Looking for a good bike pump

Quoted message said:

I really
just need to know if this pump is likely to work on both the bikes
referenced above, and if anyone has a better idea.

I use a Joe Blow Sport,
http://www.bikesomewhere.com/bikesomewhere.cfm/product/272/1885/3587

Works great, about the same as the one you picked out, and less $$.

---
Bob Anderson*Bitwisebob
Eugene Oregon

Quoted message said:

When I shop for bike pumps online, I see lots of references to
"Schrader" and "Presta." But I can't tell what kind of valves are on
our bikes. Of course, I *could* go to a bike store and bat my eyelashes
at a salesguy, but salespeople give me the heeby-jeebies. I have my eye
on this pump:
http://www.bikesomewhere.com/bikesomewhere.cfm/product/272/1885/81,

That pump works with both Schrader valves (which are like car
valves) and Presta valves (which are skinnier). It should work
with both of your bikes, and with just about any other bike you
can find, too.
--
Ben Pfaff
email: [email hidden]
web: http://benpfaff.org

Thank you, Ben and Bob. That's just what I needed to know!

Kelly

Quoted message said:

May I please have some expert advice?

So my husband wants a bike pump for Christmas. What I know about these
things would fit on the head of a pin. All I know from him is that it
should have a gauge and it should easily work on both his tires and
mine. He has a Trek ZX 7000 (skinny tires), and I have a Trek Navigator
100 (slightly fatter tires).

When I shop for bike pumps online, I see lots of references to
"Schrader" and "Presta." But I can't tell what kind of valves are on
our bikes. Of course, I *could* go to a bike store and bat my eyelashes
at a salesguy, but salespeople give me the heeby-jeebies. I have my eye
on this pump:
http://www.bikesomewhere.com/bikesomewhere.cfm/product/272/1885/81,
which looks to be top of the line and is reasonably priced. I really
just need to know if this pump is likely to work on both the bikes
referenced above, and if anyone has a better idea.

Any tips? Thank you!

Kelly

Hi, that is a really nice pump. Your husband should be very happy with
it. There are less expensive pumps, that would do the job, but for
Christmas it is a good choice.

I own a Joe Blow Sport and ended up putting a Smarthead on it, at an
addirtional cost. The Joe Blow Pro already has the best head on it.

It will work on both your bikes.

Life is Good!
Jeff

Quoted message said:

May I please have some expert advice?

So my husband wants a bike pump for Christmas. What I know about these
things would fit on the head of a pin. All I know from him is that it
should have a gauge and it should easily work on both his tires and
mine. He has a Trek ZX 7000 (skinny tires), and I have a Trek Navigator
100 (slightly fatter tires).

When I shop for bike pumps online, I see lots of references to
"Schrader" and "Presta." But I can't tell what kind of valves are on
our bikes. Of course, I *could* go to a bike store and bat my eyelashes
at a salesguy, but salespeople give me the heeby-jeebies. I have my eye
on this pump:
http://www.bikesomewhere.com/bikesomewhere.cfm/product/272/1885/81,
which looks to be top of the line and is reasonably priced. I really
just need to know if this pump is likely to work on both the bikes
referenced above, and if anyone has a better idea.

Any tips? Thank you!

Kelly

You can't do any better than getting a Topeak Joe Blow floor pump.
I've been using them for years and they fit both kinds of tire valves.
Additionally, Topeak has excellent customer service! If you have any
problems with the pump (unlikely) a letter or email will get you a
necessary repair part, usually free of charge, within days. Hope this
helps.

Quoted message said:

May I please have some expert advice?

So my husband wants a bike pump for Christmas. What I know about these
things would fit on the head of a pin. All I know from him is that it
should have a gauge and it should easily work on both his tires and
mine. He has a Trek ZX 7000 (skinny tires), and I have a Trek Navigator
100 (slightly fatter tires).

When I shop for bike pumps online, I see lots of references to
"Schrader" and "Presta." But I can't tell what kind of valves are on
our bikes. Of course, I *could* go to a bike store and bat my eyelashes
at a salesguy, but salespeople give me the heeby-jeebies. I have my eye
on this pump:
http://www.bikesomewhere.com/bikesomewhere.cfm/product/272/1885/81,
which looks to be top of the line and is reasonably priced. I really
just need to know if this pump is likely to work on both the bikes
referenced above, and if anyone has a better idea.

Any tips? Thank you!

Kelly:

There are really two kinds of pumps, and two kinds of valves.

Valves, actually there are more then two, any bike made today will use
either Presta or Schrader, some vintage bikes use other types, but
forget those for now. Most modern pumps will either have a head that
can handle both, or can use an adapter to fit the other.

Now there are two kinds of pumps as well, floor pumps (like your example
one), these often come with guages, and can quickly fill a tire because
they tend to be able to move a lot more air in a single stroke. To take
a tire from dead flat, to 100PSI might take 20 strokes. If buying a
floor pump, make sure it either has a dual head, or comes with the
adapter for the other type and don't worry about it.

The other type are bike mount pumps, these are smaller and either use a
clip or strap to attach the pump to the bike. These are handy if your
out in the middle of nowhere, and have a puncture (flat), in that you
can quickly swap the tube for another one, and then use the bike mounted
pump to refill the tire. It takes alot more to strokes to fill a high
pressure tire, then a floor pump, but it beats walking 20km to the next
auto garage. This kind of pump should be either dual head or match the
bicycles valve type.

The ideal is to have both, a floor pump with guage to check your tires
every few days, and a bike mounted pump that can be used in on road ( or
trail) emergencies. Bike mounted pumps should be pumped a couple of
times, when doing other bike checks, to make sure that the piston seals
have not dried out.....

W

Quoted message said:

May I please have some expert advice?

So my husband wants a bike pump for Christmas. What I know about these
things would fit on the head of a pin. All I know from him is that it
should have a gauge and it should easily work on both his tires and
mine. He has a Trek ZX 7000 (skinny tires), and I have a Trek Navigator
100 (slightly fatter tires).

When I shop for bike pumps online, I see lots of references to
"Schrader" and "Presta." But I can't tell what kind of valves are on
our bikes. Of course, I *could* go to a bike store and bat my eyelashes
at a salesguy, but salespeople give me the heeby-jeebies. I have my eye
on this pump:
http://www.bikesomewhere.com/bikesomewhere.cfm/product/272/1885/81,
which looks to be top of the line and is reasonably priced. I really
just need to know if this pump is likely to work on both the bikes
referenced above, and if anyone has a better idea.

Nothing wrong with the Joe Blow pump, but you might find that the Wrench
Force "Steel" pump (also known as the "Air Slim"😉, part #65934, would work
just fine. That's what I've had for the past couple of years, and it's
worked out very well for both types of valves, and gotten more than its
share of abuse (by being left outside in the elements). Probably runs around
$35 at the same place you got your bikes, and has the advantage that, if
something goes wrong with it, there's no warranty hassle... Trek is
exceptional on such things. Spare hoses are readily available too.

As for dealing with bikeshop salespeople, it shouldn't be too much of an
issue if you know what you want, especially armed with the Trek part number.
They're in stock at all Trek warehouses, so if it's not something they have
now, they can certainly add it to their next order, which will be in plenty
of time before Christmas!

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

I got the cheap Joe Blow floor pump on sale for $20. Works flawlessly,
nice big gauge--I see no reason to get anything fancier. MIght throw a
silca brass head on it one of these days.

If you want a good frame pump, I bet quite a few would agree with me
that the Zefal HPX is a stellar example. The little mini pumps are fine
if you very rarely need to pump when away from home, that's what I've
got now that I run much sturdier tires than a decade ago. Still miss
the heft of the full size HPX though. 😄

The Wogster said:

Quoted message said:

Now there are two kinds of pumps as well, floor pumps

and>

Quoted message said:

The other type are bike mount pumps,

And the 3rd type replaces the second. That is CO2 inflators. Some folks
love em some hate em. I'm in the love em camp. Fast, light, easy to
carry. And I have only once had a bad CO2 cartridge. I carry the same
number of cartridges +1 as I do tubes and have never had a problem.

On Mon, 07 Nov 2005 00:57:19 GMT, Jeff Starr <[email hidden]>
wrote:

[---]

Quoted message said:

I own a Joe Blow Sport and ended up putting a Smarthead on it, at an
addirtional cost.

What advantage does the "Smarthead" offer, compared to the original
supplied with the Joe Blow Sport?

In order to convert an older pump from Schraeder to Presta or back again
requires disassembly of the chuck, and fiddling with a couple of small
(easily lost) parts. The next generation has a chuck of each type set up on
opposite sides, and you simply turned the clamping lever one way or the
other to select the stem type. I have had some trouble with those
developing leaks in the selector valve. The newest type has two openings,
side by side--you simply insert the stem in the appropriate one and lock.
Evidently they have internal check valves which stop the flow to the unused
port. So far this has been trouble free for me, but it's too soon to tell
about long-term durability. I also find this type to be most convenient to
attach and detach.

try outdoorsfrontier.com This is a small powerful pump with a gauge
and fits both style valves.

My old girlfriend is available. She is definitely a "good pump".

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

Quoted message said:

May I please have some expert advice?

So my husband wants a bike pump for Christmas. What I know about these
things would fit on the head of a pin. All I know from him is that it
should have a gauge and it should easily work on both his tires and
mine. He has a Trek ZX 7000 (skinny tires), and I have a Trek Navigator
100 (slightly fatter tires).

When I shop for bike pumps online, I see lots of references to
"Schrader" and "Presta." But I can't tell what kind of valves are on
our bikes. Of course, I *could* go to a bike store and bat my eyelashes
at a salesguy, but salespeople give me the heeby-jeebies. I have my eye
on this pump:
http://www.bikesomewhere.com/bikesomewhere.cfm/product/272/1885/81,
which looks to be top of the line and is reasonably priced. I really
just need to know if this pump is likely to work on both the bikes
referenced above, and if anyone has a better idea.

Any tips? Thank you!

Kelly

On Mon, 07 Nov 2005 21:14:24 +0100, Andrew Price <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

On Mon, 07 Nov 2005 00:57:19 GMT, Jeff Starr <[email hidden]>
wrote:

[---]

Quoted message said:

I own a Joe Blow Sport and ended up putting a Smarthead on it, at an
addirtional cost.

What advantage does the "Smarthead" offer, compared to the original
supplied with the Joe Blow Sport?

The original two sided head, will eventually develope a leak, due to
the o-ring in the locking lever, wearing out. It is easily replacable,
but why recommend something that will develope a problem. So far, the
Smarhead has been problem free. I have never seen a post complaining
about the Smarthead going bad.

It is also easier to put on, as it is very loose, until the lever is
locked.

I got a very good deal on the Smarthead kit, so it just made sense to
replace it. If I was buying a new pump, I would consider the Smarthead
worth the extra cost. At the time I wasn't aware of the eventual
leaking problems.

Life is Good!
Jeff

Quoted message said:

try outdoorsfrontier.com This is a small powerful pump with a gauge
and fits both style valves.

Attn: Original Poster

Don't buy this pump for your husband, it is not want he wants or
needs. Either go with the pump that you asked about, or the Wrench
Force that Mike J. recommended.

As a rule, foot pumps are awkward and clumsy. This company sells one
product, warranty could be an issue.

Just don't buy it!

Jeff

gds said:

The Wogster said:

Quoted message said:

Now there are two kinds of pumps as well, floor pumps

and>

Quoted message said:

The other type are bike mount pumps,

And the 3rd type replaces the second. That is CO2 inflators. Some folks
love em some hate em. I'm in the love em camp. Fast, light, easy to
carry. And I have only once had a bad CO2 cartridge. I carry the same
number of cartridges +1 as I do tubes and have never had a problem.

The biggest problem is, you take one spare tube, and two cartridges, you
find a nice patch of puncture vine, good for 3 flats in 3km of
riding.... I swapped the first tube, using cartridge number 1, I
patched the second, and used cartridge #2, at flat number 3, well,
$%#!@&%!....

W

My vote goes to the ToPeak Road morph. Btw they also have a mountain
bike version.
It's a floor pump in disguise that fits in my jersey pocket albeit a
bit longer than the mini pumps.
All protruding parts fold into itself and it comes with a gauge too.
I always had a difficulty using hand pumps. My tire valves keep on
getting sheared off when I use them.
But when I tried this product from ToPeak... :-D
Archie A.

On Mon, 07 Nov 2005 21:11:27 -0500, The Wogster <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I swapped the first tube, using cartridge number 1, I
patched the second, and used cartridge #2, at flat number 3, well,
$%#!@&%!....

....that means walking home in your bike shoes .... not fun.

---
Bob Anderson*Bitwisebob
Eugene Oregon

Quoted message said:

When I shop for bike pumps online, I see lots of references to
"Schrader" and "Presta." But I can't tell what kind of valves are on
our bikes. Of course, I *could* go to a bike store and bat my eyelashes
at a salesguy, but salespeople give me the heeby-jeebies. I have my eye
on this pump:
http://www.bikesomewhere.com/bikesomewhere.cfm/product/272/1885/81,
which looks to be top of the line and is reasonably priced. I really
just need to know if this pump is likely to work on both the bikes
referenced above, and if anyone has a better idea.

Any tips? Thank you!

I have a nice floor model "Belo" from Mountain Equipment Co-op. The head
takes both "Schrader" and "Presta." vales types so it will be useful to
both of you. The pressure gauge is easy to read too...

I really like the turned wood handle - a bit of class in a world where
much of the stuff out there is just plastic (aka poly carbonate).

Nice price too... Certainly a better value than the Joe Blow pumps - and it
does not seem to work any different than the Topeak items.

Ken
Winnipeg, Canada