nekohime

So today was a catastrophic FAIL day...first the ac got a leak and half the main room got flooded, then on the way home, my frame pump fell into the wheel, causing me to almost wipe out (I recovered nicely, thank goodness--no injuries whatsoever), and breaking a nipple. The nipple's being fixed as I type (thank you helen's cycles!), but the rear triangle is hopelessly scratched up, and my frame pump is a goner.

So I might as well upgrade the pump while I'm at it, right? Any suggestions for a replacement pump that'll fit the pump pegs on the brommie? I'd like one with a gauge, preferably. Also, how do I avoid nasty incidents like this one?

bicycleflyer

Were you using a Velcro strap around the frame tube and pump? If not, get one. The peg is not enough to keep it in place... In spite of what the literature says. I dropped my old HPX several times before I finally learned that lesson.

As far as replacements, any of the road frame-fit pumps made by Topeak, Zefal, Blackburn, and now Park tools should work fine for you. The Park model is size adjustable and received a good review in Cycling Plus. I am not aware of any frame fit pumps that have a guage. My favorite frame pump is Topeak's Road Morph, but that will not fit into the pegs... But it does have a guage.

relyt

Topeak makes a few that are quite small. Definitely use velcro to attach it.

Or, go with CO2 inflators instead.

LWaB

I'm happy enough with the standard Brommie pump, my thumb is fairly well educated.

Lewis Butler

I've had the same issue with the pump falling into the wheel and nearly throwing me off, I've got to say I'm still using the pump (with the barrel dents worked out) and I still carry it on the bike in the same way, only making sure I secure it well each time I replace it...

Please let us know if you do find a better replacement though, especially something that can blow the Stelvio's up to a decent pressure (115psi or thereabouts)

bicycleflyer

Topeak morph or CO2 ...

folder fanatic

I am happy to hear that you did not suffer any major injuries on your person (even though your new Brompton apparently did not have the same luck as you). One of the things that I did not miss at the purchase of my own fender/mudguard-less Brompton was a frame pump. I would have liked one, but as I avoid making any repairs on the road (except for extreme emergency ones), I have not missed or even had a use for a frame pump. For pumping up all my tires on three different bikes, I have a large high quality floor pump which I keep at home. I do not need the clutter on the bike along with the extra weight since I do carry the bike from time to time.

My only concern is you have a pot of matching touch-up paint for your scratched up bike? If you do use it right away. If not, that should be on the top of your to-do list for the bike.

nekohime

So my previous post was wrong--helen's didn't have the right nipple size or spoke size (damn you,weird brompton sizing!!), and they didn't have their spoke-cutter at this branch and won't get it in til friday...sigh. I'm riding the brommie *very* little today--only the 2mi from my house to the stop, and I'll bus the rest, and will probably ride the mixte tomorrow.

FF, good point--touch up paint ordered. I don't think the scratches go past the primer, as I didn't see bare metal, but I'm gonna cover those up anyway. They look nasty.

Maybe I don't need a frame pump--after all, i've never had to use a pump on the road, ever, and the marathons are pretty much flat-proof...but you never know, so I'll get one anyway, and I WILL put velcro on this time.

cyclistjohn

Nekohime,

hope your air con' gets fixed ok!

I've found the Brompton to be amazingly stable riding over strange objects, much more so than some other bikes. Mine is the long wheel base one like yours though.

After 3000 miles, some on some very rough tracks, my original Brompton supplied Zefal pump stays on just fine. It's critical that the red sleeve is pushed up hard so that the pump is firmly in place.

I think Brompton would have changed the fitting long ago if it proved unreliable, & I've only read of a couple of people losing their pump.

Not sure what you mean by nipple? My wheels came with inner tubes fitted with Schraeder valves (car type) - are yours the same or do US Bromptons get fitted with Presta valves?

Ah, ok, just seen your later post. So some spokes were broken? LBS should be able to cut down some "standard" ones to fit I'd have thought?

John

nekohime

John, the spoke wasn't broken, but the spoke nipple was, which would've been an easy fix if they had the right nipple size--just toss the broken one out and replace. But they didn't have the right size and the spoke cutter was not available because it is at their other branch until Friday. So bleh.

In any case, I'm riding the brommie over very short distances only (2mi and below) until the LBS can fix it, with no ill effects so far. Smaller wheels are stronger, right? Plus I'm not heavy...*crosses fingers*

cyclistjohn

You'll be fine.

Unusual to break just the nipple. If it's no trouble, can you post a pic' of the affected area of your wheel please?

John

>>ECB<<

I replaced my Zefal with a Quicker Pro pump; it has a gauge, and is much more effective at airing up the tires.

The Quicker Pro won't fit on the triangle, so I'm using a Twofish Pump Block to hold it in the space between the pivot and suspension block. It works perfectly on my '08 M3L. Using it on a "locking" Brompton would probably require flipping the quick-release lever around, though.

ECB

cyclistjohn

Is it this one?

https://www.quickex.com/

Can you actually pump the tyres to 100 + psi with it?

I think I'm becoming a wimp, as it's hard work getting to 100 + even with a "dynamite plunger" pump, so I just use the Zefal to get some air in, then fully inflate it at home, although I would like the facility to pump up the tyre fully whilst touring...........

John

>>ECB<<

The link isn't working for me... but yep, that's the one.

I've not tried getting to super-high PSIs with it, as I'm running my yellow labels at 80.

Quickex's claims of their pump requiring a lower, more-consistent level of effort are definitely true, though. A mini will never beat a floor pump, but the Quicker Pro makes the job of reinflating my tires tolerable and doable (whereas it was neither when I used the Zefal.)

ECB

P.S. No affiliation with Velo-Orange or Quickex on my part.