Last ride 76 

I'm asking because I need to replace a little pump with a bracket that fit on my water bottle mounts. I am resigned to carrying a seat mounted bag with tube, tire levers etc, or tubular held with a toe strap, but that little pump was a Pita before it died. At home I have a traditional Silca floor pump, (including spare bits) so no worries there.
What do you prefer on the road? CO2? Traditional size frame pump, mini-type(are there good/better ones?) Is there sufficient nitrous oxide in a cartridge to fill a 25 x 700 tire? Is there anything left over?

Eric... pumpless, (but with spare and Schraeder adapter) in NJ.

TenGrainBread 

I have a Zefal frame pump on one bike and for the rest I carry a Topeak RaceRocket HP. I believe it's the smallest pump they make. Incredibly light and it works really well. Goes in my rando, seat bag, or frame bag. Also fits easily in a jersey pocket. I don't like mounting to the frame unless it's a full on frame pump.

John E

Hand pump all the way! I have a full-size frame-mounted pump (mostly Zefal HP-X, one mountain version thereof, one Blackburn) on every bike I ride. CO2 cartridges are wasteful, and what do you do if you need one more than you brought with you? I have bailed out several cyclists with my trusty pump.

Spaghetti Legs 

I have a copy of Lezyne mini pump that works nicely, carry in my jersey pocket. I still tend to carry CO2 but use it less and less. It might be better for group rides if you don’t want people waiting on you. I have had CO2 failures before, specifically, an o ring dries up and fails, blowing gas everywhere but into the tube.

BFisher

I, too, have a Zefal HPX. It's a good pump at a good price, and Zefal customer service is great. I once got replacement seals for an old discontinued pump free of charge from France.

My Park mini pump isn't so good, but better than nothing.

For home inflation I use an air compressor.

Bianchigirll 

If you have a pump peg or there isn't anything on the seattube a Zefal HPX is the way to go. Sturdy, stays in place and fills tires fast.

For CO2 I am oldfashioned and just use a straight adaptor with no valves or gimmicks. Mount them anywhere!

tashi

These are sweet: Pump, inflator, multi tool and CO2 storage, all in one. Apparently the tool is quite useable, I haven't picked mine up yet so can't vouch for it myself.

https://www.oneupcomponents.com/products/edc-pump

RobbieTunes

I'd like to see a CO2 inflator that had a limit, like 110 psi, so you don't blow the tire off the rim and rip that new tube for about 20" while on the side of the road, greasy fingers smearing shabby clothes, then have to deal with the wisecracks of the people who say "wow that was a quick turnaround, but a complete 360 from a flat to a flat."


How I know this is not important.

randyjawa 

I, too, have little respect for those little pumps. I really like my adjustable Park pump. It is my companion on every ride and fits all of my bikes...


I use it in Jamaica - a lot...


And in Canada...

canklecat

Another vote for the Topeak Race Rocket HP. I've had one for more than 3 years and used it a lot on my road bikes and hybrids with fatter tires. Convertible chuck for Presta and Schrader. Best mini-pump I've tried or owned, and an excellent value. The HPX is a little longer for folks who prefer the stroke length of the old Zefal and similar frame pumps.

I also have a Blackburn Core Slim which is a good pump but not quite as ergonomically friendly as the Topeak Race Rocket. And the Blackburn is Presta only.

ryansu

+1 on Lezyne love them have them on two bikes

stardognine

Good thread. 👍 I need to replace an old Zefal Double Shot soon. I think I'll look for that Race Rocket, it sounds cool, at least. 😉

Salamandrine 

I have a Lezyne road drive mini pump and it's pretty good. Looks good. It works fairly well for a mini pump. It's like a mini version of the old Zefal Solibloc pumps. They are rather expensive. I also have an SKS Supershort. I think I like that one better but I haven't used it as much. Pumps up much faster. I doubt the top pressure is as high as the Lezyne, but I haven't tested them against each other.

Since I finally got a CO2 inflator (pro bike tool), I usually reach for that instead if I flat. Some modern things really are better. I do carry a mini pump as back up. As someone that grew up with full size frame pumps, to me mini pumps suck. Takes forever. Sorry to say I'm a sellout and love the quick results of an inflator.

For actually pumping tires a full size frame pump is or at least was the way to go. They pump fast enough to be used in non emergencies. BITD I primarily used a Silca with a campy metal head. Those were light and pumped fast. Could be used as an everyday pump. Mine was stolen around 10 years ago and I never got another one. I also had and still have a Zefal HP I got when I was 12. Rock solid and works even better than a Silca, but it's heavy and slower to pump. Sturdy enough to use for defense. These days modern bikes always have two water bottle cages, and rarely have a pump pip. A full size frame pump is somewhat impractical for those reasons, arguably. More practically they are simply out of fashion and difficult to obtain.

79pmooney

I've been using Zephal HPs and HP-Xs for 45 years. They simply work, very well. For 15 years, the old HPs were my only pumps, one on each bike. One or two still have them. The HP-Xs are a little more ergonomic and the ability to also pump up Schraeder valves can be a big plus. (BITD, we used to make "damsel in distress" adaptors, Schreader valve to Presta pump.)

Ben

ExPatTyke

Frame pumps all the way for me. I've got one fitted to each of my bikes.

They're always there, completely reliable, and can get a tyre to a good pressure far quicker than a mini pump.

speedevil 

OK, Mr. Anderson, we were offering sage advice and constructive criticism. Sometimes you just can't win when you try to help.

Last ride 76 

Sitting on a park bench, eyeing carbon bikes...

Last ride 76 

One question, if it's ziptied to the frame, do you carry extra ziptied? Or unscrew the head and slip the pump out?

speedevil 

With bad intent?

randyjawa 

Good question. Usually, I use a Velcro strip that I got from somewhere but forgot to bring to Jamaica. I do have a roll of PVC tape, that I decided to use after having to remove the tire wraps the first time. And PVC tape is great for other little repairs. The best bet, though, is the removable Velcro strip or even an old pedal strap.

Please keep in mind that I am old an anal. I like to have back-ups even for my back ups. Of course, I did not have any spare spokes with me in Jamaica and spent the last six weeks of my stay riding with one rear spoke missing. You can bet your life that I have already packed a few spare spokes for next year. You might notice that the pump is held in place with the tape.

Ex Pres 

I'm a CO2 cheapskate, and use a Bell (?, IIRC) unit that has a contained cartridge, so it uses non-threaded cartridges. The reason it's cheap? It's made for 16g, but with a little rubber knob I stuck in the bottom I can use 12g cartridges, which are a dime -a-dozen. (well, not quite). It might take more than one cartridge to fill your tire, but at the price of 12g non-threaded, who cares?

EDIT: I looked at Academy, a 50 pack of 12g non-threads are $17

Classtime 

I have multiple HP and HPX that work well. And a Top Peak Master Blaster on one bike. The Master Blaster fits nicely between the rear drop out and the seat lug with the rubber pump head. I have a Lyzene mini Pressure Drive that is a PITA. I have heard great things about the new Silca Impero frame pump.

veloz

I have Zefal & Blackburn frame pumps on a couple vintage bikes and love them. Great pumps if you don’t mind the size and they look great on classic vintage frames. I keep them on those bikes. Easy to find used at swap meets too.

On my gravel racer I’ve carried a small Blackburn 2-stage for years. It takes a couple hundred strokes to get a 35mm ridable and I use it as a backup to CO2. BTW - I don’t care for the "press-down" types of CO2 inflators but seem to always win or be given them. Hard to control.

For the last year on my carbon roadie I’ve been carrying a PDW Ninja and think it’s a winner. It dispenses a CO2 with an easily controlled valve. I’ve also used it as a pump on a 25mm tire to limp home but it took near 400 strokes. While that sounds tedious, it wasn't that bad and it’s better than walking. It’s only 6 inches long so it fits in a seat bag or jersey with ease. I always carry one CO2 and a pump backup. One tube and a patch kit.

stardognine

I didn't get a Race Rocket (yet at least), but I plopped down $15 for a Schwinn Air Sport Pro today, at Wally World. It actually looks pretty decent, with a gauge that goes up to 120 psi, a short hose, and a folding foot rest, that makes it a mini floor pump. 🤔 It's a little heavy for a pump, but if it works right, that's most important for now. Beats the heck out of NO pump, in the middle of nowhere. 😉

Prowler 

And from the dirty chain: Greasy fingers smearing shabby clothes, hey Aqualung.

I too carry the Race Rocket and have used it 6 or 8 times "in harms way" along a trail. Both presta and schrader modes, and I'm well pleased. I particularly like the flexible hose feature. I can screw it onto the valve stem and hold that with one finger hooked around a spoke. Then the pumping does not rock the stem back and forth trying to break off the stem. It seems to me that it fully inflates a tire in a reasonable time. And unlike gas cartridges, I can top off a low tire when needed. Packs small as it is no longer than the folded spare tube, tucked into my tool bag with the tools, arns, zip ties and nitrile gloves.