Looking to add a frame pump to my randonneur in the event that I blow through my 2 C02 cartridges. The old school Silcas look pretty classy. Is EBAY my only option for finding one? Are there preferred alternatives? What is the proper way to measure for fit?

Thanks!

Although I have Silcas on a couple of bikes, I favor the Topeak Master Blaster. It works very well, it's light - yet sturdy - and it doesn't look terribly out of place on my vintage bikes. Do you have a pump peg on your bike? Do you plan to place it under the top tube, along the seat tube, or some other configuration?

Haven't tried one yet that I well and truly liked. However, there are some bright spot through the dark clouds: zefal makes a nice pump that screws onto the valve stem with a flexible hose, which saves all kinds of trouble. It's piston rod rusts easily, however. My little merida pump has a nice gauge and a toggle between high volume and high pressure modes, but I can't get it to work over 40 psi with road tires, which just plain blows.

I have a pump peg and plan to place it under top tube.


*I borrowed my Dad's Silca and tried it out on a tire. It does take a bit of work to get the tire inflated but given how infrequently I use it the performance isn't a big deal. I'd like something that looks great.

Silca it is then.

Silcas are my choice, with the Campagnolo metal head. They're obsolete, so ebay might be it. That's where I get them.

Bruce Gordon makes a Titanium replica of Silca Impero Pumps . probably has a hoarde of Pump heads for them too..

I have become rather fond of the silver/black Zefal frame pumps that seem to come with almost every 70's/80's bike I pick up, and the local co-op sells for $5. Nine out of ten of them work fine as is.

Although it's not a traditional frame pump, I love my Topeak Road Morph G.



With the hose, the pressure gauge, and the foot stand, it works like a floor pump but it's not much wider than a regular frame pump. I'd be curious to see how the weight compares to an older silca, my topeak weighs 205g. It comes with a bottle cage mount that can also be mounted anywhere on the frame with the included rubber pads and reusable zip-strips.

I've used traditional frame pumps before and they can be frustrating sometimes, I'd imagine a bit more so if you're a significant distance into a longer brevet, so the improved ease of use might be welcome.

Also, I'm not that familiar with CO2 systems, but if you're already planning on taking a pump as a backup, why not just ditch the CO2 and use the pump all the time?

Edit: just saw your comment about looking for something that looks great, so that's probably a point against this one.

If you absolutely have to have a vintage pump, the Silcas (especially with the Campy head) are beautiful, classy, and somewhat fragile. If I was looking for a frame pump that would work when I needed it to for a rando event, I'd go with a Zefal HPX Classic. Nice polished aluminum body and only $30 or so. Search qbike.com.

I love the old Zefals. I have three functioning Hps plus a couple for spare parts. They seem to last forever if you don't abuse them.

What he said.

If I had a Silca that matched my Masi I might carry it. But being able to put sufficient air in a tire is no insignificant thing.

Great looking pump! Wish it wasn't $300 . . . o.O

I have several zefal HP pumps from the eighties, including one that was custom painted to match my tandem when it was built. I also have the topeak master blaster, a "modern" zefal, and a variety of mini pumps. The old zefal HP is my favorite. I won't say it is the best, but it is very good and I know how it works. The to peak one is also good, maybe better, but sometimes it confuses me. And I don't like to be confused.

I sold most of my Silcas, except for the painted to match Silca pumps on my Chris Kvales.

After I tried the Lezyne Micro Floor Drive HPG I won't go back.

This is small enough to be carried in a handlebar bag or in my tool roll on the saddle.

Will pump high pressure much more quickly and efficiently.

The HPG model has a built in gauge.



First line of defense is a good co2 system though, such as the Lezyne with the flex hose.

I always have that in my tool roll with sufficient large capacity cartridges for high volume mtb tires, such as the Maxxis 29er tires I am using.

Thanks for the tip!
https://www.bgcycles.com/frame-pump.html

An old Zefal HP makes the rounds on the Schrader-valved bikes. The prestas share an adjustable Park frame pump. Not C&V, but fits everything in the fleet.

Top

Blackburn, my choice when not trying to use a pump as period decoration.

Just came across this thread. I just got a Master blaster today. It seems to fit quite snugly along top tube (I have a pump peg) and I would like to give it a go without using the velcro security strap. but I have a question. The indent in the handle is quite shallow so doesn't seat fully onto the peg. Seems if I cut it out a bit, I would create more of a hole that would allow the pump to seat more fully onto the peg. Is this a bad idea?

I'm uncertain what you're wanting to cut out but I'll tell you that my MasterBlaster works great on the pump peg without the Velcro at all - no movement whatsoever.

The indent in the handle isn't very deep. a deeper indent would allow the pump th seat more fully on the peg. I'm gonna give it a go as is because, as you said, it seems pretty secure.

+1. There is a hole for a peg in the head end. The other end just needs an acute angle to snuggle into. But why ditch the Velcro? That's one of the best inventions ever for securing a pump.

I use the Topeak Master Blaster on my seat tube. I highly recommend it. It nestles securely in the acute angles of the frame top and bottom. Its very solid, I do not use the velcro strap and its not needed in my situation.

1982 Nishiki Cresta

I carry a Silica with Campy head on the daily bike. It is the grungiest one I own, poorly spray painted silver and scratched up. So far, no-one has stolen it. It works fine for roadside flat repair.