This so great. Every time I flat and near-instantly inflate the new tube, I'm like CO2, @#$% yeah! I always carry two cartridges, more if it's gonna be a 50 mile + day.

what works for you is what works.

Me.... I have had too many times where after ages with no flats, i get several at once

so, I carry a pump, a tube or tubular, and patches/or Tufo extreme. I thought about CO2 but that would be just on more thing to add.

Now I will probably have to use all having angered the flat tire gods

Just priced a new Carradice Barley, $130. Crap. That mouse is gonna die.

http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/y...pscjpij90b.jpg

I like having the trigger to do a slow inflate. Sure beats being bent over a wheel trying to get up to 100psi.

Sit down at the top steak house in town and look around. More than half the customers ordered a steak of some kind, another big bunch ordered fish, a few independent souls ordered the pork chop, and someone always orders chicken (god knows why).

It's the same with pumps. Full size direct fit (my preference), mini pump direct fit or with hose, CO2, and some even carry a full size floor pump (they're the ones who order chicken at a steak house). It's all good, whatever your preference, for whatever reason, use what works best for you and be thankful for the freedom to decide.

I chuckle and shake my head when I see someone riding a bike and carrying a floor pump. I'm sure there are good reasons for doing so. I can think of a few, but I still chuckle.

[MENTION=63590]jyl[/MENTION], why not carry both CO2 and a pump? Use the CO2, and if it gives you trouble, use the pump.

Or do the exact opposite (especially with a mini pump). Use the pump to bring the tire to seating/inspection pressure, then when all is good inflate with the CO2. This means no hard pumping to high pressure, and no wasted cartridge on a tire not seated well.

FWIW- pressures add in simple arithmetic, so might you find from experience that a given cartridge will fill a particular tire to 65psi leaving you to pump the last (hardest 35psi to bring it to a hundred. That means you can pump to 35psi (the easiest effort) and the CO2 unit will add the 65psi needed to get to a hundred. Once you know what yo expect from a cartridge, you'll always pump the easy strokes and let the cartridge do the heavy work of topping off.

Very clever!

Okay, what do you guys consider the best mini-pump. Will be carried in a jersey pocket, ideally will work as a CO2 inflator as well.

Even while working in shops I was never interested in CO2.

A decent frame-fit pump works fine, and there is no hesitation to help others out...

I've seen a fair bit of crap bicycle accessories over the years and some good ones.

Lezyne stuff seems really solid and well made and they offer a variety of mini pumps and some that pump and do the CO2. I don't do pumps, but if I did, I'd look at Lezyne.

There's no set answer, it's one of those steak, fish, pork or chicken issues. First of all, consider that like any pump, there's a trade off between high pressure and high volume, so what's right for a mtn biker will be very different than for a roadie. Then some people like the efficiency of direct connect, while others have had bad luck and broken valves and prefer a hose.

Of course if you're riding a gravel grinder or snow bike with 4" tires, you may not want a mini pump at all unless you have LOADS of time to pump a tire.

How much psi do you get. I want something that gets me 90psiwithout making it a weight work out.

Okay, here is an alternative. None of these Silca pumps fit my roadie bike's frame, and anyway my seattube bottle cage gets in the way. Two are short enough to fit alongside the seat stay, but have the handle with a hole that requires a nub/point to mount on. Anyone know where I can get that mounting doohickey, with a clamp that would fit on a seatstay?

http://i800.photobucket.com/albums/y...pshalp59nd.jpg

"I ditched the CO2 many moons ago. The Topeak Mini Morph does the job quite well. "
Heh, the Mini Morph doesn't have an inline pressure gauge. And it doesn't need one. When I have the pump anchored on the ground, and pressing down with all my upper body weight behind it, I'm approaching 90 psi. That's about 200 strokes, more or less. Pumps with long strokes are way faster.

It's much easier to get to a lower "ride carefully to avoid pinch flats" pressure with the Mini Morph. I still like the pump. It's very easy to use, and reliable.

I don't use a stop on top. Instead I set the campy head on my left chainstay, and trap the head under the seatstays at the seat lug. That's worked fine for decades.

Agree with jyl's points. Many times, in a group upon stopping for one of our flats, the flatter asks to borrow my old-school Zefal frame pump as I typically am the only one who still uses these. Reasons: CO2 cartridge/operator fails. CO2 are more expensive. Tiny "jersey" pumps are flat a pain to use.

Can weight seriously be a real issue for a pump? Please! Don't some of us also have the extra weight of food, water, patch kit, Garmin, cell phone, training tires/wheels, extra breakfast sausage in our gut, etc.? Regardless, we're training (or otherwise enjoying a ride - not racing) here aren't we? Heck, if I'm training, sometimes I bring an extra full water bottle just for the weight (one season I even loaded it with lead shot - weighed a ton and I suffered on those hills and I like to think that I got that much stronger - yes I was training for racing and of course I raced as light as can be while racing).

Also, I'm old enough appreciate simplicity (or call it laziness) - my long frame pumps on my bikes stay with the bike. I don't have to load my jersey pocket. I don't have to re-stock my saddle bag with new CO2s. I don't have to stock my garage with them. I don't have to think - I just hop on and go. The pump is always there - it's part of the bike. I buy these old Zefals at swap meets for $5.00 or less in many sizes to fit many of my bikes and future bikes. Also, I have color-matched Silcas with Campy heads for my vintage rides but I digress.

-- Frame Pump Crazy ?

https://sp.yimg.com/xj/th?id=OIP.M52...=0&w=300&h=300
Bontager Air Rush Road. This is what I carried when I was still CO2 nervous. Never had to use the pump part, CO2 always worked, this is now relegated to backup service and I usually just carry CO2 inflator + cartridge. I ditched the water bottle mount bracket and just carried it in a large saddle bag. I don't claim this is the best, other companies make similar gadgets, just what I have experience with -- full disclosure: I work PT in a Trek shop.

Weight weight weight. I understand minimizing weight...in a racing and/or training situation. In this case...leaving a bar; cold; dark; wife pissed that she has to fetch you; etc...why potentially leave yourself hamstrung? Carry a pump and extra tubes.

Dan

I agree with those who say the weight objection is ridiculous. I'm fine with getting the bike as light as possible, but there's no reason to object to the weight of a pump. As [MENTION=155273]andr0id[/MENTION] says, Lezyne makes damned good stuff. I once borrowed a riding partner's Lezyne pump and was duly impressed. It had a hose (which I generally don't like) and a way to brace it against the ground, so it worked similarly to a floor pump. They make other designs, so check them out. It might change your outlook.

I've had the same Blackburn pump for 20 years... use it on my 23 year old classic bike.
But my newer bike (only 13 years old) just doesn't look good with a pump on it - clean lines, internal cables, wireless computer - CO2 in the saddle bag.

I routinely some carrying a full size floor pump in a backpack up Mt. Diablo...:twitchy:

Yeah, my ti bikes with pump nibs on the head tube look good with Zephal HPXs under the top tubes.

Ben

I sympathize with that. Sometimes I carry a mini pump. I disassemble it and carry it in my tool bag. Another advantage beyond looks is that is convenient. I move my tool bag from one bike to the next. It attaches easily to my saddle(s).

I agree.

I stopped obsessing over wight years ago.

My biggest concern over my frame pump was if the color looked good on my bike... :twitchy: