Flats and stupid mini-pumps
#26
On my Giant, I carry a Blackburn with a swing out handle.
Small enough, light enough and it puts out some useful air.
I've actually used it and it works well.
On my Jamis, I carry a Road Mini-Morph.
I like it's a design and I just can't say enough about my Joe Blow Pro.
I like it enough to justify the Mini.
Never used the Mini, though, so I can't really say.
But, in any event, they're both just insurance because my CO2 is my first line of defense.
I carry it, loaded, and a spare cartridge.
Small enough, light enough and it puts out some useful air.
I've actually used it and it works well.
On my Jamis, I carry a Road Mini-Morph.
I like it's a design and I just can't say enough about my Joe Blow Pro.
I like it enough to justify the Mini.
Never used the Mini, though, so I can't really say.
But, in any event, they're both just insurance because my CO2 is my first line of defense.
I carry it, loaded, and a spare cartridge.
#28
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I've pumped a friend's tubs up to 140psi with mine. No sweat.
#29
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I had a forget the brand mini-pump. Pretty useless. I then started carrying that and CO2 cartridges. Both useless. Someone suggested the Topeak pump. It's like the heavens parted and the angels sang... the pump is awesome. It's not all that big, and is well worth the weight. It will pump your tires to their desired PSI. I have 2 - the road and mountain - I use camelbaks for both road and mountain biking and the pumps easily fit in the pack (most Camelbak have a "pump port").
PS: So Rick I take it you know the Topeak guy? p
PS: So Rick I take it you know the Topeak guy? p
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#30
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Last fall I shelved the Topeak road morph for CO2 and got a flat 20 miles in on a long ride to visit my daughter at college. (parents day.)
I'm blaming it on a cold drizzly day and my fingers were numb changing the flat - I pinch flatted the spare! Nothing worse than that dreaded sound of PSHHHHHH.... on your last cartridge.
So I sat there in the grass on a semi-desolate road, waiting for the cavalry to arrive, telling numerous motorists, "yeah... I'm fine" feeling like an idiot.....
Ever since then I've been inclined to prepare for the brain fart and skip the CO2 and pack the trusty morph...
#31
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I don't like the look of frame pumps at all, nor a mini strapped on, just fugly. On my road bike I carry co2 but rarely get a flat as I watch my air pressure and thorns/debris are not a big problem for me, if it were I might put my Zefal HPX back on. I can always call a cab I figure on most of my road rides (longer out of the way rides I tend to carry my hydration pack anyways).
On the mountain bike I carry the mini in my hydration pack, and always wear the pack.
I do wonder if carrying a pump in a pack is better than constant exposure to the elements for the seals and such? I suppose regular maintenance of the pump would fix that like someone mentioned...
On the mountain bike I carry the mini in my hydration pack, and always wear the pack.
I do wonder if carrying a pump in a pack is better than constant exposure to the elements for the seals and such? I suppose regular maintenance of the pump would fix that like someone mentioned...
#32
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Agreed, but I learned the hard way...
Last fall I shelved the Topeak road morph for CO2 and got a flat 20 miles in on a long ride to visit my daughter at college. (parents day.)
I'm blaming it on a cold drizzly day and my fingers were numb changing the flat - I pinch flatted the spare! Nothing worse than that dreaded sound of PSHHHHHH.... on your last cartridge.
Last fall I shelved the Topeak road morph for CO2 and got a flat 20 miles in on a long ride to visit my daughter at college. (parents day.)
I'm blaming it on a cold drizzly day and my fingers were numb changing the flat - I pinch flatted the spare! Nothing worse than that dreaded sound of PSHHHHHH.... on your last cartridge.
I still, however, carry an HPX on my retro-grouch Bridgestone. CO2 just doesn't seem right.
#34
The Road Morph Mini is not bad either. It's significantly smaller, if you just can't bring yourself to carry the regular Road Morph G, But the larger (though still handy) Road Morph is sooo good.
#36
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I have two mini pumps, the infamous Wrench Force referred to in the opening thread and a HP Hurricane marketed by Performance. Both perform reasonably well within the limitations of hand held pumps. The Wrench Force has a drawback, it is built for Schrader valves and requires an adaptor to use it on presta valves. When I've tested the pump it works fine, but I have had the rubber gasket in the adaptor fail. That said, I had occaision last year to use the pump when my freind had a flat and his trusty CO2 system failed. The pump performed well except, as has been noted above, getting 110 PSI into a tire with a mini-pump requires a build like the one on D-Gee's avatar. The best my athletic freind could accomplish was around 80-90 PSI. That was enough to nurse our way to the end of the ride. Not being of Hurculean build, I doubt I could get more than 70 PSI into a tire. I'm leaning toward carrying a CO2 system next year. If I do, you can be sure I will test it before I ride with it.
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#37
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With Topeak making mini-pumps, how can all those other mini-pump makers stay in business? Topeaks are that good.
#38
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You lot had better know what you're talking about because I've rung my lbs and ordered a Topeak Road Morph. Suffering, as I do, under the enlightened Australian bicycle industry, it won't be here until next week at least. The owner of my lbs is a Brit and having worked with both the British and the Australian industries, he's more scathing of the Aussie version than I am ... and I'm generally considered 'harsh'.
When repairing the tube (do you repair tubes or do you have a huge stack of them 'awaiting repair'?), I found two holes. What's more, looking closely, I don't reckon either came from something penetrating the tube - they looked more torn or pinched. Thing is, that tube's just done nearly 600km since the last time I touched it so it's unlikely to be a simple pinch on installation. At that time, I fitted tyre liners and I'm wondering if they aren't in someway associated with the holes, both holes being near the edge of where the tyre liner would be in the tyre. Maybe the tube was just twisted slightly and it's taken this long for the holes to develop, though getting two about a foot apart at the same time is stretching coincidence a bit. There's no sign of damage to the tyre and with the slick surface of the Detonator tyres, it should be easy enough to see cuts (though I know you don't always).
Incidentally, when testing my tube repair, I tried to pump up the tube with that rotten mini pump - it could get the tube (alone, not encased in a tyre) almost up to hot dog fatness but that's it, couldn't even stretch the rubber. Sheesh, no wonder it did nothing on the side of the road.
Richard
When repairing the tube (do you repair tubes or do you have a huge stack of them 'awaiting repair'?), I found two holes. What's more, looking closely, I don't reckon either came from something penetrating the tube - they looked more torn or pinched. Thing is, that tube's just done nearly 600km since the last time I touched it so it's unlikely to be a simple pinch on installation. At that time, I fitted tyre liners and I'm wondering if they aren't in someway associated with the holes, both holes being near the edge of where the tyre liner would be in the tyre. Maybe the tube was just twisted slightly and it's taken this long for the holes to develop, though getting two about a foot apart at the same time is stretching coincidence a bit. There's no sign of damage to the tyre and with the slick surface of the Detonator tyres, it should be easy enough to see cuts (though I know you don't always).
Incidentally, when testing my tube repair, I tried to pump up the tube with that rotten mini pump - it could get the tube (alone, not encased in a tyre) almost up to hot dog fatness but that's it, couldn't even stretch the rubber. Sheesh, no wonder it did nothing on the side of the road.
Richard
#40
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You lot had better know what you're talking about because I've rung my lbs and ordered a Topeak Road Morph. Suffering, as I do, under the enlightened Australian bicycle industry, it won't be here until next week at least. The owner of my lbs is a Brit and having worked with both the British and the Australian industries, he's more scathing of the Aussie version than I am ... and I'm generally considered 'harsh'.
When repairing the tube (do you repair tubes or do you have a huge stack of them 'awaiting repair'?), I found two holes. What's more, looking closely, I don't reckon either came from something penetrating the tube - they looked more torn or pinched. Thing is, that tube's just done nearly 600km since the last time I touched it so it's unlikely to be a simple pinch on installation. At that time, I fitted tyre liners and I'm wondering if they aren't in someway associated with the holes, both holes being near the edge of where the tyre liner would be in the tyre. Maybe the tube was just twisted slightly and it's taken this long for the holes to develop, though getting two about a foot apart at the same time is stretching coincidence a bit. There's no sign of damage to the tyre and with the slick surface of the Detonator tyres, it should be easy enough to see cuts (though I know you don't always).
Incidentally, when testing my tube repair, I tried to pump up the tube with that rotten mini pump - it could get the tube (alone, not encased in a tyre) almost up to hot dog fatness but that's it, couldn't even stretch the rubber. Sheesh, no wonder it did nothing on the side of the road.
Richard
When repairing the tube (do you repair tubes or do you have a huge stack of them 'awaiting repair'?), I found two holes. What's more, looking closely, I don't reckon either came from something penetrating the tube - they looked more torn or pinched. Thing is, that tube's just done nearly 600km since the last time I touched it so it's unlikely to be a simple pinch on installation. At that time, I fitted tyre liners and I'm wondering if they aren't in someway associated with the holes, both holes being near the edge of where the tyre liner would be in the tyre. Maybe the tube was just twisted slightly and it's taken this long for the holes to develop, though getting two about a foot apart at the same time is stretching coincidence a bit. There's no sign of damage to the tyre and with the slick surface of the Detonator tyres, it should be easy enough to see cuts (though I know you don't always).
Incidentally, when testing my tube repair, I tried to pump up the tube with that rotten mini pump - it could get the tube (alone, not encased in a tyre) almost up to hot dog fatness but that's it, couldn't even stretch the rubber. Sheesh, no wonder it did nothing on the side of the road.
Richard
#42
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Agreed, however, when it comes to pumps, I'll go for function. The thing about the Morph is that it is a mini floor pump and you can get much more leverage against the groud than with a frame pump held in mid air.
I've pumped a friend's tubs up to 140psi with mine. No sweat.
I've pumped a friend's tubs up to 140psi with mine. No sweat.
#43
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Two words: Topeak Road Morph G. Nearly everyone in my group uses one. Someone gets to use his about once a week. Never failed. Works quickly.
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#44
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Tire liners can cause flats -- but if they do it'll be a cut in the tube, not a snakebite. Snakebites are from hitting something and bottoming out the tire against the rim.
#45
Frame fit pumps are not for everyone. You need some upper body/arm strength and steadiness to use one of these effectively. If I couldn't use one effectively, my choice pump would be a Road Morph as I've used one of these as well.
Last edited by roadfix; 01-20-09 at 10:28 AM.
#46
Dirt Bomb
Get a Topeak Road Morph G. I had the Wrench Force mini pump. My arms aren't strong enough to use that thing effectively. It got me home a few times but that's about it. I gave it to my neighbor.
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Most high end bikes made in the last several yaers don't accomodate a frame pump. Plus frame pumps are from a previous era. If you ride an older bike and like that look, a frame pump is the closest you can get to a floor pump.
A mini-pump can fit into a jersey pocket. I can get 100 lbs in five minutes into a tire. If that isn't fast enough, I also carry CO2.
A mini-pump can fit into a jersey pocket. I can get 100 lbs in five minutes into a tire. If that isn't fast enough, I also carry CO2.