Mini Pumps
 

So i ran a search to see if there was a review thread on pumps that people carry..but after spending way too much time ( i digressed and read alot of random thing) and not finding anything specific, I'm writing this...

i remember reading somewhere that I should be looking for one with a hose so that I dont damage my wheels... t/f? anything else I should be considering/looking out for when purchasing one?

- I'm not considering a co2
- This is to inflate the tires in case I get a flat on the road.

Thanks

You don't necessarily need a pump with a hose. Having a hose and a small lever to step on while pumping makes things a whole lot easier though. The most popular ones are the road morph or the mountain morph for like $40 a piece.

Personally I find the Hurricane MiniMax mini pump to work just as well and its only $15. Just like the road/mtn morph it converts into a traditional pump w/hose.

I bought a cannondale airspeed maximum for $30:

http://www.probikekit.com/_img_200x256/A0102-A.jpg


It was the only mini-pump my LBS had that came with a hose. Works, nothing really special to write about. I will note however that trying to keep the valve straight while pumping was a huge hassle.

I've got Air Scepter Mini Pumps on my commuter and my road bike. They are $15 @ Performance, light weight, low profile and work fine. Having a pump with a hose may make it less likely to damage the valve but I just hold the head of the pump with one hand and pump with the other so there is no lateral pressure on the valve.

I have a road morph (not the mini one) and I have no trouble with my 120psi wheels, also easy to store on the bike or in a bag.

After busting several valve stems with a straight road pump, I bought one of those road morphs. I can honestly say that it is the best road pump I have ever used. Gets up to 110psi fairly easily, and no more broken valve stems.
Easily stowable in a mess. bag/backback/pannier, and it also comes with two frame mount options. (Bottle cage mount/anywhere frame mount.)

Highly recommended.

I got it for about $30 on amazon..

http://www.amazon.com/Topeak-Road-Mo.../dp/B000FI6YOS

http://www.rei.com/product/648089

Yeah, I intended to buy one of these but due to impending travel couldn't order it online (i never found it at an LBS). Instead, I spent the same amount of money for a pump without a gauge.

I also like the Topeak Road Morph, but have since upgraded that pump with Lezyne's Micro Floor Drive HP, which offeres the same idea in an updated design. I posted a review of it here:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ro+Floor+Drive

Hope this helps in your search.

I have a Topeak Road Morph G (I think) with the pressure gauge. Although it's hard to read while pumping it does work great. I had one of the CO2 mini pumps (can't remember the name), but it just never worked out for me (never seemed to seal right).

Maybe try a lookup on the touring forum. That's where I found out about the Topeak. I figured they would have experience in some of the out of the way places some of them go to.

I love my road morph. I had been using CO2 until I ran out of them after a month of many flats (after a year with none). So I had been out of cartridges for about a week when I got down to REI to get the road morph. Attaches to the bike no problem. Next day sure enough, I got to try it out. I got my tires up to 100psi very easily. I've since used it a couple more times. No more CO2 for me, this works perfectly.

thank you all for the insight... I skimmed the Lezyne's Micro Floor Drive HP article but will read it in full tomorrow before chosing that or the toppeak road morph. On a side note... the lezne's website pic of the pump looks like a rendering and not a actual photo...

btw as you can see I'm new here, even though I have been commuting for 2 years, and I just learned that "trying out" your new chain cleaner a hour before bed time is a REALLY REALLY bad idea....especially in the kitchen. Then washing your hands in the bathroom sink just makes it worse. Well, I had wanted to "learn" to take care of maintience on my own... i guess this is how it starts.

yes, i knew I should have done it in day light, outside, on a saturday afternoon.... but I just got the package and ........ :(

I just got a sks revo mini pump for 5 bucks at a sale. Its got a built in gauge in the handle.

http://www.amazon.com/SKS-Revo-Bicycle-Pump-Aluminum

I saw a road morph there for $11, smacking myself for not grabbing it now.

I ride Schwalbe tires ayways, no flats in about 1000 miles. Also the SKS pump fits great behind the seat stays, you can zip tie it anywhere.

something to consider is that you may never ever use it, meaning consider the weight and room it takes on your frame I have this one:

Blackburn Airstick

http://www.amazon.com/Blackburn-Airs.../dp/B000BNZ0LA

I have used it twice. It pumps the tire to a decent riding pressure but there is no danger of over pumping. It doesn't take up much room and doesn't weight much. I can mount it on my frame or stuff it in my bag. It was recommended by a very good LBS. I wanted something that would easily fit my valve and actually WORK! Because it is small I have to handle it with both hands in the air and can not rest it on the ground, etc. I have strong arms so I have no trouble but a smaller person can use it too I believe.

A pump is not an item I would buy on-line. Go to a few LBS and ask their recommendations. By now there should have been some sales and some feedback to keep their recommendations current.

Let us know what you get and how you like it! :-)

I have and like the road morph. There are two minor complaints though. One is that I don't like the gauge. It's hard to read and seems to jump at 10 psi intervals rather than increasing smoothly. The other nit pic is that it's a hassle to switch for use between schrader and presta valves. I alternated bikes this winter and didn't want to get pumps for both.

Another pump I have is the Crank Bros Power Pump Pro. I don't like it as well but the gauge is better and it can be used for either Schrader or Presta valves without having to change anything. It doesn't have a hose so you have to pump with one hand and place your other hand at the base of the pump to support the valve.

FYI: the Blackburn Airstick valve flips around for both types of valve. It locks on quite nicely but like I said before it's a 2-hander.

this pump!
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/...tegory_ID=4361
$10

it rocks!

probably the best mini pump i've ever had.

it telescopes, has 2 diameter pistons
so it does high pressure
and it provides decent volume

i've used it on everything from 29er mtb tyres to road tyres.

a full frame pump is always the best, if you have the space, etc...

Mini pumps suck. I can manage about 60PSI out of mine, but it's hell. I would recommend looking for a longer pump. A full length frame pump or something like the road morph.

CO2 inflators are nice if you have 100+ PSI tires. Otherwise they're probably overkill. And they're expensive to use: A C02 cartridge is around $3.

I have,and recommend,both the Topeak Mountain Morph and Mini Morph. Much better than pumps you have to hold on the valve,and they will do high volume and high pressure tires.

Road morph for cheapish and very practical.

Lezyne for stunningly pretty, old school and incredibly well made. They have a great model that's brushed aluminum and includes an alloy bracket and has a hose you unscrew. Amazing thing, but it's also a wee bit more expensive. http://www.performancebike.com/shop/...tegory_ID=4361

Saw a guy yesterday with a FLOOR PUMP sticking out of his backpack. I was going to catch up to him and suggest he carry an air compressor in there next time...

After a clumping of flats, I recently got a Topeak Turbo Morph. Higher volume per stroke than the Road Morph and with a more readable gauge, but it weighs nearly as much as my u-lock. I haven't had to use it on the road yet (I didn't have it with me for the one flat I've gotten since I bought it :(), but in my garage I was able to pump a tire up to about 110 psi. With my old mini pump I usually gave up somewhere in the neighborhood of 35 psi (I'm not a patient man).

I have a road morph G. It's a great pump and I have no problems reaching 95 psi with it. Not all mini pumps suck.

ah, I was actually looking into this one... but I notice that online there is multiple variations of this... one with a circular dial gauge and amazon has it listed with a digital gauge... -_-;;

Road Morph

Mini pumps are so worthless considering how hard it is to pump once you get to like half the needed PSI. Good enough to get you home i guess. Get some good tires and you won't need to worry about flats.

Even my 5.2" 100lb wife can use the road morph to get her tires to 120psi. HTFU gurly man. :lol:

FYI, people who say "Get some good tires and you won't need to worry about flats." are usually noobs.