Best track pump

Donga said:

Can anyone recommend a workshop-quality track pump? In our bike room
at work (40 users) we had a $90 Topeak that lasted around a year until
it shat itself internally and in the 'smart head'. We need a new one,
that will last rather longer.

Cheers.

Donga

We had a Giyo 52V (I think) pump from Torpedo7 which lasted for almost a year. The bottom plate is wobbly, even after I replaced the screw that fell out. After a year of use the smart head didn't depress the schrader valve, and it leaked air when putting it on a presta valve.

We then got a replacement pump donated by a nearby bike shop. It's branded "Giant", but it looks like it is exactly the same pump. We'll see how long this one lasts.

I would have liked to try a Topeak pump at work. I've got one at home and I'd rate it better than the Giyo. You can buy replacement Topeak pump heads.

I guess the problem is infrequent users who don't know how to use the pump head, and who don't know the difference between a presta and schrader valve. One cyclist had to explain to another how you use the clamp to stop the pump head coming off the valve. They were attempting to push it on harder to prevent it coming off.

Our pump gets used every 1-2 days. A chain prevents it from moving more than 2m from its home.

Donga said:

Can anyone recommend a workshop-quality track pump? In our bike room
at work (40 users) we had a $90 Topeak that lasted around a year until
it shat itself internally and in the 'smart head'. We need a new one,
that will last rather longer.

We use the Silca 'pista'. They last forever, replaceable bits that
wear out (valve seal, pump gasket).
Nothing else survives heavy use.

Bleve said:

Donga said:

Can anyone recommend a workshop-quality track pump? In our bike room
at work (40 users) we had a $90 Topeak that lasted around a year until
it shat itself internally and in the 'smart head'. We need a new one,
that will last rather longer.

We use the Silca 'pista'. They last forever, replaceable bits that
wear out (valve seal, pump gasket).
Nothing else survives heavy use.

Thanks, these do look good. One member is keen to get a Tioga from her
LBS. Any experience with these?

Donga

Donga said:

Bleve said:

On May 10, 3:37 pm, Donga <[email hidden]> wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Can anyone recommend a workshop-quality track pump? In our bike room
at work (40 users) we had a $90 Topeak that lasted around a year until
it shat itself internally and in the 'smart head'. We need a new one,
that will last rather longer.

Quoted message said:

We use the Silca 'pista'. They last forever, replaceable bits that
wear out (valve seal, pump gasket).
Nothing else survives heavy use.

Thanks, these do look good. One member is keen to get a Tioga from her
LBS. Any experience with these?

Dunno, we use Silca's because they last forever. If some punter
wants to save $15 ...

Bleve said:

Donga said:

On May 10, 4:18 pm, Bleve <[email hidden]> wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

On May 10, 3:37 pm, Donga <[email hidden]> wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

> Can anyone recommend a workshop-quality track pump? In our bike room
> at work (40 users) we had a $90 Topeak that lasted around a year until
> it shat itself internally and in the 'smart head'. We need a new one,
> that will last rather longer.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

We use the Silca 'pista'. They last forever, replaceable bits that
wear out (valve seal, pump gasket).
Nothing else survives heavy use.

Quoted message said:

Thanks, these do look good. One member is keen to get a Tioga from her
LBS. Any experience with these?

Dunno, we use Silca's because they last forever. If some punter
wants to save $15 ...

.... I agree. One of those very insistent people ... and she remembers
like an elephant the old Silcas that seem very low tech (even if they
work).

Donga

quote='Bleve'On May 10 said:

Can anyone recommend a workshop-quality track pump? In our bike room
at work (40 users) we had a $90 Topeak that lasted around a year until
it shat itself internally and in the 'smart head'. We need a new one,
that will last rather longer.

We use the Silca 'pista'. They last forever, replaceable bits that
wear out (valve seal, pump gasket).
Nothing else survives heavy use.[/QUOTE]

One shop recommended these, but I was told that Silca didn't come with a smart head. So the pump has one fitting on the end, and you have to screw on an adapter for the other valve style. I thought there would be too much risk of the adapter going missing.

If you could have two pumps, one for schader and one for presta ...

I second the Silva Pista. I've had one for about fifteen years. Yes, the chuck only works with Presta valves. But it works beautifully, and has had a lifetime of abuse.

suzyj said:

I second the Silva Pista. I've had one for about fifteen years. Yes, the chuck only works with Presta valves. But it works beautifully, and has had a lifetime of abuse.

I've got a Giant pump which I reckon was pretty good value, and is still pumpin' - but geez...15 YEARS !!??!! You gotta be happy with that !?!

gm

suzyj said:

I second the Silva Pista. I've had one for about fifteen years. Yes,
the chuck only works with Presta valves. But it works beautifully, and
has had a lifetime of abuse.

We're an all Schraeder valve family and our Silca works fine on all our
bikes at home. The only problem I've had with the pump is finding a
replacement part for the plastic washer that sits behind the leather cup
inside the pump. Someone on a.b provided one, otherwise they are
imposible to find in Australia.

Like most people, I'd vote for a Silca. 10 years of experience says it's
easy to use for anyone from age 7 upwards.

P

Donga said:

Can anyone recommend a workshop-quality track pump? In our bike room
at work (40 users) we had a $90 Topeak that lasted around a year until
it shat itself internally and in the 'smart head'. We need a new one,
that will last rather longer.

Silca. None of this new fangled plastic [censored].
Alas, mine is in Oz. It's been replaced with a cheap, but so far effective, Planet-X one

hippy
pump up the jam, pump it up

hippy said:

Donga said:

Can anyone recommend a workshop-quality track pump? In our bike room
at work (40 users) we had a $90 Topeak that lasted around a year
until it shat itself internally and in the 'smart head'. We need a
new one, that will last rather longer.

For $100 you can buy a compressor. Get everyone to chuck in $2.50 and you're
there. You may want a few more $$ for a chain to anchor it to a wall. (Can't
trust bikies).

Theo

Theo Bekkers said:

For $100 you can buy a compressor. Get everyone to chuck in $2.50 and you're
there. You may want a few more $$ for a chain to anchor it to a wall. (Can't
trust bikies).

Are you talking about a little compressor (the size you carry in the boot of a car), or a big one? I would have thought the danger is from those whose transportation is large enough to carry a compressor.

The chain and padlock cost almost as much as a cheap track pump.

ghostgum said:

Theo Bekkers said:

For $100 you can buy a compressor. Get everyone to chuck in $2.50 and
you're
there. You may want a few more $$ for a chain to anchor it to a wall.
(Can't
trust bikies).

Are you talking about a little compressor (the size you carry in the
boot of a car), or a big one? I would have thought the danger is from
those whose transportation is large enough to carry a compressor.

A littly you can carry of with one arm. Unfortunately honest people are
getting more scarce.

Theo

Theo Bekkers said:

hippy said:

Donga said:

Can anyone recommend a workshop-quality track pump? In our bike room
at work (40 users) we had a $90 Topeak that lasted around a year
until it shat itself internally and in the 'smart head'. We need a
new one, that will last rather longer.

For $100 you can buy a compressor. Get everyone to chuck in $2.50 and you're
there. You may want a few more $$ for a chain to anchor it to a wall. (Can't
trust bikies).

Electricity's free and carbon-neutral, compressors don't risk blowing
tyres off rims when mis-used, I've seen plenty of presta valve
fittings for airlines in my time too .. yeah. great idea.

Maybe they can just drive to work?

Quoted message said:

Theo

Bleve said:

Theo Bekkers wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

For $100 you can buy a compressor. Get everyone to chuck in $2.50
and you're there. You may want a few more $$ for a chain to anchor
it to a wall. (Can't trust bikies).

Quoted message said:

Electricity's free and carbon-neutral,

No, but people have been known to fart when using manual pumps.

Quoted message said:

compressors don't risk blowing tyres off rims when mis-used,

You can't help stupidity, and even cyclists will learn :-) On the other
hand, a cheap compressor won't do much more than 120 lbs anyway.

Quoted message said:

I've seen plenty of presta valve fittings for airlines in my time too

There's one on the end of the airline of my pump. Geez, there's one on the
other pump as well. Wow, there's one on the little short airline I made up
for the compressor too. Bloody things are everywhere.

Quoted message said:

.. yeah. great idea.

Glad you liked it mate.

Quoted message said:

Maybe they can just drive to work?

Nah.

Theo

ghostgum said:

If you could have two pumps, one for schader and one for presta ...

....if you could get everyone to see reason, and use schraeder
valves... :-)

BTH

BT Humble said:

ghostgum said:

If you could have two pumps, one for schader and one for presta ...

...if you could get everyone to see reason, and use schraeder
valves... :-)

Schraeder valves don't hold high pressure as well. And they weigh an extra
gram!!

Theo

hippy said:

Donga said:

Can anyone recommend a workshop-quality track pump? In our bike room
at work (40 users) we had a $90 Topeak that lasted around a year until
it shat itself internally and in the 'smart head'. We need a new one,
that will last rather longer.

Silca. None of this new fangled plastic [censored].
Alas, mine is in Oz. It's been replaced with a cheap, but so far
effective, Planet-X one

hippy
pump up the jam, pump it up

I bought a el cheapo plastic pump to replace my Silca that had never
really worked properly and the plastic one keeps going and going and
going. It has a nice little gauge and connections for both types of
valves. The Chinese are getting pretty clever now.

Friday

Keep everyone (apart from the obligatory misers) happy:

Silca track pump + Topeak Smarthead = reliable pump with no fuffing around for different valve types.