Road Cycling - mini pump as main pump...???

i bought the Wrench Force mini pump and i could not get more than 60 psi even though i put all my weight into it... so i bought the Topeak Road Morph (gonna try to exchange the Wrench Force for something else i need) and i was able to reach 110 with less effort... now i was wondering if it's ok to use the Topeak as my main pump if i don't mind the effort... basically i want to know the reliability of these things... i don't want to use it as my main pump only to find out that the pump broke from over use 20 miles into a trail with a flat...

Hi Code Monkey,

I have nothing to base this on but a gut instinct, but I'd not use the mini pump as a main tool. Considering the amount of effort required to use them and the emphasis on low weight, I have to believe that the wear rate is much greater than a floor pump.

Paul

Your Topeak Road Morph is basically a scaled down floor pump. I have the Topeak Combo Master Blaster, the precursor to the current Road Morph. I've had it since the mid 90's. It's still going strong, and I use it every time the club has a flat on rides. You might check with your LBS or Topeak to make sure the little rubber seals on the hose end are replaceable, then you could stick with just the Morph. The gauge on my pump is a little off, I'm at 105 on my floor pump when my mini shows 120. Your Road Morph will pump to 160.

and who said cycling was only legpower?

we get upper body workouts too.. :D :D

Anyway, if you don't mind the effort, its ok. And besides, its good practice, just incase you have to pump your tires to 110psi, when you get a flat, on the side of the road..

Mini pumps come in versions for road (hi pressure, low volume) and ATB (low pressure, high volume) reflecting the differences in road and ATB tires. Some work well for both but others do not. An ATB pump has a larger piston cross-section, hence higher volume of air pumped, but that large cross section means the arm force needed is huge above 60-70#. On the other hand if the volume pumped is too low it will take 250-400 strokes to get to 100#. Performance has a little table in its catalog that documents this for different pumps. If it fits on your bike the Zefal HP is the best road pump. QC and longevity of the HP are legendary. The Road Morph is similar in performance but it is unclear how it compares in QC and longevity.
Steve

Floor pumps are easier to use, can achieve higher pressure more quickly, dont put any sideways stress on the valves and are fairly cheap. Get one.

I've been using a small 12 volt air pump for the bikes in the garage instead of a floor pump. Works great, cost $10 on sale and my first lasted about 8 years. The new one I bought for $10 on sale has a pressure gauge on it, pumps the road bike up to 100 psi no problem.