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Old 03-12-26 | 10:51 PM
  #14  
Duragrouch
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IMO, the standard for many years was the Zefal HPX frame pump, it was sold in 3 or 4 sizes to fit your frame perfect. What made the HPX great is that the handle was sprung to hold in place in the frame, but with a small turn of the handle, it locked out that spring so you didn't have a spongy handle when pumping, it worked GREAT. Mine went under the top tube, the radiused brackets at the head fit nested perfect in the angle between the top tube and down tube (54cm large tube frame). Some frames have a nub that one or both ends of pumps fit on, some go verticle in front of the seat tube. That pump could do high pressure road race tubes, and still, due to length, had the volume for fatter tires. I think they later came out with a "Mountain Zefal" that pumped higher volume. Zefal heads could be unscrewed and the rubber insert reversed to convert between presta and schrader valves.

These days, my monotube folder frame won't work with a frame pump, though many have bottle cage brackets that still allow a bottle cage, with the pump snapped in place to the side.

My pump these days is a short (micro) pump, a cheap Schwinn branded one that came with a used bike I bought; It fits in my trunk bag, has a built-in gauge, and cleverly rotates to provide a small lever to put my foot on when pumping vertically, allowing both hands to be on pump lever, a big help (plus it has a short hose to allow this). Great little pump, sufficient volume/speed and pressure for non-road-race tires.

I saw what looked like a fantastic pump at a used sport gear store, Crank Brothers Power Pump Pro; All aluminum, dual head, just twist barrel in direction of head you want to use, built in gauge. Looked quality. Had two modes, lower and higher volume, pressure would be inverse. But I tried it in the store, even in high volume, it was *incredibly slow*, it would have taken me steady pumping for at least 15-20 minutes or more to inflate my 20"/406x44 tubes. Just too slow. I later found an online review that said same. They now have newer micro pumps, I would hope better performance.

Test any pump you are interested in. Volume/speed and pressure really matter, especially if you pump it up and it still leaks and you need to redo things.

Last edited by Duragrouch; 03-12-26 at 11:11 PM.
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