puny to pump up your tires, lay off the bike for a bit and see your doctor....

Here's another vote for CO2 ... I carry 2 - 3 cartridges with me on every ride and have never had a problem with that. This is not however because I am "too puny to pump up my tires" but because I would rather not waste minutes on the side of the road pumping up my tires when I can have it done in seconds. It's quicker, lighter, and easier so why look for something else.

Originally posted by Flaneur

I remember being unimpressed when MTB racers first adopted CO2 for tire inflation, more so when it became a training habit, even more so when this unsustainable practice crossed over to road cycling. If you're too puny to pump up your tires, lay off the bike for a bit and see your doctor....

Spoken like a person who has never used CO2. Heck why waist your energy pumping up a flat? I would rather expend it in the pedal stroke.

Not meaning to be offensive, guys.....I just think CO2 cartridges are an inappropriate use of technology. So all of a sudden using a pump is a waste of time and energy?

Are all those spent canisters reuseable/recycleable, by the way? I've never bought one but I've helped out a few folk who've been sitting surrounded by them, holding a semi-inflated tire.........

Spoken like a person who has never used CO2.

I started out with C02 and then had a very close call on a 60+ mile trip that I just did make it back home from. I switched to a frame pump and wouldn't go back to C02 unless I was a serious racer and seconds counted. After my close call I was carying a bag full of 12g C02 and the pump device. I think I saved weight when I went to the frame pump!:p

I agree with Uciflys comments 100%. CO's can leave you stranded if by some odd chance you did not have enough carts with you; sure you could take 2 but what if you have 3 flats? Unheard of? I have had up to 4 flats on one ride! Plus you have to remember to buy more, stock you saddle bag, and dispose of the empties; though some morons arouund where I live just toss them on the side of the road-smart eh? Unless your racing you don't have the need for the speed of a CO system and you should be strong enough to pump air into a tire if your riding a bike!!!!

So which is better, frame of mini? of course the frame is better from a useability standpoint and and can put more air pressure into the tire with less work than a mini. But since I ride on Specialize Armadillo and haven' had a flat in over 14000 miles I have ditched my main frame pump and now take only the backup mini. I ride in very isolated areas and felt having 2 pumps would be prudent in case one broke-now I just carry the mini. The mini I use is the Torelli Arial which is only 6 inches long and weighs 65 grams and can get it in several colors. I attach this pump on the side of my bottle cage but it's small enough to fit in a saddebag or put in you jersey pocket.