Capecodder

Can someone recommend a good mini pump that fits nicely into a jersey pocket? It will only be used for beginning the process of inflating the tire, to seat the bead properly. Final filling will be with a CO2 system. I'm looking at the Blackburn Air Stick and the Topeak Micro Rocket.

DropDeadFred

the only kind of pump i want in my jersey is a fist pump

rpeterson

Why the Hell would you buy a pump so you can then use a C02? Just get a Topeak mini-morph and call it a day.

Brian Ratliff

If you inflate with CO2 from a flat tube, you run the risk of unseating the bead. Why not just a pump then? CO2 is much faster; much appreciated on a group ride if a flat fixing only task 4 or 5 minutes, vs. 7 to 10 minutes with a pump.

saintsfaninks26

I am a big fan of the Lezyne pumps. I have the one below. Best part is they have an air hose so there is no pressure put on the valve. There is nothing worse than messing up a valve of the good tube that you just replaced the bad tube with.
https://www.lezyne.com/hand-pumps#panel-5

Looigi

Yeah. Lezyne Road Drive or Topeak Race Rocket will fit in your jersey pocket and also completely inflate your tire. It takes me less than 60 seconds to inflate a road tire to ~100 psi with either. And it pumps up my arms too!

Of course I use the little clip that comes with it to mount it under the water bottle cage rather than carry it around in my jersey pocket where it would interfere with my banana, gels, vest, arm warmers and other jersey pocket items as conditions dictate.

datlas 

I will go against the grain and say I am reasonably pleased with my topeak micro rocket. I have the carbon fiber one. You do have to pump like 150 times but it goes quickly. You will probably not get it up to 100+ PSI but you can get it to 80-90 which is enough to get you home.

I save the C02 for when I have club-mates waiting for me, and use the mini pump as a backup or if I am in no hurry.

rpeterson

So then buy an inflator with a flow control or just blow into the tube to get the shape. I just don't see why you need both.

simonaway427

I use the a Crank Brothers pump. It has a high volume setting to fill the tube initially...then flick a switch to high pressure to top it off. Saved by butt last week when I flatted 50km from home.

JTGraphics

Just get something like this a 2nd Wind Road - Carbon Mini it's both CO2 tire inflation along with high pressure hand pump all in one.

datlas 

Have you ever used one of these??

Word on the street is it does neither job particularly well. I have not used one so can't say for sure.

JTGraphics

Yes and works well hand pumps up to 90 psi isn't hard and CO2 works like any other I've used I have used it about 8 times over a few years no issues at all with it, if someone can't use it, it's not the pump!.
Also to use as a hand pump best to take a CO2 cartridge screw it into the opposite side of handle it makes a good handle to hold

GP 

I use my mouth to blow into the tube.

Personally I think mini-pumps are almost worthless. I have a Lyzene that I got from cashing in Performance points. It looks cool but I can't get 100 PSI in a tire. It's OK as a backup for CO2 but I went back to carrying 1 CO2 for group rides with a frame pump.

JTGraphics

This is what I do also to get shape into the tube before anything

Brian Ratliff

Carrying only two or even three cartridges on a ride is a bit thin on the margin, don't you think? Even group rides can turn into solo rides at times. I've had rides where I've had to put my pump on my tire more than twice or three times. Carrying a pump and a single cartridge is a pretty good system. You get the speed of the cartridge (on the first flat at least), and you have the reliability of the pump to back it up. Won't change the total weight of what you are carrying either.

patentcad

The only one that really fits in a jersey pocket and still works is the Topeak Micro Rocket, I've been using those for 5+ years, they work. Mostly I use it as a backup to a C02 cartridge, but in Greece, that's all I had and I used it to get back on the road often enough. Worked great.

etw

FWIW- here is a review

https://allseasonscyclist.com/2012/04...d-carbon-mini/

patentcad

Only the micro rocket really fits in a pocket.

dgasmd

Same here. Went to Italy and to France with it and it worked just fine. It is still the one I put in my pocket in addition to a rolled and pre-glued tubular tire.

Nachoman

Me too. Topeak micro rocket.

con

I have 3 mini pumps, I only reach for my Lezyne when I want a pump along with my CO2 for long rides. Shorter rides, under about 50 miles, I just use my CO2.

zigmin

amen, Bro

hamster

Mini pumps and road bikes don't mix.

I have a mini pump and I've measured that it has a 19 mm piston (21 mm outer diameter). It is easy to calculate that, to pump the tire to 100 psi, I need to apply forces of more than 45 lbs to the handle. It's hard and most cyclists don't have anywhere near the requisite upper body strength. (I'm pretty sure that most cyclists can't even lift a 45 lb object with one hand!) I haven't measured the Topeak pump but, judging by the pictures, it has a comparable or slightly larger piston.

To have a shot at pumping the tire to the recommended pressure, you need an ultra-thin pump, something with, say, a 10 mm piston will do nicely, but the downside is that it will take you something like 500 reps with a pump that size to inflate it.

StanSeven

Another reason to have a mini pump with CO2 is finding the source of the flat. I've had a couple flats caused by tiny slivers of metal. It took alot of inflating the falt tube to find the cause - sliver was still embedded in the tire.

I use a Topeak micro rocket plus CO2

znomit

Yeah mine fell apart too. And the shop knew why I was bringing it back so a common problem.

I use a leyzyne with a hose nowadays.