Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Road Cycling
Reload this Page >

anyone using a real frame pump?

Search
Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

anyone using a real frame pump?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 10-15-10 | 11:43 AM
  #26  
Member
 
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Sundance89
+ 3 or + 4 whatever it is now. I have one too and while it is an excellent pump, I ended up not using it on my commuter bike because of the possibility of theft and just one more thing to schlep in and out wherever I go because of that. I try to have as quick system as I can on and off the bike. On days that I use my Timbuk 2 Messenger Pannier I suppose I could stick it in there, but I already have a couple of CO2's etc. in a small seat bag. And with good puncture resistant tires, that has worked just fine with the "rare" flat.
another +1 for Topeak Road Morph G (with guage)
Cavemann is offline  
Reply
Old 10-15-10 | 12:17 PM
  #27  
Brian Ratliff's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,123
Likes: 4
From: Near Portland, OR

Bikes: Three road bikes. Two track bikes.

Originally Posted by teterider
I've never understood the need for carry one. I mean why carry something all the time that's used maybe every 10,000 miles when a 16g CO2 and air chuck SL head will do the trick fine (keep in mind this isn't the touring or commuting forum).

Now of course, if you live somewhere that has tree thorns all over the roads and frequent flats, then sure. But otherwise flats are so incredibly rare why bother to lug it around. Funny enough though, my frame was designed for and raced by a pro team yet still has a pump peg. A little old school addition by Greg.
CO2 is nice and all but has it's problems.

1) I can't stand the thought of having n+1 flats when n = the number of cartridges I carry. That makes CO2 really only useful on group rides where the aggregate number of CO2 cartridges and statistics means nobody goes without means of inflating a tire.

2) I have some ethical issues with discarding a fairly large chunk of metal every time I have a flat.

3) The only advantage of CO2 over a pump is how it can speed up flat changing. Thus, I only use it on group rides where nobody wants to wait 10 minutes for someone to change a tube.

Finally, flats might be relatively rare, but they are fatal to a ride if you don't have means to repair. A failed repair, or a tube blown off the rim by the CO2 (happens often enough) means another CO2 cartridge wasted. I have certainly had multiple flats on a ride before. And lastly, perhaps you go 10k miles without a flat, but I certainly can't. At heart, I am still a Boy Scout, which is to say "Be Prepared" is something I've taken to heart. Don't play the odds unless you have to.
__________________
Cat 2 Track, Cat 3 Road.
"If you’re new enough [to racing] that you would ask such question, then i would hazard a guess that if you just made up a workout that sounded hard to do, and did it, you’d probably get faster." --the tiniest sprinter
Brian Ratliff is offline  
Reply
Old 10-15-10 | 01:07 PM
  #28  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,313
Likes: 0
From: NYC - where bicycles go to die
I just started carrying a Blackburn CF frame pump on my "nice" bike. It does not look out of place (I can't even see it when I'm riding since it is under the top tube!), doesn't weight much, and I know that I'll always have air. Sure beats having 3 CO2 carts clanking around in my jersey pockets (I went through a period of getting flats with alarming frequency earlier this year). I've only done a practice pump with it and it did a fine job. I think that once I get used to it the frame pump will perform better than a Road Morph, which I also own and have no complaints about. We'll see how many valves I snap off until then.

Last edited by lukasz; 10-15-10 at 01:10 PM.
lukasz is offline  
Reply
Old 10-15-10 | 03:17 PM
  #29  
Senior Member
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 15,410
Likes: 188
From: Tariffville, CT

Bikes: Tsunami road bikes, Dolan DF4 track

Originally Posted by AngryScientist
can these still be purchased new, or does one have to go to NOS or used?
As far as I know, NOS. I have mine but dropped it a few times. Now I lost it, but I never liked the fact that the compression spring compressed when you pumped.
carpediemracing is offline  
Reply
Old 10-15-10 | 07:07 PM
  #30  
Member
 
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
I have a Zefal frame pump I've had since I started riding in the late 80's. I just recently retired it because it didn't fit the frame on my new Trek very well. I still leave it on my old backup bike. It's always gotten me home.
tubapro is offline  
Reply
Old 10-15-10 | 07:10 PM
  #31  
CrimsonKarter21's Avatar
Mitcholo
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,850
Likes: 0
From: Oost Vlaanderen in mind, Cleveland in body

Bikes: 2010 Mitcholo w/ Sram Force/Red

Topeak. At one point, three guys besides me in the house I lived in used the same pump. It just works.
CrimsonKarter21 is offline  
Reply
Old 10-15-10 | 07:14 PM
  #32  
Homebrew01's Avatar
Super Moderator
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 21,987
Likes: 1,169
From: Ffld Cnty Connecticut

Bikes: Old Steelies I made, Old Cannondales

Originally Posted by Brian Ratliff
CO2 is nice and all but has it's problems.


3) The only advantage of CO2 over a pump is how it can speed up flat changing. Thus, I only use it on group rides where nobody wants to wait 10 minutes for someone to change a tube.
I've never timed it, but it seems that most of the time is taken up by tube replacement. The actual inflation, even with a pump, is pretty quick. I've never used a mini pump, so maybe those take forever.
__________________
Bikes: Old steel race bikes, old Cannondale race bikes, less old Cannondale race bike, crappy old mtn bike.

FYI: https://www.bikeforums.net/forum-sugg...ad-please.html
Homebrew01 is offline  
Reply
Old 10-15-10 | 07:25 PM
  #33  
Paul Y.'s Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 912
Likes: 0
From: kennett sq. pa

Bikes: 2008 Lynskey R220 2005 Lemond

I keep mine in the shed.
Paul Y. is offline  
Reply
Old 10-15-10 | 08:59 PM
  #34  
Reynolds's Avatar
Passista
Titanium Club Membership
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 8,260
Likes: 1,229

Bikes: 1998 Pinarello Asolo, 1992 KHS Montańa pro, 1980 Raleigh DL-1, IGH Hybrid, IGH Utility

Another vote for Zefal HPX.
Reynolds is offline  
Reply
Old 10-15-10 | 09:23 PM
  #35  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 475
Likes: 0
From: CA SF Bay Area

Bikes: 2014 CDale EVO, 2007 System Six, 2004 Litespeed Solano, 2002 Burley Duet

I have used a Blackburn frame pump for the last ten years on both my road bikes, held in place with a Velcro strap. I have eaten more than one free meal, when a rider has suffered an "N+1" flat with CO2 cartridges also.
turkey9186 is offline  
Reply
Old 10-15-10 | 09:29 PM
  #36  
mazdaspeed's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,809
Likes: 7
From: WA state
Zefal pumps on both bikes ftw
mazdaspeed is offline  
Reply
Old 10-15-10 | 10:41 PM
  #37  
Brian Ratliff's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,123
Likes: 4
From: Near Portland, OR

Bikes: Three road bikes. Two track bikes.

Originally Posted by Homebrew01
I've never timed it, but it seems that most of the time is taken up by tube replacement. The actual inflation, even with a pump, is pretty quick. I've never used a mini pump, so maybe those take forever.
My experience is, with a pump, time spent with the tube is about equal to the time spent inflating. With CO2, time spend inflating is about 20 seconds and the rest is messing with the tube. With CO2, you can easily change a flat in under 5 minutes and well less if you are in a hurry.
__________________
Cat 2 Track, Cat 3 Road.
"If you’re new enough [to racing] that you would ask such question, then i would hazard a guess that if you just made up a workout that sounded hard to do, and did it, you’d probably get faster." --the tiniest sprinter
Brian Ratliff is offline  
Reply
Old 10-15-10 | 11:47 PM
  #38  
Carbon Unit's Avatar
Live to ride ride to live
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,896
Likes: 1
From: Austin, Texas

Bikes: Calfee Tetra Pro

Originally Posted by Brian Ratliff
CO2 is nice and all but has it's problems.

A failed repair, or a tube blown off the rim by the CO2 (happens often enough) means another CO2 cartridge wasted.
I have repaired probably a half dozen flats with CO2 and have never had a problem with it or wasted a cartridge, maybe it depends to the inflator that you are using. I have an Air Chuck and it has worked pefectly everytime. I carry it, three cartridges and two tubes and that has always been enough for me.
Carbon Unit is offline  
Reply
Old 10-16-10 | 12:36 AM
  #39  
augustgarage's Avatar
Lurker
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
From: North Hollywood
Yet another vote cast for the Zefal HPX - it just works.
augustgarage is offline  
Reply
Old 10-16-10 | 09:02 AM
  #40  
surgeonstone's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,222
Likes: 30
From: South Bend IN

Bikes: 1976 FRESCHI, 2004 Crumpton.

I used to carry co2 but hated them went to a mini frame pump but hated that. went back to a full sized blackburn and like it. it rests under the top tube. the only thing i dislike is rattling on chip and seal roads which are frequent out here. A little duct tape works wonders.
surgeonstone is offline  
Reply
Old 10-16-10 | 09:39 AM
  #41  
Garfield Cat's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 7,125
Likes: 111
From: Huntington Beach, CA

Bikes: Cervelo Prodigy

Topeak Road morph with gauge. As a side note, I helped out a few riders with the co2, even gave my extra tube with the extra long stem to fit his carbon rims.

When you're riding alone, it really doesn't matter how fast you change a puncture. The quick change thing is way over emphasized. With group rides, its a different mentality.
Garfield Cat is offline  
Reply
Old 10-16-10 | 09:45 AM
  #42  
Brian Ratliff's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,123
Likes: 4
From: Near Portland, OR

Bikes: Three road bikes. Two track bikes.

Originally Posted by Carbon Unit
I have repaired probably a half dozen flats with CO2 and have never had a problem with it or wasted a cartridge, maybe it depends to the inflator that you are using. I have an Air Chuck and it has worked pefectly everytime. I carry it, three cartridges and two tubes and that has always been enough for me.
I think it depends on how much of a hurry you are in (if it's wet and raining and you have a half a dozen teammates waiting on you...) and what kind of rims you are using. If you don't have the tire seated and you put the first puff of air into the tube too fast, you can quite easily unseat the tire.

And, FWIW, three cartridges and the Air Chuck has got to weigh about as much as a decent minipump. (I have both, when I am worried about weight, or on one of my carbon bikes, I carry a minipump.)
__________________
Cat 2 Track, Cat 3 Road.
"If you’re new enough [to racing] that you would ask such question, then i would hazard a guess that if you just made up a workout that sounded hard to do, and did it, you’d probably get faster." --the tiniest sprinter
Brian Ratliff is offline  
Reply
Old 10-16-10 | 12:44 PM
  #43  
DScott's Avatar
It's ALL base...
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 6,716
Likes: 1
From: Los Angeles
While there was nothing cooler than a Silca Impero back in the day, I now use Co2 and a mini-pump backup. The main reason is the Road Morph is too big, never really mounted out of the way very well, and the Co2/mini-pump all packages up more nicely.
DScott is offline  
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Banzai
Bicycle Mechanics
5
06-07-16 01:37 AM
MEversbergII
General Cycling Discussion
28
05-11-14 08:41 PM
willawingwong
Touring
59
02-05-14 05:00 PM
mattkime
Road Cycling
14
09-03-12 08:58 AM
KDC1956
Touring
16
04-27-11 07:36 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.