Which road bike frame pump?

Have you ever used a CO2 Pump? I bought an innovations one and have used it on the road several times, the 16g Cartridge Pumps my Roadbike tires up to around 125 psi in around 10 seconds...I do it in short bursts, otherwise it would take 3 seconds...it always seals well on my Presta Valves and works perfectly ever time...

The effort required to get to 80psi in your case would be...zero..plus you'd only need a 12 g Cartridge...

I've discovered however that when you get back to the Car, or back home, you need to let all the CO2 out of the Tube and re-inflate with a Track Pump...

You don't even have to worry about attaching it to your frame, they fit nicely in a small saddle Bag...

soloist said:

I'd like to hear other user's experiences with the Blackburn Frame Pump (alloy or CF) or the Zefal HPX. My bike has a frame pump peg and I'm researching full size frame pumps. I'd like to hear about effort to get a tire to +80psi, how securely the clamp seals on a valve, and durability.

I've been using a Topeak Road Morph for about three years. I think it's a clever design, has good durability (no repairs needed), can get to 80psi with heavy effort (that's not a put down, I'm not strong), and the gauge is a nice but unnecessary feature. The only drawback has been the clamp. I've never gotten a good seal on a presta valve. I have to hold the clamp on the valve with one hand while pumping with the other...very clumsy. Even then air starts to leak out above 60psi. I've never gotten it to seal on a schraeder valve.

If there are other good choices I haven't mentioned I'd like to hear about them, too. Not interested in CO2, though...I need something that's reliable.

I was overlooking CO2 because I read many posts where a broken inflator or bad seal left the rider stranded. If there's a model that doesn't fail I'd like to know. An inflator would weigh less and avoid damaging the paint (while getting a pump off/on).

I bought the innovations top-of-the line model which was about $25.

Check it out here....
http://www.innovationsaz.com/INmain.asp?Option=Detail&Type=&ID=3&Category=bike&SubCategory=power

I've never had a problem, however, as with any kind of new equipment it's best to practice at home so you know what to expect when you need it in an emergency...

I used OCroadies suggestion of inflating the Tube by mouth to avoid pinch flats when inserting the Tube into the tire, this saves CO2 and works great...

Also, when the Tire is in the tube, inflate with a short burst to seat the tire, then carry on inflating with short bursts untill you reach the desired pressure...this will help prevent the CO2 freeezing the valve...wait a few seconds between each burst....

Also, as I said in my last post, let the CO2 out when you get home and re-inflate with real air...

soloist said:

I was overlooking CO2 because I read many posts where a broken inflator or bad seal left the rider stranded. If there's a model that doesn't fail I'd like to know. An inflator would weigh less and avoid damaging the paint (while getting a pump off/on).

I use the Blackburn frame pump, and keep it on the bike all the time just in case. It locks into the frame rather than uses hooks and I can inflate from 0 - 100 psi with relatively little effort.

I still use my floor pump whenever I can, the frame pump is incase I get a puncture on my commute to work.

In my opinion, the Zefal HPX is legendary!

The first one I had lasted me about 8 years of VERY heavy use -- toppping up my tyres every day, and fixing tonnes of flats during commuting on [censored] roads. I probably could've repaired this pump, but I wanted a different size so I bought a new one. Then I bought another one for another frame, then another one for my compact frame!!

On the box of the Zefal it states that 160psi is achievable, and I don't doubt it. I've had many 20mm Continentals absolutely rock hard.

If a Zefal HPX won't stay clamped on to the valve, it's usually an issue with the valve stem. Valve stems with no thread at all will struggle to keep most pumps on them.

Thanks to all for replying. I'll see if the LBS has examples I can try before buying. The pump is in keeping with tradition (the few, the proud, the Zefalers), is the most reliable choice, and has the least environmental cost.

Something is wrong with yoiur Road Morph if you can't get a seal. Doesn't it have a 10 or 25 year warranty? My complaint for it is its weight, but if that's not an issue, it's the best. I used it while travelling over the summer more or less as a floor pump. I haven't seen anything as nice, and I really like the gauge. I also have a sigma sports one that has a retractable hose, but it's not as easy to get to high pressue.

Any other frame pump for doing high pressue isn't for me if it doesn't have the retractable hose. I've broken so many valve stems this year it's not worth it. If you're on a ride and break a stem, you might have a real problem

As for CO2, if space isn't a premium, I don't think it's worth it. I've mounted my Road Morph (onto a Ti road bike) between the derailleur cables on the down tube and it's unnoticeable and less influences the center of gravity like carrying dense metal in a saddle bag.

16g CO2 cartridges weigh 60g. Light Co2 inflator (ie. above link) is 65 grams. I'd never go out without three cartridges. Now you're at 240 grams and wasting $1+ every time you flat on air.

I can pump a tire with the morph in under a minute without getting tired.

I'll see if a local shop has replacement parts for the valve clamp. If it isn't sealing it has to be a problem with the gasket...too hard or too wide to close on the stem. As I said I like the Morph design and I've never sheared off a stem, which seems to happen more often than I thought with a pump that clamps directly. Besides, I think Topeak makes good products and works to keep their customers happy. My only encounter with their service line was impressive...as in good (grinning).

Maybe Topeak will just send you new stuff if you describe for them the problem?

soloist said:

I'll see if a local shop has replacement parts for the valve clamp. If it isn't sealing it has to be a problem with the gasket...too hard or too wide to close on the stem. As I said I like the Morph design and I've never was impressive...as in good (grinning).

I'll try emailing them and see what they say. I wanted to make sure I was aligning the parts in the chuck correctly so I dug out the instructions that came with it. There's a small photo that shows a man using the pump with one hand holding the chuck on the stem and pumping the handle with the other hand. Uh, am I overlooking the obvious...that's how the pump is intended to be used? "...none so blind as those who will not see."

I say go old school and get a Silca Impero. Paint it to match your frame color, get a campy head for it off ebay and you'll be oozing style.

nick burns said:

I say go old school and get a Silca Impero. Paint it to match your frame color, get a campy head for it off ebay and you'll be oozing style.

How do you paint a Silca? Aren't these plastic bodies?

BTW, do you know how the frame-fit compares to the older non-frame fit Impero's? Does anyone know where I can buy one of these and a Campy head?

John Picton said:

I use the Blackburn frame pump, and keep it on the bike all the time just in case. It locks into the frame rather than uses hooks and I can inflate from 0 - 100 psi with relatively little effort.

I still use my floor pump whenever I can, the frame pump is incase I get a puncture on my commute to work.

What length is your top tube and what size is your pump (m or L). I have to buy one online (live in China) and i'm not sure if the medium or large would be better. My top tube, measured underneath, is 51.5cm.

I've found a great mini pump called Air Supply

I've finally ditched my Zefal frame pump after all these years

Go with the Zefal HPX. I've had mine for close to nine years and no problems. Robust metal body, reversable chuck for Presta and Schraeder valves, has a valve lock lever and the pump handle locks for a more positive pump action. During the same time that I had the HPX, I also had a Blackburn frame pump that leaked air and was subsequently ditched. Note that the Zefal is a "full size" frame pump and is bigger and heavier than the latest "mini" frame pumps but you can also achieve higher pressures with less pump strokes. For the style conscious, the Zefal used to come in different colors as well, not sure if this is still the case though. The Silca may be another good choice, never used one personally but have heard good things about it.

My 2 pennies.
T72