rodscot

I have been looking to buy a traditional pump for a while now and since someone kindly gave me an Amazon gift voucher for Christmas, I thought it could be used for this purpose. However, since the bike is a Scott CX1 which does not have pump pegs brazed onto the frame, it is not so easy to find the right pump.

So, when I found the Zefal HPX Pump claimed to use a unique system that would fit any frame without the need for straps or secondary fittings, I thought I had found the right pump. However......... I cannot work out how this pump fits to a frame. Has anyone used this pump and can they tell me how the thing fits to a frame that does not have pegs or any other type of fitting. As it comes in 4 sizes, I would really like to know more about how this particular pump fits.

rodscot

Ah, found a good video on this pump. It compresses between the top and down tubes and sits against the seat tube.

shelbyfv

IME, the pump is not secure enough w/o a velcro strap added. I've had mine come loose after hitting a bump. Great pump.

bikemig 

+ 1. If the bike lacks a pump peg, get a velcro strap. It is a great pump.

HillRider

The other common location is to place it vertically inside the seat tube so one end is at the junction of the down tube and seat tube and rests on the bottom bracket shell and the other at the seat tube/top tube junction. This is more secure against bumps knocking it off the bike but prevents using a seat tube mounted water bottle cage. Also, a smaller "compact" frame may not have the room even for the shortest HPX.

A problem with the horizontal installation shown in the video is that any time you pick up the bike by gripping the top tube, you knock the pump out of place. It gets to be a nuisance.

To determine the proper size, measure the length on the frame where you plan to install it and consult the chart Zefal publishes giving the range of length for each size. My HPX Size 3 fits my 55 cm and 57 cm level top tube frames installed vertically against the seat post as I described. It is too short for either using the horizontal installation.

dsbrantjr

I use the Topeak Road Morph G on my bikes. It comes with a mounting bracket which can mount on water bottle bosses and which also has removable zip-tie straps which effect a very secure mounting on top- or down-tubes. There is also available an offset bracket which will allow sharing bottle bosses under/alongside a bottle cage.
The pump has a hose, which avoids (or at least minimizes) the stress on the tire valve which can be imposed by a direct-mount pump and a foot pad which eases pumping. It also has a reasonably accurate pressure gauge, and will simply accommodate both Schrader and Presta valves.

rodscot

Thanks for the replies. I plan on fitting the pump to the seat tube. The horizontal top tube is flared where it meets the head tube, so it would push the pump away from the top tube. I have ordered it now but am disappointed to hear that velcro straps are required. I had hoped to avoid this as I have a couple of old traditional pumps that I could have made use of with straps.

The Topeak actually looks pretty good too.

MikeWMass

If your bike has two seat stays rather than a monostay, you can also mount it along the non-drive side seatstay. Still recommend a Velcro strap, though. The only frame pump I ever carried that did not pop off without a strap was the OLD Zefel that had the little umbrella bracket that the top fit into (there, I've shown my age!).

rodscot

I actually looked on eBay for those wee umbrella clips today and they were charging a small fortune for them. About £10. I decided not to bother.

prathmann

As a counterpoint, my bikes all have Zefal HPx pumps either along the top tube, seat tube, or between the rear QR lever and the seat-stay/seat tube junction. I've never used a velcro strap for the pumps in any of these mounting positions and they've survived a few hundred thousand miles of riding without any problems.

tarwheel 

Zefal makes a universal nylon pump peg that you can attach to a frame. You could mount under the top tube with one of those, but I would still use a Velcro strap.

hujev

Back in the 80s when I rode the 1st model Cannondale (ST500; still have it, great touring bike!) I had the HPX's handle-end (with a little extra melting/sanding as I recall to add contour) resting on the DT/HT junction and the 'eared' end in the ST/TT junction.

Here's a picture of that setup, more or less, that I had handy from my 1990 ride around Lake Superior. This is in Marathon, Ontario, and that's Ludo (~Mortemans or like that, a journalist from Belgique if I recall), lifting my fairly heavily loaded bike (I had a hatchet, a Canon A1 SLR, 1-burner Coleman lantern, etc.). That's his Raleigh in the b/g, he was riding trans-Kanada east to west and I think was going to write an article about it somewhere.

Anybody know Ludo?

Viich

I actually measured and mount mine the other way, on the seat tube. Very solid, no strap required. Fits on both my 88 Bianchi Strada and my Critical Fixed.

dwmckee

I did my first tour on an SR400 back in the 80's as well. I just finally sold it a few years ago with almost all original components except I put a triple Deore crank and 7-speed cassette on it. It was a great bike and after riding it for 25 years it lost just about $100 in value from what I paid for it back then.

rodscot

Well the pump has arrived a couple of weeks back and I have fitted to the seat post. Despite the top tube being a wide one, it seems to sit in place securely. I have ridden the bike with it on and no problems so far. And it is a far better pump than any of the mini ones that I have. Blew the tyres up to 80psi quickly.