Bicycle Mechanics - Feeling deflated - pumps & cleaning

On Sunday I gave my bike a thorough clean:

I must confess I was a bit worried that the proper bike cleaner I'd bought warned that it shouldn't be left on the bike for more than 30 seconds before being hosed off - I think I'll try car shampoo next time - any other suggestions?

For the first time since I bought the bike I decided to top the tire pressure up, I was pretty sure they were well above the minimum but I thought I'd try running them a little harder for the road. So for the first time I tried out the mini-pump I bought with the bike. To say it was useless would be a gross understatement. I'm convinced it let more air out than in, and I've got no confidence that in the event of a flat I could get the tire pressure up to a rideable state. In the end I borrowed my neighbours floor-pump and guage but I feel I need to look at another means of inflation for emergencies.

Any recommendations for a mini-pump that might just get a MTB semi-slick up to a reasonable pressure(from memory (the boss might get suspicious if I pop over and check the bike :)) the min pressure is 35 max is 65 psi.)?I accept that for full inflation I'm going to have to buy (or borrow) a floor pump but a pump that can get to a pressure that's rideable at a reasonable speed and is small enough to chuck in a small pannier or preferably afix to the frame is probably a wise move.

p.s. apologies for mis-spelling tyre ;)

Richard

I've had a lot of success with the Crank Brothers (http://www.crankbrothers.com/) Power Punmp. It's an extra-mini-mini pump that fits comfortably in a jersey pocket. It also has a high pressure/high volume switch, so I can pump at high volume until the pumping gets hard and switch over to high pressure. I find that 110 strokes gets me up to about 80 lbs on my road bike.

Richard,
I have a Topeak Road Morph that is outstanding. It is a midsize pump, shorter than full-size frame pump, longer than a mini. The following features make it very easy to use: handle folds to make a T, fold down foot peg, hose, guage. I can get my 700x25 tires up to 110 psi in about 90 strokes and 120 pounds in about 100-110 strokes without much more difficulty than a floor pump. The built in guage is very handy. The pump comes with a plastic mount that velcros to the top tube (or other tube).
Regards,
Raymond

Are you using Presta valves? If not, strongly consider changing; you will need inner tubes and two appropriately-sized washers. I keep a Cyclo double-action minipump on the mountain bike and full-size Zefal HP-X pumps on the road bikes.

Yes - I think it's just a cheap and nasty pump.

Richard

I'm with Rainman on this one. I've got the Topeak mountain morph, it's the same but without the gauge and thus a little cheaper, but works like a charm.

I third RainmanP and aerobat concerning the Topeak Morph! I also have the road version and it is far and away better than the Trek mini double pump that I struggled with for years.

Richard,

I've been using a Blackburn Airstick, which is an aluminium (aluminum for our USA friends) which gets my tyres up to about 90-95 psi.

I use it in emergencies and recently got the longer version just so that I stroke less (oo err missus!). It pumps on the in and out stroke.

It mounts to a holder attached to the bottle cage.

I liked the look of the Morph but with my cabling running on the underside of the top tube mounting it would have been a pain. On the advice of the LBS chap I went for the Topeak mini-master blaster DX instead. A fair bit smaller so it will take a bit longer, but he said he'd got up to 100 psi without a problem and it mounts under my water bottle cage (spare cage bolts was a nice touch :) ). I'll let people know what it's like in an emergency...(well actually hopefuly I won't :D).

Richard