smontanaro 

My only on-the-road source of air is an old Zefal HP. (I think I asked about replacing seals recently.) Today I got a flat, and the lack of air moving ability in that old pump meant the rest of the ride to work was at a more gingerly pace, worried as I was that I'd get a pinch flat.

All I own are vintage steel bikes. I have tried a couple of those mini-pumps and hate them. I will replace the seal in my Zefal, but is there a reasonably effective full size frame pump available which is worth trying? Should I just abandon all hope in pumps and switch to a CO2 inflator? If so, what do people like in that space?

ryansu

zefal continues to make pumps to this day I use a LEZYNE Sport Drive Hp Hand Pump. it does the job. A frame or mini pump will never do the same job a floor pump does but I find the Lezyne delivers plenty of air for my needs. Note I do not run tires at 110 PSI

cdmurphy

Zefal still makes their HPx pumps. Still ugly, still bulletproof.

I've heard them described as cockroaches - they're everywhere, ugly, and hard to kill 😁

I got to use mine a couple of times on yesterday's Velo Retro ride in Pasadena - twice at the start to fill up a punctured spare tubular, and then my spare :-(, and again on the ride for a rear tube failure.

thinktubes 

Fix or get a new Zefal.

smontanaro 

Thanks. I'd forgotten about the newer Zefals. Maybe because they always seemed ugly to me (not a lot of other black on my bikes). I'll start with new rubber internal bits and then branch out if that doesn't solve the issue.

HTupolev

Topeak RaceRocket HP. 80g and tiny, uses a flexible hose so you don't need to brace the chuck carefully while pumping. It takes a lot of strokes to pump the tire, but it has a narrow cylinder that can manage respectable pressures.

CV-6 

I use a mini pump just to get the bead seated then hit it with a CO2 cartridge.

seedsbelize 

I bought a new HPX3 while on tour this spring. I have two dysfunctional HPX4, for one of which there is no hope, but I continue to fiddle with the other one. I have a stash of pump umbrellas incoming, so I will soon be able to mount it on whichever bike I will be riding. IMO, there isn't a better pump out there.

masi61

Topeak Road Morph w/ gauge has a flip down foot pedal to become a mini foot pump. It also has a hose that flips out so there is no risk of rocking the valve back and forth creating a leak there. The bracket that comes in the box does not allow you to mount a water bottle cage on top of it though. You have to contact Topeak for this optional bracket. I have Road Morph pumps on 3 different bikes. I can’t tell you how many times I’v had to be the Good Samaritan on the roadside when somone’s CO2 isn’t cutting it.

davester

Another vote for fixing the Zefal or buying a new one. As I recall they are available in either black or silver, though black is more common. The pump overhaul kits are available cheaply directly from Zefal in France. I've never seen one that couldn't be fixed for less than $10 in parts. I can't count the number of folks on the roadside who I've rescued with either my Zefal HPX or Silca Impero who were having a ridiculously difficult time either pumping up their tire with a worthless minipump or that had been stranded because their CO2 cartridge adapter didn't seal properly and emptied into the atmosphere. With few exceptions (the Road Morph being one) I find the minipumps to be worthless and CO2 cartridges to only be useful if you also stay within cell phone range to call for rescue.

Velo Mule

My favorite has been the Silca Impero. I don't think they make it any more and I don't have any more. I have a Zeus that works great, but again no longer available. And, I have a Zefal. I never really thought they were so great, however, yea, they are like cockroaches. The one that I have was dented.

This is about the only way to ruin one. Being the cheapskate that I am, I was able to get a rod inside the tube and knock the dents out of the body of the pump. It works now. Not only do they still make the same pump, but the parts are still available. That doesn't make it great, but it does help to make it a pump to consider.

I will also say that if I had to spend money on a new pump I would investigate some of the suggestions above as well.

madpogue 

What's to "hate" about the newer generation of carry-with pumps? They WORK a lot better than the old Zefals and Silcas; at least any good quality one with a valve lock does. I've used the Topeak mentioned above, with the short hose and the little foot peg; plenty effective, like many other Topeaks I've used. Reckon I've never bought one new; they're usu. $5-10 on CL, or at the local thrift or the bike co-op.

Big Block

CO2 has been around long enough to be correct

TenGrainBread 

Someone bought the brand a few years ago and now makes an obscenely expensive new version of the Impero. I don't think it has much in common with the old one, but it probably works pretty damn well.

Wildwood 

Did you say COMMUTE? I'd use CO2.

PilotFishBob 

+1 on this methodology, it's what I normally do. Experience has taught me, however, that an old Silca Impero is absolutely capable of overinflating and blowing a tire off a rim. Just takes a whole lot of work to get there.

jamesdak 

Well, I have the newer Zefal pumps and carry them in pretty much all my bikes except for the few without a pump peg. But the past couple of years I also carry a CO2 inflator and a couple of cartridges. They are just too simple to use and I still have the Zefal as a backup just in case. I also always have 2 tubes with me.

79pmooney

Zephal has had the "Classic" for a few years now. An HPX in silver, looking like the old HPs but with the HPX defeat to the handle spring and a framefit handle. Any bikeshop can get it. Best of both worlds.

Ben

79pmooney

I used to lend my old Zephal HPs to folk with Silcas that weren't cutting the mustard. Now it's HPXs (though I do still have a couple of HPs in working condition) to folk with mini-pumps or who used their last canister. For 15 years and my big mileage years, all my tires were tubular and all my pumps were HPs. (Had a car run over an HP. Did the dowel trick and used it until I lost it years later. It had a nice ergonomic swing to the pump stroke.)

Ben

seedsbelize 

And what is the dowel trick? I currently have an hp that has been run over.

canklecat

If you prefer long strong, narrow tube, high pressure pumps, check out the Topeak RaceRocket HPX and Blackburn Core Slim. Not full length frame pumps, but longer than typical mini pumps.

davester

I beg to differ sir. I actually have a Road Morph for my mountain bike, and although it is pretty good "for a mini-pump", it doesn't hold a candle to my Silcas or my Zefal HPXs in terms of time needed to pump up to full pressure. I also weighed the pumps and the Silca with Campagnolo metal head is about the same weight as the Road Morph, despite being much larger. I'm wondering if perhaps you've never used a Silca with a Campy metal head (the other heads are worthless) or perhaps the Zefals or Silcas you've used have worn out pump leathers (easily replaced). I can't imagine that anyone would use a Silca or Zefal in good shape and not think it was vastly faster and more efficient than a mini pump.

The only down side I can think of to the Silca and Zefal is that you need to know the proper arm/body technique in order to use them. That is not necessary with a mini pump with foot pedal and hose.

madpogue 

Together, my wife and I have had four Silca Imperos over the years, all purchased new BITD, three with Campy metal heads. Yes, they're relatively efficient, and yes, over time, I got the right arm action nailed down, along with having the wheel in just the right position. And in their time they were about the best you could get. (And indeed, the stock plastic Silca head isn't worth a plug nickel.) But most modern Topeak pumps with valve locks that I've had are just more reliable, and overall less finicky.

Still doesn't answer why the OP "hates" modern pumps.

63rickert

Skip

If you can come up with the Campy head I've spare Silca pumps. Possibly in size and color that would be useful. Can also direct you to where there are more locally, also free for asking. Don't want to name that LBS in these pages but you know the spot. Silca are all old now. Reliability is good enough, usually, not so reliable as a fresh Zefal.

Only technique to learn is do not let go of handle when chuck is on valve. It can and will kick and go flying. Also works much better if willing to settle for 80 or 90 psi, which is enough for your big tires. The Silca is basically a 1930s pump from when tires were fatter and lower pressure. For 1960s and older the square top pumps are preferred, together with umbrella clip. Those are getting hard to find. The 70s/80s 'frame-fit' pumps are still abundant.

since6

I really like this Lezyne frame pump. It's plastic holder goes under the water bottle bolts and is very securely held by both plastic jaws and velco. As you see you can put your foot on the fold down wire base and use your entire body/weight to pump greatly reducing fatigue in inflating a large low pressure tire or small high pressure tire. It also has a gauge so there is no pinch and guess on proper inflation pressure. It easily clears the crank arms and is quite light. Highly recommended.