Road Cycling - A Good/Light Frame Pump?

Is there such a thing as a good, LIGHT (mark my words on LIGHT) frame pump that is small and efficient out there???

I have the Blackburn KMP-1 Kamikase (plastic) but the side bottle cage holder just broke, in the meantime I'm using it strapped to my frame via bungee cords, realized also that I need to upgrade since this one is only rated to 90 psi.

Any good suggestions?

Corsaire :(

Topeak Road Morph.

Topeak's not light. Silca Impero. It's a true frame pump, not a mini.

It's the smallest pump I have seen that doesn't need viagra.

The Topeak's a great pump, no doubt. I use one on my tourer. Who makes the little bitty pump that Bianchi and Colnago, among others, put their brands on?

This one. (http://store.bianchiusa.com/cgi-bin/store/H8235.html)

It would take a lot of pumping to air up a tire, but it would be LIGHT.

Another alternative would be a CO2 inflator and a couple of cartridges.

You are right, of course. For me, I would feel absurd pumping and pumping and pumping and....

Me too.

The new Silca Impero pumps are fragile pumps-but they are light. I use a Torelli Aria pump that is even lighter but has aluminum barrel with a brass head instead of all plastic construction so it will last. The ends have some sort of rubber(?) covering the barrel that comes in several colors so you can likely get it to match your bike, and it mounts to the side of a water bottle cage or just put it in your hydration pocket or jersey pocket. It pumps up to 100psi but not without doing a lot of pumping.

i have a blackburn airstick pump. i'm not sure what it's rated to, but it works very well if i get a flat on the road...i.e. i can pump my tires up as much as they need to be so i can finish my ride and go home.

that bianchi pump looks like either a topeak or a blackburn pump.

i got two flats this last weekend and i used my pump and everything was fine (except for the stupid piece of glass that i stupidly forgot to check for, which is why i got two flats). when i came home and filled the tire with my floor pump it said it was up to 90 already, which is only about 25psi less than what i usually have them at. it took me a looong time to get them that full though. i think my arms got more of a workout than my legs did that day. it was a good day though...while i had the wheel off, i did some cone adjusting, some spoke tensioning, a little derailluer adjusting...pretty much everything that i'd noticed along the way prior to flatting got fixed. and yes, i carry cone and spoke wrenches with me every time i ride.

:) :)

that bianchi pump looks like either a topeak or a blackburn pump.


No. It's the Torelli that Froze mentioned.

I think the problem here is that Corsaire wants a pump that is light, small and efficient. Small, light pumps aren't going to be efficient. Efficient pumps will not be light and small. All mini pumps make compromises between efficiency and weight.

As I said, on my tourer I carry the Topeak Morph. It's a great little pump, but it's not light. On my mountain bikes I carry an older version of Topeak's Peak Master Blaster. On my roadster, I carry a CO2 inflator and a couple of cartridges. I can use the Topeak pumps to fully inflate their respective tires without too much effort. A 12 gram CO2 cartridge will inflate a road tire to about 90 psi, which is plenty to get home on.

Has anyone used the Crank Brothers Power Pump? It's tiny. The plastic model weighs 93 grams. The alloy version weighs 173 grams with a gauge. It's still got to take a million strokes to air up a tire, but I'd be curious what people who have used the thing think.

I still think that for a road bike, especially if you like high psi, you need a traditional frame pump. I use a Blackburn, but the Silca and the Torelli are other good options. Any of the mini-pumps will turn your arms into spaghetti before you even hit 100psi, never mind the 120 to 130 that I like to run.

DEMON

Go Co2 cartriges. much faster, higher psi, and light. Its all I carry unless it is a very long ride alone.

Why a frame pump?Pumps are for flats.Either a co2 or a small mini pump or both and stick them in your seat bag for a cleaner look.

No. It's the Torelli that Froze mentioned.

I think the problem here is that Corsaire wants a pump that is light, small and efficient. Small, light pumps aren't going to be efficient. Efficient pumps will not be light and small. All mini pumps make compromises between efficiency and weight.

my mistake. a lot of small pumps look the same. and seconded on the second part.

i think the purpose of a portable hand pump is just to get enough air into the tire to allow you to finish the ride or just get home where you can do the repair more completely. basically just for convenient on the go maintenance. unless, of course if you're doing some huge multi-day multi-day tour.

i'm still trying to find a decent pump that can switch from presta to schraeder without my having to take the nozzle apart and deal with the little plastic piece inside..i'm pretty sure someone out there makes a dual nozzle pump.

i need to repair my balckburn...it's supposed to be one of those ones that pumps on both strokes, but it only works on one. i took it totally apart the day i got it and i don't think i put it back together properly...or maybe it just doesn't work the way they say it should.

my mistake. a lot of small pumps look the same. and seconded on the second part.

i think the purpose of a portable hand pump is just to get enough air into the tire to allow you to finish the ride or just get home where you can do the repair more completely. basically just for convenient on the go maintenance. unless, of course if you're doing some huge multi-day multi-day tour.

i'm still trying to find a decent pump that can switch from presta to schraeder without my having to take the nozzle apart and deal with the little plastic piece inside..i'm pretty sure someone out there makes a dual nozzle pump.

i need to repair my balckburn...it's supposed to be one of those ones that pumps on both strokes, but it only works on one. i took it totally apart the day i got it and i don't think i put it back together properly...or maybe it just doesn't work the way they say it should.
A few double headed mini pumps do both.

yeah...i know they're out there, i guess i just haven't looked hard enough...

The Blackburn Airstick is first rate.

Simple fitting under a bottle cage and weighs
next to nothing. great all round pump.

www.belfastandbeyond.com

Coincidentally Sid Kelly, I had been at Campmor yesterday, and it was the "Blackburn AS-1 Air Stik" which caught my eye for its simplicity, size and weight (not bad for an AL barrel), not to mention the Ti color which matches my bike, bought it! As it turned out, it's this model which got excellent reviews on Bicycling Plus (British mag.) mainly for its reliability and compactness.
Paid US $ 24.99
Corsaire :)

I have the air stik on my Kestrel because I can't fit a full size frame pump on the Kestrel, but I have the blackburn fp-1 on my ritchey. the mini takes alot of work to 90psi, but the fp-1 gets me to 100 psi with a little work.

I've used the crank brothers mini and I know some people really love them, but I've seen one that did not work very well. Barbieri makes a carbon mini that weighs 70grams and they claim can get you to 140psi. (I just can't see stroking a mini pass 90psi.) http://www.coloradocyclist.com/common/products/productdisplay2_v2.cfm?PRRFNBR=29823&CGRFNBR=355&CRPCGNBR=355&CI=1,226,355&TextMode=0

Iv'e used co2, but can't justify the continous cost and trash. btw, blackburn has a lifetime warranty; I lost a the flip handle on my airstik and they replaced it no questions asked...just call the 800 number.

Don't know if any of you subscribe to Road bike Rider.com
but there was an interesting discussion about tyre pressure.
They reckon 96 is round about optimum, which is no problem for
a mini pump, some of you will no doubt disagree.
read it here.. sme good points
http://www.roadbikerider.com/broker.pl?siteid=1&pageid=5&search=pressure#The%20Case%20for%20Lower%20Tire%20Pressure

www.belfastandbeyond.com

I've got a Crank Bros. mini pump and I'd rather walk than have to use that thing again. Sure, the small package might be nice, but pumping for 20min. just to get about 30psi in a mtn. tire is enough. If you have the chance, buy something else.

Sid,
yeah, I read that. Best thing I have seen on the subject. I loved the part where they talk about how overinflated appears to be faster (the roughness giving the perception of increased speed) but can actually be slower (by turnig forward momentum into up and down motion). Brilliant.

I've got a Crank Bros. mini pump and I'd rather walk than have to use that thing again. Sure, the small package might be nice, but pumping for 20min. just to get about 30psi in a mtn. tire is enough. If you have the chance, buy something else.

Thanks for the review. I have been curious about it. For speedy repairs, you can't beat a CO2 inflator. The only problem is, you need to make the repair right before you run out of CO2 cartridges.

Go Co2 cartriges. much faster, higher psi, and light. Its all I carry unless it is a very long ride alone.

Is there any down side to using a CO2 cartrige? Will they inflate to 120 psi?

Is there any down side to using a CO2 cartrige? Will they inflate to 120 psi?

There are downsides. One, a pump will keep pumping as long as there is air. When a CO2 cartridge is empty, it's empty. Use all your cartridges and flat again, you're cooked.

Empty CO2 cartridges create waste.

A single 12 gram (non-threaded) CO2 cartridge will inflate a road tire to about 90 psi, plenty of pressure to get home on. There are 16 oz threaded cartridges available that will get you closer to the 120 psi you want, but they are harder to find and pricier than the 12 oz size.

I use and like my CO2 inflator for emergency roadside use. It's fast and easy.

yea, I like my co2...I used it yesterday, actually.

I got the flat at 2:08, and was riding again at 2:16. who da man? I actually didn't realize I did it that fast, until I looked at my cell-phone logs...I called my mom to tell her I'd be late, and I called her again when I got it fixed because, well, she told me to...

the co2 was like 7 minutes to take off the wheel and one to inflate. with my mini-pump, its like 7 minutes to change the tube, and 20 to inflate it to 85 psi...which sets me up for a nice pinch flat later on.

I really like my Specialized Air Force 2 pump. Only 135 gm. It's rated to 160 psi and gets me to about 90 psi without much trouble. Beyond that takes some pretty intense pumping so after fixing flats I usually just make do with 90 till I get home. Pumps on both in and out strokes so it's pretty fast. Mounts easily under the bottle cage. Nice!

Is there such a thing as a good, LIGHT (mark my words on LIGHT) frame pump that is small and efficient out there???

I have the Blackburn KMP-1 Kamikase (plastic) but the side bottle cage holder just broke, in the meantime I'm using it strapped to my frame via bungee cords, realized also that I need to upgrade since this one is only rated to 90 psi.

Any good suggestions?

Corsaire :(
I use the CO2 cartridges and have never had any problems. There are a number of different companies that offer them. Always bring a cell phone if worse comes to worse.

Gotta disagree with the crank bros. review. I have the alloy and it rules. Its the one which has a clutch for when it gets too hard. Skinny guys gotta go with what works. I've tried the blackburn road morph and it was impossible to get up to 100psi. just my two cents.

Having tried several options, I am sold on C02. I use an Innovatoin inflator - the one that also has an optional pump. The pump lets me get 5 lbs into the tube before putting it back on the rim. The 16 oz threaded cartridges put 120 lbs into the tire and I am back on the road while others are pumpin' away. There's no problem to carrying the cartridges - full or empty - and two fit easily in a small seat bag (if you're racing, one in the jersey is fine).