Are frame pumps any good?

I picked up a pretty decent Wrench Force pump at my LBS for about $23
or so. It works great. It's a floor pump, though, so you can't take
it with you...at least not comfortably.

As for frame pumps, I had one a while back that worked fine. Don't
remember the brand name, but I do remember that it was cheap - about
$15 or so. They make ones that have built-in gauges, which seems like
a handy feature.

Check out bikenashbar.com for some ideas. Or just ride down to your
LBS and talk to them.

-Bill H.

Why not just go to a reputable LBS, take their advise, and buy one.
This is not a big deal and there are plenty of good frame pumps that
will get you up over 100 psi.
Or you can go with CO2 inflators which are much faster and easier to
use. The new ones even allow you to keep a cartridge seated in the
inflator so that you are not wasting partial cartridges.
Lots of options - many of them pretty good.

"gds" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Why not just go to a reputable LBS, take their advise, and buy one.
This is not a big deal and there are plenty of good frame pumps that
will get you up over 100 psi.
Or you can go with CO2 inflators which are much faster and easier to
use. The new ones even allow you to keep a cartridge seated in the
inflator so that you are not wasting partial cartridges.
Lots of options - many of them pretty good.

Everyone talks as though there are LOTS of LBS all over the place! I live in
an area and there is ONE within a 50 mile radius. And I do go there
sometimes, however I find some of the guys there to be less than helpful.

Ken Marcet <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I am in need of a pump, but I remember the ones I had as a teenager, and
they seemed to wear out pretty quickly, but that could have been because
they were low quality pumps. I have been using a plug into your cars

lighter

Quoted message said:

electric deal, and it has trouble getting up to 50 PSI and as you know

most

Quoted message said:

road tires are rated for 65 PSI seems like I have seen a bunch of names
while browsing some of the bike parts sites, throw me some good names.

Zefal HPX. And you might check your PSI numbers.

So, go to one of the reputable on line retailers (there are several).
Call the 800 number and talk to someone. I generally find the folks to
be helpfull. Buying a pump or a CO2 inflator is not a big deal. There
are lots of good options out there and lots of good places to buy them.

I'm not trying to be flip but a top of the line CO2 inflator is under
$20 and there are good pumps avqilble for just a bit more so this is
not a big decision.

How many road tires will a standard CO2 cartridge fill?

"gds" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

So, go to one of the reputable on line retailers (there are several).
Call the 800 number and talk to someone. I generally find the folks to
be helpfull. Buying a pump or a CO2 inflator is not a big deal. There
are lots of good options out there and lots of good places to buy them.

I'm not trying to be flip but a top of the line CO2 inflator is under
$20 and there are good pumps avqilble for just a bit more so this is
not a big decision.

Ken Marcet said:

I am in need of a pump,

I'd get a good floor pump and something small for if you have a flat on
the road--a mini pump, co2 inflator, etc.

Plenty of good floor pumps around, I got a Joe Blow on sale for fifteen
bucks and it's great. It's nice to have a huge gauge and be able to
inflate a flat tube in under ten strokes.

For a true frame pump, nothing beats a Zefal Hpx.

There are several "standards'" If I remember correctly the most common
are 12g and 16 g. I use the larger-whatever it is. I inflate to
~110-115 psi and it takes less than one cartridge. I find the
convenience fantastic as it literally takes one second to inflate the
tire.
And while I don't wear suspenders and a belt I do carry a hp frame pump
on long solo rides just in case.

On Wed, 16 Mar 2005 16:08:16 -0500, "Ken Marcet" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

"gds" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Why not just go to a reputable LBS, take their advise, and buy one.
This is not a big deal and there are plenty of good frame pumps that
will get you up over 100 psi.
Or you can go with CO2 inflators which are much faster and easier to
use. The new ones even allow you to keep a cartridge seated in the
inflator so that you are not wasting partial cartridges.
Lots of options - many of them pretty good.

Everyone talks as though there are LOTS of LBS all over the place! I live in
an area and there is ONE within a 50 mile radius. And I do go there
sometimes, however I find some of the guys there to be less than helpful.

Though it seems like you are being pressed off onto the LBS, people here
mean well - the theme is to get experience, try things out for yourself,
and establish a good relationship with your LBS. I can empathize on finding
the LBS guys less than helpful - mine were the same until I changed to a
different shop. If you purchase at the LBS then if there are problems you
can return defective merchandise, perhaps even get instruction on use.

Today's pumps are much better than those that typically came with the bike
back in the 80s, imo. The best pumps are 'zephal'. There are some tricks to
getting a frame pump to perform, where to brace it, etc. - google the group
for zephal or frame pump, maybe?.

In addition to this newsgroup try online reviews:

http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/Pump/product_86619.shtml

www.roadbikereview.com

www.epinions.com

....and soforth.

HTH,

jj

jj said:

Today's pumps are much better than those that typically came with the bike
back in the 80s, imo. The best pumps are 'zephal'. There are some tricks to
getting a frame pump to perform, where to brace it, etc. - google the group
for zephal or frame pump, maybe?.

Oops, my bad. It's 'Zefal'. Sorry 'bout that. ;-)

jj

Ken Marcet said:

I am in need of a pump, but I remember the ones I had as a teenager, and
they seemed to wear out pretty quickly, but that could have been because
they were low quality pumps. I have been using a plug into your cars lighter
electric deal, and it has trouble getting up to 50 PSI and as you know most
road tires are rated for 65 PSI seems like I have seen a bunch of names
while browsing some of the bike parts sites, throw me some good names.

Most road tires require a good deal more than 65psi. I use 110. But if
you mean slicks for a mountain bike, then maybe 65 is reasonable,
depending on the tire. Also, very big tires (over 32mm across) use less
air, but still more than your car inflator can handle.

Get a good frame pump. I use and recommend a ToPeak Road Morph. Works
like a floor pump, has a little gauge that works well enough, and is
reliable.

Speaking of floor pumps, get one. They are much, much better, and you get
into the habit of inflating your tires regularly, which keeps them closer
to optimum pressure, which makes riding easier and more fun. Joe Blow are
good ones, not too expensive.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | "It doesn't get any easier, you just go faster." --Greg LeMond
_`\(,_ |
(_)/ (_) |

On Wed, 16 Mar 2005 15:53:35 -0500, "Ken Marcet" <[email hidden]>

wrote in message : said:

I am in need of a pump, but I remember the ones I had as a teenager, and
they seemed to wear out pretty quickly, but that could have been because
they were low quality pumps.

As others have said, the Zéfal HPX is the best frame pump money can
buy. I had one as my one and only pump for many years, I only bought
a track pump when I started riding recumbents with 120psi tyres. And
even then the issue wasn't pressure but having to keep inflating the
buggers.

Guy
--
May contain traces of irony. Contents liable to settle after posting.
http://www.chapmancentral.co.uk

85% of helmet statistics are made up, 69% of them at CHS, Puget Sound

William Ducklow said:

How many road tires will a standard CO2 cartridge fill?

One.

Matt O.

"Matthew" <[email hidden]> advised:

Quoted message said:

Zefal HPX. And you might check your PSI numbers.

The "Joe Blow" pumps from Topeak are good, also.

The small mini-pumps are generally not very good, although
they are better than nothing in an emergency.

The Topeak Road Morph is the one to get because not only does it have an
inline pressure gauge, but the end of it folds out to make a "foot" that you
can push against as you pump. The Zefal they are talking about is a long
rod that you pump sliding your hands together, sort of. The Road Morph
mimics a floor pump and, for me, that makes those last few pounds of
pressure a lot easier to get into the tire.

Pat in TX

jj said:

jj said:

Today's pumps are much better than those that typically came with the bike
back in the 80s, imo. The best pumps are 'zephal'. There are some tricks to
getting a frame pump to perform, where to brace it, etc. - google the group
for zephal or frame pump, maybe?.

Oops, my bad. It's 'Zefal'. Sorry 'bout that. ;-)

Zephal pumps are good for inflating the tires on an Alpha Romeo. 😉

See <http://www.zefal.com/AAA/page.php?nom=accueil>.

--
Tom Sherman - Earth (Downstate Illinois, North of Forgottonia)

"Ken Marcet" wrote ...

Quoted message said:

I am in need of a pump, but I remember the ones I had as a teenager, and
they seemed to wear out pretty quickly, but that could have been because
they were low quality pumps. I have been using a plug into your cars

lighter

Quoted message said:

electric deal, and it has trouble getting up to 50 PSI and as you know

most

Quoted message said:

road tires are rated for 65 PSI seems like I have seen a bunch of names
while browsing some of the bike parts sites, throw me some good names.

Ken

I'd like to add my voice to the chorus of happy Zefal HpX owners. Very
sturdy, reaches high enough pressures for the skinniest road racing tires,
and the black paint job goes well with any color. Bike Nashbar has them for
$25-$30 IIRC. They come in sizes, so measure the space on your frame where
you plan on carrying the pump and order/purchase accordingly.

A floor pump isn't normally meant to be carried on a bicycle, but keep it in
your garage so that you can pump up more tires with less effort at home.
I've got a Silca Pista that I bought in 1988 that is still going strong,
although I have replaced a few parts. Steel body, good bike shops carry
replacement parts, and very durable. I inflate my car tires w/ this pump
when I don't feel like driving to the gas station. I'm replacing the Pista
w/ a Super Pista not because the old one is wearing out, but because I want
a pump that moves a greater volume of air to pump up my MTB tires (and my
car tires). If your LBS isn't feeling helpful here are some online sources:

www.coloradocyclist.com

www.nashbar.com

HTH,
--
mark

On Wed, 16 Mar 2005 15:53:35 -0500, "Ken Marcet" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I am in need of a pump, but I remember the ones I had as a teenager, and
they seemed to wear out pretty quickly, but that could have been because
they were low quality pumps. I have been using a plug into your cars lighter
electric deal, and it has trouble getting up to 50 PSI and as you know most
road tires are rated for 65 PSI seems like I have seen a bunch of names
while browsing some of the bike parts sites, throw me some good names.

Ken

Ken, my Giant frame pump works fine, and has 2 types of value ports on
the locking head, plus a gauge. The only drawback is that the thing
is small, with a short throw. If I have to use the pump I get an
additional upper body workout.
Michael J. Klein [email hidden]
Yangmei Jen (Hukou), Taoyuan Hsien, Taiwan, ROC
Please replace mousepotato with asiancastings
---------------------------------------------

I have the Topeak Mini DX. It fits nice and snug in my Camelbak Rogue.
It takes me about 10 minutes to get a road tire to 100psi. I wouldn't
want to do this on an unshaded summer day. But it is convenient and you
won't have to mess with where to mount the frame pump on the bike. The
Topeak Road Morph is a decent choice, but I always had trouble mounting
it on the bike. The MTB version of the Road Morph has a better mounting
design but it comes without the pressure gauge convenient. For my floor
pump I use the Topeak Joe Blow. It gets the job done, although the
first Joe Blow had a defect with the valve clamp, the LBS where I
bought it sent it back to Topeak and they replaced the defective part
for free under warranty.