spectastic

I'm trying to find a good frame pump that's reliable and will secure onto my frame without extra accessories. it needs to be able to handle some rough terrain, and not bounce out when I hit some pot holes or gravel.

reliable, cheap, versatile. does it exist?

79pmooney

Can your bike accommodate traditional frame fit pumps? Ie a pump peg on the head tube or the like. Zephal has made good, reliable frame fit pumps that will reach higher pressures than you will ever need. They last for years or decades. (I"m still using two of a model they discontinues in the '80s or early '90s.) They will cost you ~$40 in the US. They come with a peg but that peg probably won't wiork on a modern fat tubed frame.

For rough terrain, I'd use a velcro pump strap. (I do on my pure road bikes. Now, I have no issue with using "extra accessories" that make my life better or thwart Murphy).

Ben

TrojanHorse

lezyne road drive is a terrific, small pump.

slightly larger and more usable is the topeak road morph g (it's like a tiny stand up pump, foot peg and all).

Both will strap to the side of your water bottle cage and stay put, it's a question of how large you want it. They both do the job IMO.

canklecat

Topeak Race Rocket HP or HPX. Great little mini-pump for $20-$30. The water bottle cage mount adapter holds securely -- no problems on bombed out pavement, chipseal or gravel.

The retractable hose and threaded chuck make it really easy to pump with a lot of effort without damaging the valve, Presta or Schrader.

But it takes a lot of work to pump high pressure road tires to usable pressure, around 80 psi. I'm not sure I'd even try to get it to 100-120 psi. Not worth injuring my wrist. I think Topeak has introduced a more recent Race Rocket HPX better optimized for skinny high pressure road bike tires. My HP is a 2015 or earlier model.

It's been fine with my hybrids for pumping up to 50-60 psi.

The Lezyne mini-pumps look good too, for a bit more money, around $40.

My Centurion Ironman frame has a brazed on peg for a full length frame pump so I might get an old school Zefal like I had back in the Nineteen-aught-seventies. I'd still prefer the extension hose and I'm not sure about the owner reviews for that Zefal model.

The Topeak Road Morph is probably a more practical frame pump but not the most elegant looking thing.

San Pedro

I like my Lezyne Road Drive (might be super or some moniker), it's rated to 120 psi, but I've only managed in the 90s. Stays on well, small, looks good, and easy to use (not pump).

MRT2

Another vote for Topeak Road Morph G.

chaadster

Call me particular, but a frame pump (more properly a frame-fit pump) is a long pump designed to be held in place by one or more frame members (i.e. it might be held by a peg at one end) whereas a mini-pump is a short pump designed to be clipped onto, or strapped onto a bike.

Because frame pumps needed to be sized to fit on a bike and depended on certain design features which are no longer common, they have become impractical and fairly scarce. Park had an adjustable which addressed one of the fit issues, but I think it's disco'd recently.

Mini-pumps have gotten much better over the years, and you can now get acceptably high pressures for an acceptably vigorous effort. They're light and easily mount to any bike, usually at the bottle cage mounts, but can be held elsewhere with a block and strap, e.g. The Zefal Doodad.

I don't have a frame pump recco; they're outmoded in most every way. I used to use Zefal HpX for many years, so if you want the retro style and can find one, there's that.

Regarding mini-pumps, my feeling is that they need to be big enough to work well, and as light as can be. I also demand hose attachments to protect the valve and tube from damage, but also for the flexibilty to find a comfortable pumping position. My favorite mini-pump is the Lezyne Road Drive in size M, especially the carbon fiber model. I have three Road Drives now, and for up to a 28c tire size, they do well by me. I once had to do a 30c tire on an 18mm bsw rim-- so a fair amount of volume-- and it was a chore, so probably sizing up to L is more appropriate for those bigger tire sizes.

Another killer spec mini-pump is the new Silca Tattico. I've not used it, but I plan to get one based on it's design qualities.

spectastic

I should've mentioned i already have the road morph g. it's a great pump. however i only use it for my cross bike. I don't want to put a mount on my racing bike. Either I would like to have one of those old frame pumps, or one of those small ones that will fit nicely inside my pocket.

right now I'm on the fence between these two
https://www.amazon.com/Zefal-HPX-4-P...ump&th=1&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/Pro-Bike-Tool...2%3A1248957011

leaning towards the smaller one because the large one is a little bulky, and I don't flat very often on my continental gp 4k's. the only problem with the small one is it takes a million strokes to get it up to pressure.

StanPark

I once wanted to get a frame pump but was told that it takes many pumps to properly inflate a tire, and that other riders get annoyed by long delays, and will likely offer me a gas canister to save time, so why not have my own.

Is that true?

MikeWMass

Depends who you ride with.
I use Blackburn and Nashbar frame pumps. I lay the tire on its side with the pump head on a rock or curb so there is no stress on the valve, I can easily pump up to 110 psi. Yes, it takes longer than a CO2 inflater, but I ride alone a lot, and if I happen not to get the head on the valve correctly, I don't end up walking when I use up my two cannisters.

canklecat

Yeah, mini-pumps do take awhile. Takes about 200 pumps to get my hybrid tires up to rideable pressure. Probably at least that much with the road bike tires.

If I rode more often with groups who weren't casual pace, no-drop types, I'd go for CO2 just to avoid wearing out my welcome. Usually when I have mechanical problems I just tell the casual group to go on without me. If it doesn't take long to fix I'll catch up with them. Usually it's just a dropped chain or something similar, not flat tires.

evan326

I got the TopPeak Micro Rocket. It comes with a very sturdy bracket that mounts onto the water bottle cage. Light and functional.

beermode

TopPeak Pocket Rocket that goes behind the bottle cage as well. Yeah, it takes a while...but they are there for emergencies.

IamNed

For what its worth, that Pro Bike pump was on sale or special awhile back and I picked it up off amazon for $3. It's been perfect but all I have done is test it. I carry a small inflater and one canister in case I have a flat, and I have the mini-pump as a back up if I mess up with the inflater or have a repeated flat on the ride.

79pmooney

The Zephal HPX (and the older HP) get a road tire up to full riding pressure in fewer than 100 strokes.

[/QUOTE]If I rode more often with groups who weren't casual pace, no-drop types, I'd go for CO2 just to avoid wearing out my welcome. Usually when I have mechanical problems I just tell the casual group to go on without me. If it doesn't take long to fix I'll catch up with them. Usually it's just a dropped chain or something similar, not flat tires.[/QUOTE]

Yes, frame pumps are slower. But I have gotten more than a few CO2 guys home after they used their last one, sometimes guys who have had to answer "no" when I asked if they were OK. In 45 years I have had very few pump failures. (And most of those were when they fell off and were run over by a following car. Those velcro pump straps have their place.)

I occasionally consider which pile of scrap metal would weigh more; all the CO2 cartridges I would have gone though or all the frame pumps I have bought.

Ben

canklecat

Sounds good, I'll probably get the HPX for the road bike. I've been very satisfied with the HP, even though it's supposedly not optimized for typical hybrid tires. Gets 'em up to 50 psi easily. Takes about 200 strokes but it doesn't get painful. I just get them up to riding pressure and top off later at home.

chaadster

I would highly advise against getting a cheap, off-brand mini-pump. The good ones are quite good, and the lousy ones are far worse.