rider2501

I was looking at getting a pump for my bike. I seems that the most popular floor pumps are the Joe Blow Pro/Sport or the Silca Pista. I was wondering if these are necessary. What's wrong with just using a mini/frame pump and buying a tire pressure gauge? Like these....

https://www.amazon.com/Topeak-Pocket-...+pocket+rocket
https://www.amazon.com/Accutire-MS-40...pressure+gauge

Costs about $24.00 altogether... Should I bother with floor pump?

Thanks

jmccain

For me, a floor pump is nearly essential. I use it every time I ride (so, nearly everyday). I can't imagine not having one.

I have, and don't like, the Joe Blow Pro. The head is fragile and the Topeak's response is to offer to sell you a new one.

RoadTire 

For a mini-pump, get one with a hose so it's less likely to damage your stem. Topeak mini-morph, road-morph g, or lenzine are all popular here. I use only the mini-morph but I have an ulterior motive - it's part of my strength training. It's easy to inflate 1 1/8 in tire until I get to about 80 lbs, then the work starts. Takes about 20 strokes to get every additional 5 lbs pressure. I've gotten my tire to 95 lbs but it's a test of patience.

My boys use the same guage you show and it works fine on Schroeder (sp?) valves, but everytime I try checking pressure on Schroeder's I lose some. I moved to Presta's a month ago and dial guage and will never look back. Soooo much easier all around.

DCB0

Floor pumps are a very good investment. Mini-pumps like the one you linked can (and do) put a bending force on the valve and this can easily result in a damaged tube (no fun if you just ripped the valve stem off your only spare 30 miles from home). Mini pumps are also very difficult to acheive pressures high enough for a tire narrower than ~35 mm wide. And if you have wide mtb tires, it is 100s of strokes to get them up to usable pressure.

THere are other mini-pumps that have a retractable hose and act like a mini floor pump. These, I have heard, are better. But a basic floor pump (made of metal - the plastic ones are the only ones I would suggest are no better than a good minipump) will ensure that pumping is not an ordeal you try to avoid at all costs. Having an easy to use floor pump means you can quickly inflate your tires to the proper pressure often, and that will prevent flats. Also, if you only have one pump and it is your emergency pump, you have to take it off and use it every couple of days, which increases the chance of it getting lost or worn out or damaged. If you keep your emergency pump strapped to your bike or in your cycling bag that you usually carry, then it will always be there when you need it.

THe

tagaproject6

Nothing is wrong with just using the mini frame pump. How many times have you had to pump up your tires? Do this: deflate both your tires and pump it back up with the mini/frame pump. Then evaluate the need for a floor pump, it will be easier to make a determination after the experience.

Aeolis

My mini pump only does about 85psi, not enough for my 23mm tires. I like to be almost 120 so a floor pump is essential to me. Figure out where you want your tires and if the mini can't achieve it then yea you need a floor pump. A decent floor pump can be had for as little as 35 dollars most likely. Don't but the 20 dollar floor pump from target as it will only be about as good as a mini.

treadtread

I use my car's pump. I have a portable car pump that works off the lighter connection. The head screws on to my bike's schrader valve, and pumps it easily up to 100 psi. I lose a little air in the tires when I am unscrewing, because it's not quick release. But that just brings the pressure down to about 90, which is what I actually want it to be. Now if I could figure out a way to convert the car pump to quick release for a bike, I'd be set!

CraigB

Get a floor pump. Your arms will thank you, as will your valve stems.

wahoonc

Mini pump for on the road, floor pump for the shop. Leyzyne is probably the industry gold standard. I use a Topeak Road Morph G mini pump and a Park Tool PFP-4.

Aaron

rebel1916

120 is almost certainly way more pressure than you need. Assuming you are not giant. Try 100 f 105 r. Or even 5psi less than that.

RyleyinSTL

Yes, you need a floor pump.

fietsbob

You pick.. I found places that rented bikes when I toured western Ireland,
rarely had a floor pump, but instead a frame mount size pump..

for maintaining the fleet's tires..

Myself, at home, I have a Silca Track pump for Presta,
and a Medai Thumb lock chuck pump, for Schrader.

rider2501

Based on what you guys said and on the fact that I'll probably ride my bike quite a bit, I'll probably have to buy a floor pump. Thank you all for bringing the various brands to my attention. I'm still leaning toward the Silca Pista. I hadn't heard of the Lezyne, sounds like the Cadillac of bike pumps. Probably a bit more expensive than I'd like to go. Are replacement parts for Lezyne pumps easy to order? Is a Lezyne pump similar to a Silca, where all the parts are replaceable? Thanks.

EDIT:
Here is a semi-cheap one. Is this worth it? I have a Giant Escape 2 Hybrid bike. I think the max PSI for my tires is 60
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lezyne-ABS-H...221#vi-content

Aeolis

My tire calls for a Max of 117 so I max it out. To the OP: when you cAn afford it get both, quality is important as well.

treadtread

Are you sure? 60 psi isn't a lot, and the tires are slimmer. It may be a bit more - check on the tire itself (or in the hybrid section). If you under-inflate it, you may get pinch flats.

CraigB

Just make sure you get pumps with the appropriate style chuck for your valves, or ones that are either reversable or "universal."

rider2501

You're probably right, I've only had the bike for a week or so. Regarding Lezyne pumps, are the parts easy to order? I'd prefer a pump where I don't have to buy a new pump when something breaks.

etw

I agree that the floor pump is essential. I just bought

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/ftb...-hp-floor-pump

at my LBS. I love it so far. It works very well and is very easy to pump up quickly and to high pressure. The gauge is large and easy to read.

wahoonc

If you happen to wear the parts out, yes Leyzyne parts are easy to order. Silca is a decent brand too. I Bought ParK Tool because that was what my LBS uses and had a new one on hand to sell me. Yes the Leyzyne are expensive, but this is one case where you get what you pay for.

Aaron

rebel1916

Yes my dear boy, I assumed you were maxing them out. That is not the way to do it. It actually makes em roll slower, have less traction and it for sure makes em less comfortable.

Here is a chart from a dude Psimet who is a poster here and a well known wheel builder that might get ya started.

Tire Width=20: Pressure(psi) = (0.33 * Rider Weight in lbs) + 63.33
Tire Width=23: Pressure(psi) = (0.33 * Rider Weight in lbs) + 53.33
Tire Width=25: Pressure(psi) = (0.33 * Rider Weight in lbs) + 43.33
Tire Width=28: Pressure(psi) = (0.33 * Rider Weight in lbs) + 33.33

Tire Width=32: Pressure(psi) = (0.17 * Rider Weight in lbs) + 41.67
Tire Width=37: Pressure(psi) = (0.17 * Rider Weight in lbs) + 26.67


Example: You are 150lbs running 28's

Pressure (psi) = (0.33*150) +33.33 = 82.83psi (rear)
Front Pressure = .9*Rear Pressure = .9*82.83psi = 74.55psi front

caloso

This.

rider2501

Okay, I ordered the Lezyne Classic for $60.00 shipped from here. I got it today and it works great so far. The gauge says that the front tire is 20 PSI and the back is 35 PSI. That seemed low to me. My tires are Giant S-X3 700x32c. It says that the max PSI is 65. Should I inflate to the max? I weigh 185 lbs. What PSI should I inflate to using these tires? Using the calculation posted by rebel1916 I should do..

Tire Width=32: Pressure(psi) = (0.17 * Rider Weight in lbs) + 41.67

works out to .... (0.17 * 185 ) + 41.67 = 73.12 PSI.

This is more than the recommended PSI it says on the tire.

Aeolis

Looks like 107 is my magic number, thanks for posting this.

rider2501

The formula looks good, but I'm still not sure that I should inflate my tires beyond 65 PSI.

Doohickie

Yeah, mine work out the same way. I always just fill up to 5 psi less than the max.