decentdrummer91

Does anyone know how to keep a pocket bike pump from rattling so much? Or know of one that is silent. Or should I just make the switch over to CO2 cartridges. It doesn't really match a sexy stealthy bike, all the annoying rattles.

ClydeTim

I guess if we knew what you meant by rattling. In the jersey pocket? Pretty simple fix.

If it is part of the pump shaft that rattles? I have in the past cut a short sleeve out of an old tube to slip over the offending joint. Worked really well.

Exhibit A: An old pump I carried years ago.

There is a tube sleeve slipped over the section marked with the red line.

Dave Cutter

CO2 inflator is the way to go.

FeltF2Tarmac

I have both, a Lyzen that under my bottle cage and the Co2. I had a ride not long ago that I used both cartridges and then needed the hand pump. But I have gone a long time needing non of it on a ride.

canklecat

If you mean rattling in the jersey pocket, I wrap mine up in the bandanna I always carry. Even with my asthma inhaler in the same pocket it doesn't rattle.

There are some mini pumps that are silent to carry. Notably the Topeak and Lezyne. If anything the Lezyne mini pumps are so tight they need some break-in to be usable. Both have built in hoses and threaded attachments. The Topeak slides in and out of the pump end. The Lezyne minis are housed inside the pump but must be manually threaded onto the pump end for use. Not a big deal.

I carry a Topeak Race Rocket HP and like it well enough I plan to buy the MT version, which is higher volume per pump and a better match to my fatter, lower pressure tires. Thursday I had my first flat on the Univega I've ridden for a couple of months, and first flat in a year with either bike away from home. It took a couple hundred strokes, at moderate effort, to pump the Continental Speed Rides (700x42) to 40 psi, which is about right for the front tire on my rigid fork mountain bike (I need a softer ride for my neck and back). The Race Rocket MT probably would need fewer strokes.

The Topeak doesn't rattle and comes with a typical rubber band strap and plastic bracket that screws into lugs under a water bottle cage, so it doesn't take up any extra space on the frame. The Lezynes I looked at used a Velcro strap -- seems like those would loosen up over time as the hook and loop closures wear and get tangled up with debris. But they can be replaced easily.

ClydeTim

As far as CO2? I gave it up years ago after a couple of failed cartridges. Not operator error but empty cartridges that looked as if they had CO2 but didn't (AKA Duds)

Over the years I have also lent out my pump to several riders who swear by CO2. I have no faith in the carts.

Maxacceleration

There are a surprising amount of members here who dislike CO2. But it is the modern way. Quick & easy & fits in your jersey pocket. Use threaded 16g canisters. Genuine Innovations has a good threaded head. You might waste a co2 learning along the way, but you'll get the hang of it.
Flat prone? Carry two tubes & 3 canisters. (flat prone is usually a result of of poorly mounted tubes and not checking your tire casing)

Now comes along the people who have four flats every ride.

Seizedpost

I prefer a frame pump (specifically a Topeak Road Morph with a hose and a gauge) because I occasionally like adjusting my tire pressure on longer rides due to a change in conditions. This is especially important on tour, when I want to lower pressure for dirt/gravel, increase pressure for pavement, and increase pressure to make up for air loss.

Cougrrcj

I carry a full-sized frame pump on the bikes I ride the most. My AZ bike has a mini pump whose holder is offset mounted to one of the water bottle mounts. No worries. before setting out to ride, all bikes get tires pumped up using a dual-chuck (Presta and Schrader) floor pump. I distrust CO2 to work when needed, and even with the mini pump I can fully inflate a 700x28 tire in less than two minutes.

decentdrummer91

Sorry I forgot to specify. Have it attached to the water cage area, and that's where it rattles. Which makes sense.

decentdrummer91

But does it rattle when you ride with it?

Cougrrcj

Nope. the mini pump snaps into the bracket quite firmly, and has an additional velcro strap to make sure it doesn't fall out. the handle snaps into the pump body.

Dave Cutter

I apologize... because my reply didn't consider touring. A big consideration for my daily rider is light weight. I only carry one spare tube... and I carry NO spare tires.

Admittedly we don't have goathead thorns in my area. But we do have many other road hazards. I consider flat prevention and flat repair/inflation as being almost.... different topics. But if you accept lots of flats (for whatever reason) as normal... a frame pump might be a way to go.

raceboy

Belt and suspenders. I carry both on my road bike because of the higher pressures. CO2 for easy, speedy refill. Pump as a backup if CO2 doesn't work for some reason. On my other bikes with lower psi requirements, I'm fine with the pump. Pump and tubes are always in my backpack so I never leave home without them!

katsup

I prefer frame pumps as I don't want to have to worry about cartridges. They snap in under the bottle cage with one having a Velcro strap and the other a rubber band thing to hold it in place. I haven't notice a rattle from either.

SkyDog75

I go both ways, at least when it comes to inflation...

On my favorite road bike, I carry CO2 because the frame size and geometry make it a little bit challenging to find a good place to mount a pump. I keep a Genuine Innovations Air Chuck Elite in the saddle bag, along with at least two 16g cartridges. Each cartridge will fill a 700c x 23 tire. On longer rides, I'll pack another cartridge or two just in case.

On my other bikes, I keep a Topeak Mini Morph pump. I've used both types of mount Topeak offers -- in place of a bottle cage and beside a cage. With either, so long as I position the pump so its head isn't resting against the frame, it's silent.

ClydeTim

I now have a water bottle mounted mini pump.

IT is held into the clamp type holding fixture with a velcro strap so it does not rattle or move around.

Also has a small black band that works on a similar principle as my sleeve tube but much smaller. Just a small black o ring type strip that keeps the pump from ratting while riding

On my pump, the two parts are pressed and held together by this small black band so it doesn't rattle at the joint.

PaulRivers

If you absolutely insist on keeping it in a jersey pocket, I'd say CO2. I don't like CO2, but a pump that stays in a jersey pocket is often so small it's almost worthless.

My opinion is to just put a nice looking pump on the frame, like the Lezyne Road Drive:
Lezyne - Engineered Design - Products - Hand Pumps - High Pressure - Carbon Road Drive

Jeremy_S

I have this, only had two flats in the last 2 years and both times the co2 failed. Once my fault and once and empty cartridge. Both were long walls home at 5am in roadie shoes and spandex looking like a fruit on the highway. I'll stick with my mini pump. Always works.

https://www.performancebike.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/mProduct4_10551_10052_1030986_-1_catNav

veloz

I have a tiny Blackburn Airstick 2-Stage. Makes no noise in frame clip on my gravel bike. Fits in a jersey pocket when I'm on my road bike and makes enough pressure to get me home. Good pump if you know how to use it but it takes a lot of strokes. Also still have a Blackburn frame pump. No rattles with that one ever but it rarely gets carried unless I'm designated sag support.

DaveQ24

I always carry a CO2 inflator and cartridges because I like the convenience but also a mini pump just in case.

02Giant 

CO2, never an issue, always got me on my way.

Retro Grouch 

How many flats do you get?

If you only get about 1 or 2 flats per year a mini pump might be OK. The only real drawback is they take about a gazillion pumps to bring a tire up to operating pressure. If you get frequent flats, that would be frustrating to me.

If you get frequent flats, you'll probably like CO2 better because it's so much faster and more convenient to use. Make sure that your inner tube is properly seated before re-inflating. There's kind of a learning curve to using it so you might never get comfortable using it only once a year.

bobwysiwyg

Might consider something like this combo. Start with pump to seat tube properly, then CO2 to fully inflate.

https://www.specialized.com/us/en/ac...o2-pump/117300

jorglueke

+1. I've found they usually work and then once in a while they don't. Mechanical pumps have a much lower failure rate.