Recommendation for an air pump, etc.

You just need a pump that will fill your tire with air. For
5 bucks plus shipping you can get this nice pump, comes with
a great holder that goes on your water bottle braze-ons.

performancebike.comProfile.cfmOpen ↗

Really. Any more than this is overkill. (IMHO)

Steve

In article <CzUpc.13519$hH.332849@bgtnsc04-
news.ops.worldnet.att.net>, NoSpamForMe
[quote="Quoted message"]I'm the guy who bought the Trek 7200 last fall, and some
of you folks were kind enough then to offer suggestions on
how to take care of it (which I'm trying to follow).

Well now I have another question or two.....

I was enjoying the nice weather today and went for a
bikeride when, about
7.5 miles from home happily pedaling in an impressively
high gear along on a country road out in the great
outdoors [e.g., between two towns, nothing around], my
back tire suddenly started making an unhappy thumping
sort of noise and I stopped as soon as it was safe to
see what was going on. Well, you no doubt figured it out
already ---- the tire had gone flat. Lacking any better
alternatives (see below), I simply turned around and
walked the bike all the way home whereupon I arrived
about 2 hrs. later. Now no big deal, I got to work on my
suntan in the fresh air and get some exercise in
nonetheless. But it wasn't exactly what I had planned
for the afternoon
:-(

So here's the question[s]....clearly I should have some
sort of pump (Schrader fitting) and replacement tube
(along with a pair of tire levers) along when I ride any
sort of significant distance. What really hit home is that
yesterday I rode about 25 miles roundtrip in similarly
rural territory, and that would've been a ***long walk***
if the air had gone its own way at the wrong place in
space & time :-(

(1) Without starting a religious war possibly rivaled only
by whether to wear a h*lmet or not (yes I do, my wife
makes me :-), what sort of pump ---please be specific
if possible--- would be a good choice for me ? Unlike
most of you fellows, and as you can tell from my
choice of bike, I'm more of an after-work & weekend
recreational cyclist as opposed to a serious
enthusiast so a hand-tooled $500 titanium alloy atomic-
powered microprocessor controlled unit is probably a
bit of overkill (just kidding, but you get the idea).
On the other hand, I just don't want to be at the
mercy of the clerk at local sporting goods store or
LBS (nothing against LBS, that's where I bought my
bike) and end up with some piece of junk that let's me
down when I need it. Within reason, $$ is not a
particular concern as long as it's appropriate to my
needs and worth it.

(1a) Any pros or cons to the muscle-powered hand pump
variety vs. CO2 cartridge thingys ?

(1b) Any comments on best practices when attaching pump
to frame ?

(2) Where is a good place to carry a spare tube & the tire
levers ? In one of those little bags under the seat ?
(I looked at some of those, and wasn't real impressed
but it was just an informal survey at one of the big-
box sporting goods stores. Don't worry --- I didn't
buy anything !). Any suggestions for a decent bag ?
How does one attach it to the bike ?

(3) Is it also worth carrying one of those patch kits with
me if I have a spare tube ? (I suspect yes in case
lightning strikes twice or I get the chance to help
someone else out along the way who is as ill prepared
as I was today !)

Will watch newsgroup for replies.

Seriously, thanks very much for sharing your insights &
expertise with this somewhat mid-life beginner.[/quote]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Nospamforme
[B]I'm the guy who bought the Trek 7200 last fall, and some of
you folks were kind enough then to offer suggestions on how
to take care of it (which I'm trying to follow).

Well now I have another question or two.....

I was enjoying the nice weather today and went for a
bikeride when, about
7.5 miles from home happily pedaling in an impressively high
gear along on a country road out in the great outdoors
[e.g., between two towns, nothing around], my back tire
suddenly started making an unhappy thumping sort of noise
and I stopped as soon as it was safe to see what was going
on. Well, you no doubt figured it out already ---- the
tire had gone flat. Lacking any better alternatives (see
below), I simply turned around and walked the bike all the
way home whereupon I arrived about 2 hrs. later. Now no
big deal, I got to work on my suntan in the fresh air and
get some exercise in nonetheless. But it wasn't exactly
what I had planned for the afternoon
:-(

So here's the question[s]....clearly I should have some
sort of pump (Schrader fitting) and replacement tube (along
with a pair of tire levers) along when I ride any sort of
significant distance. What really hit home is that
yesterday I rode about 25 miles roundtrip in similarly
rural territory, and that would've been a ***long walk***
if the air had gone its own way at the wrong place in space
& time :-(

(8) Without starting a religious war possibly rivaled only
by whether to wear a h*lmet or not (yes I do, my wife
makes me :-), what sort of pump ---please be specific
if possible--- would be a good choice for me ? Unlike
most of you fellows, and as you can tell from my choice
of bike, I'm more of an after-work & weekend
recreational cyclist as opposed to a serious enthusiast
so a hand-tooled $500 titanium alloy atomic-powered
microprocessor controlled unit is probably a bit of
overkill (just kidding, but you get the idea). On the
other hand, I just don't want to be at the mercy of the
clerk at local sporting goods store or LBS (nothing
against LBS, that's where I bought my bike) and end up
with some piece of junk that let's me down when I need
it. Within reason, $$ is not a particular concern as
long as it's appropriate to my needs and worth it.

(1a) Any pros or cons to the muscle-powered hand pump
variety vs. CO2 cartridge thingys ?

(1b) Any comments on best practices when attaching pump
to frame ?

(9) Where is a good place to carry a spare tube & the tire
levers ? In one of those little bags under the seat ?
(I looked at some of those, and wasn't real impressed
but it was just an informal survey at one of the big-
box sporting goods stores. Don't worry --- I didn't buy
anything !). Any suggestions for a decent bag ? How
does one attach it to the bike ?

(10) Is it also worth carrying one of those patch kits with
me if I have a spare tube ? (I suspect yes in case
lightning strikes twice or I get the chance to help
someone else out along the way who is as ill prepared
as I was today !)

Will watch newsgroup for replies.

Seriously, thanks very much for sharing your insights &
expertise with this somewhat mid-life beginner. [/B][/QUOTE]

I like Topeak products. They are well built and have a good understanding of what is really needed when you are on the road. They are not cheap... but you can decide the value.

Pump = :

<http://www.topeak.com/2004/products/pump_012.html>

Survival Tool Wedge = :

<http://www.topeak.com/2004/products/bag_015.html>

Spare inner tube in a zip-lock baggy with a little talc goes inside the wedge as well. Might be room for a energy bar, cell phone, and first aid items.

If you really are in hurry and want to deal with CO2 then I suggest you look into Innovations Ultraflate Pro.
If you have a tough ride and get 2 or more flats, you will need to decide the risks and costs of more tubes or a Rema patch kit.
(yes there are road hazards out there that can get you 2 flats at one time)

NoSpamForMe said:

(1a) Any pros or cons to the muscle-powered hand pump
variety vs. CO2 cartridge thingys ?

What I was told by my LBS: Don't bother with CO2. The main
problem is that you only get one chance to get it right --
if you miss a thorn in your tire and get a second flat, you
are out of luck, since they only hold enough air for one
inflation. Also, the cartridges are not that cheap. With a
patch kit and a pump, you can always just apply another
patch and pump it back up to get home...

I am told that CO2 is only really worth it when you are
racing, and if your first repair doesn't work you are out of
the race anyways.

Quoted message said:

(2) Where is a good place to carry a spare tube & the tire
levers ? In one of those little bags under the seat ?

Works for me...

Quoted message said:

(3) Is it also worth carrying one of those patch kits with
me if I have a spare tube ? (I suspect yes in case
lightning strikes twice or I get the chance to help
someone else out along the way who is as ill prepared
as I was today !)

Yeah, you can get Park Super Patch kits which are about the
size of 4 quarters -- they take no room at all, and weigh
almost nothing.

Chris
--
Chris Colohan Email: [email hidden] PGP: finger
[email hidden] Web: www.colohan.com Phone: (412)268-4751

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

Quoted message said:

I like Topeak products. They are well built and have a
good understanding of what is really needed when you are
on the road. They are not cheap... but you can decide
the value.

Pump = :

<http://www.topeak.com/2004/products/pump_012.html>

I second that. I have one and it works great ... the only
(minor) complaint is that the mounting bracket seems a
little week and doesn't hold the pump to the bike as
securely as I want. An additional $1 Velcro strap took care
of that though.

C.Q.C.

NoSpamForMe said:

what sort of pump ---please be specific if possible---
would be a good choice for me ? Unlike most of you
fellows, and as you can tell from my choice of bike, I'm
more of an after-work & weekend recreational cyclist as
opposed to a serious enthusiast so a hand-tooled $500
titanium alloy atomic-powered microprocessor controlled
unit is probably a bit of overkill (just kidding, but you
get the idea). On the other hand, I just don't want to be
at the mercy of the clerk at local sporting goods store or
LBS (nothing against LBS, that's where I bought my bike)
and end up with some piece of junk that let's me down when
I need it. Within reason, $$ is not a particular concern
as long as it's appropriate to my needs and worth it.

This is a very good pump IMO:

performancebike.comProfile.cfmOpen ↗
Store=Bike

Don't waste your time with mini-pumps they are about as much
use as an ashtray on a bike IME.

A spare tube, tyre levers and a patch kit in an under saddle
bag is also a good idea.

Flatting is part of riding. Learning to change out a flatted
tire is a skill that is needed just like learning to corner
the bicycle.

If you want to minimize what you carry with you on about
town rides, a tube and CO2 cartridge will do. It's not
really so difficult to learn how to get tires off and on
without tools. If you need a tool, a single tire plastic
will do. If you are going into the boonies, a 2nd tube, a
patch kit with a boot, and a pump would be more prudent.

[quote="NoSpamForMe"]I'm the guy who bought the Trek 7200 last fall, and some
of you folks were kind enough then to offer suggestions on
how to take care of it (which I'm trying to follow).

Well now I have another question or two.....

I was enjoying the nice weather today and went for a
bikeride when, about
7.5 miles from home happily pedaling in an impressively
high gear along on a country road out in the great
outdoors [e.g., between two towns, nothing around], my
back tire suddenly started making an unhappy thumping
sort of noise and I stopped as soon as it was safe to
see what was going on. Well, you no doubt figured it out
already ---- the tire had gone flat. Lacking any better
alternatives (see below), I simply turned around and
walked the bike all the way home whereupon I arrived
about 2 hrs. later. Now no big deal, I got to work on my
suntan in the fresh air and get some exercise in
nonetheless. But it wasn't exactly what I had planned
for the afternoon
:-(

So here's the question[s]....clearly I should have some
sort of pump (Schrader fitting) and replacement tube
(along with a pair of tire levers) along when I ride any
sort of significant distance. What really hit home is that
yesterday I rode about 25 miles roundtrip in similarly
rural territory, and that would've been a ***long walk***
if the air had gone its own way at the wrong place in
space & time :-(

(1) Without starting a religious war possibly rivaled only
by whether to wear a h*lmet or not (yes I do, my wife
makes me :-), what sort of pump ---please be specific
if possible--- would be a good choice for me ? Unlike
most of you fellows, and as you can tell from my
choice of bike, I'm more of an after-work & weekend
recreational cyclist as opposed to a serious
enthusiast so a hand-tooled $500 titanium alloy atomic-
powered microprocessor controlled unit is probably a
bit of overkill (just kidding, but you get the idea).
On the other hand, I just don't want to be at the
mercy of the clerk at local sporting goods store or
LBS (nothing against LBS, that's where I bought my
bike) and end up with some piece of junk that let's me
down when I need it. Within reason, $$ is not a
particular concern as long as it's appropriate to my
needs and worth it.

(1a) Any pros or cons to the muscle-powered hand pump
variety vs. CO2 cartridge thingys ?

(1b) Any comments on best practices when attaching pump
to frame ?

(2) Where is a good place to carry a spare tube & the tire
levers ? In one of those little bags under the seat ?
(I looked at some of those, and wasn't real impressed
but it was just an informal survey at one of the big-
box sporting goods stores. Don't worry --- I didn't
buy anything !). Any suggestions for a decent bag ?
How does one attach it to the bike ?

(3) Is it also worth carrying one of those patch kits with
me if I have a spare tube ? (I suspect yes in case
lightning strikes twice or I get the chance to help
someone else out along the way who is as ill prepared
as I was today !)

Will watch newsgroup for replies.

Seriously, thanks very much for sharing your insights &
expertise with this somewhat mid-life beginner.[/quote]

The Zefal hpx is the Lord of all Pumps, and will fit under
the top tube if you have a pump peg (pumps generally come in
sizes 1,2,3 and 4 - get the right one!).

I confess to carrying a CO2 canister on my racing bike, but
I haven't had a puncture for over 10 years - except for
those occasions where the tube perishes round the valve and
the tyre goes flat when the bike is in the garage. I'm
getting good at avoiding road debris, and modern tyres are
pretty resistant. CO2 canisters work on fat low pressure
tyres or narrow high pressure tyres. On fat high pressure
tyres - like S-Licks or Fat Boys - you won't get enough gas
in, and the rim will hit the road occasionally when you go
over a bump. I've been there.

I carry a spare tube and levers in my jersey pocket or in
the rack pack, if I'm on the touring bike. They take up
little space. I should carry a patch kit but (a) my puncture
record suggests the chances of me needing it on a day ride
are vanishingly small and (b) my bike fits in the back of my
wife's car, although I would probably have to do penance in
the garden/kitchen for weeks to make up for calling her out!

Paul Kopit said:

Flatting is part of riding. Learning to change out a
flatted tire is a skill that is needed just like learning
to corner the bicycle.

I always leave my bicycle in the corner.

Quoted message said:

If you want to minimize what you carry with you on about
town rides, a tube and CO2 cartridge will do. It's not
really so difficult to learn how to get tires off and on
without tools. If you need a tool, a single tire plastic
will do. If you are going into the boonies, a 2nd tube, a
patch kit with a boot, and a pump would be more prudent.

When you get TdF feelings maybe, but a decent pump will out
blow any CO2 solution, its all in the wrist.

Captain's log. On StarDate Mon, 17 May 2004 01:29:06 GMT received comm from
"NoSpamForMe" <[email hidden]> on channel rec.bicycles.tech:

: (1) Without starting a religious war possibly rivaled only
: by whether to wear a h*lmet or not (yes I do, my wife
: makes me :-), what sort of pump ---please be specific
: if possible--- would be a good choice for me ?

For home: get a good track pump (I like the classic
steel/wood SKS pump): sks-sks-Open ↗
germany.com/en/stage.php?mod=detail&cid=1&id=50&zg=4&seite-
=2&start=3

To bring: personally I like "mini versions" of track pumps,
with a short hose:
topeak.compump 011.htmlOpen ↗

: (1a) Any pros or cons to the muscle-powered hand pump
: variety vs. CO2 cartridge thingys ?

I have a CO2 inflator (it's so small and light that you
never leave without it): innovationsaz.comINOpen ↗
main.asp?Option=Detail&Type=&ID=10&Category=bike&SubCate-
gory=power

: (1b) Any comments on best practices when attaching pump
: to frame ?

The Topeak mount who comes with the (otherwise excellent)
Morph isn't very good. I will personally get some straps to
be able to securely put it on the frame. I have ordered this
from Nashbar (but they have problems with their support as
they don't reply to any of the email I send them regarding
my missing order): nashbar.comprofile moreimageOpen ↗
s.cfm?category=&subcategory=&sku=2258&brand=

: (2) Where is a good place to carry a spare tube & the tire
: levers ? In one of those little bags under the seat ?
: (I looked at some of those, and wasn't real impressed
: but it was just an informal survey at one of the big-
: box sporting goods stores. Don't worry --- I didn't
: buy anything !). Any suggestions for a decent bag ?
: How does one attach it to the bike ?

I like to have it small and neat, so I favor this bag in the
Micro size: topeak.combag 003.htmlOpen ↗

: (3) Is it also worth carrying one of those patch kits with
: me if I have a spare tube ? (I suspect yes in case
: lightning strikes twice or I get the chance to help
: someone else out along the way who is as ill prepared
: as I was today !)

Yes, it's a very cheap addition.

In the above micro wedge bag I have:

1 new and fresh spare tube 1 patch kit (just in case) 2 tire
levers (Michelin classic yellow plastic levers) 1 multi
tool, including as chain tool (Topeak Power 16) 3-4 separate
Allen wrenches (easier to use than some in the multi tool) 1
CO2 inflator (the above Air Chuck from Innovations In
Cycling) 2 CO2 cartridges 1 brass converter from Schrader to
Presta (handy if I stop by a gas station) 1 tiny map over my
part of the country (more or less one carefully folded page)
some extra cash (just in case) my home keys

Highly recommended and takes up very little space on the
bike!

Best regards,

martin törnsten

--
82.182.73.12682.182.73.126Open ↗