Track pumps

the_hundredth_idiot

I need a track pump - the pump I currently have (plugs into the cigarette lighter in the car - press a switch and sit back - very lazy) is for Schrader valves as it's really intended for cars. Fine for the MTB I used to use (and for the pushchair wheels) but not so good for my new ride which has Presta valves. In theory, the pump has a Presta adaptor but it seems to be cross-threaded (never used so must be like that from the factory) and is unusable.

I do have a little "handbag" pump but it's not ideal for getting 100 psi and I'm worried I'll snap off the valve in my obscenely frenetic attempts to get the pressure up. :shock:

So I need a third pump (fourth if you count the CO thingy I keep in my seat pack) and a track pump seems the best bet. I suspect they're all much of a muchness but I wondered if anyone has strong views about the different ways of connecting to the valve - that is, are those "intelligent" ones which automatically adapt to Schrader or Presta any good? Are there any which screw into place rather than have that lever thing which I always find a little awkward?

If you do have any recommendations for specific pumps, let me know. I'm only planning on spending no more than £30 and preferably less - as long as I don't go so cheap that the pump is unusable or quickly breaks. Only real other requirement is that I want it to have a (reasonably accurate) pressure gauge which I think some of the more basic ones don't have.

Cheers

Jamey

I bought a cheap track pump and since then I've used more expensive ones and been extremely surprised by how much easier they pump the air. The higher-priced pumps move the air evenly throughout the whole stroke, whereas the cheap ones let the air build up towards the bottom of the stroke and then just as it starts to get really difficult to push the air suddenly rushes into the tyre in one quick movement just before you push the handle all the way to the bottom.

Basically what I'm saying falls into the "you get what you pay for" category... It's just that it surprised me how much difference there is. I thought all track pumps would be pretty much alike.

Slow Downcp

I've had one of these for a few years:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... delID=1608

Gets to 120psi easily (never had to go higher, but it probably would).

sem69

Just don't get an exploding one from Aldi!

lost_in_thought

I got one branded 'WRENCH FORCE' from Evand for about £25, it's served me well.

sc999cs

Slow Downcp wrote:

I've had one of these for a few years:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... delID=1608

Gets to 120psi easily (never had to go higher, but it probably would).

I had one of these but broke it after about seven years, always found the pipe a bit short though. I now use a Specialized Air Tool Comp. Multi purpose adaptor and very long air pipe.

dal105

I have one of these, which I think is excellent

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Cycle/7/Blackburn_Air_Tower_1_Track_Pump/5360035860/

Good quality and pretty cheap (£19.99). Easy to attach to both shreader and presta valves. Hose and head are detachable and replaceable should they fail........

_____________________________________________________________

Wrath Rob

I've got the Joe Blow thing too. The pipe is a bit short and it took me a while to work out you had to screw the plastic ring down onto the bit that goes over the valve to get a good seal. It works, but its a bit of a faff and I wouldn't overly recommend one. Once you've got the seal it pumps quickly though.

dafruk

I've got the uber cheapo lidl one which I'm just waiting for it exploding and breaking my nose as the top flies off. But it does work ok.

secretsam

Rubbish one from Evans, Truflo I think? Next time I'll go with what C+ recommends and not just what is handy

Gussio

lost_in_thought wrote:

I got one branded 'WRENCH FORCE' from Evand for about £25, it's served me well.

+1 for the Wrench Force. Had it for about 10 years and it is still going strong. Copes with both types of valve.

il_principe

Park Tool's is excellent.

dennisn

You will never buy a better, longer lasting one than Silca.

Dennis Noward

Jamey

dennisn wrote:

You will never buy a better, longer lasting one than Silca.

Dennis Noward

What about that Renkompressor thing? I thought that was the ultimate lifetime pump?

biondino

Not crazy about my £20 Giant one, but it works and hasn't broken yet.

passout

Planet X were doing them for £10 recently.

dennisn

Jamey wrote:

dennisn wrote:

You will never buy a better, longer lasting one than Silca.

Dennis Noward

What about that Renkompressor thing? I thought that was the ultimate lifetime pump?

Took a look at it. Looks OK. Must be a Euro thing. Haven't seen one here in the states.
All I know is that I bought my Silca in the 70's. Think I put a gasket or two in it but that's it.
Still works great. Haven't seen or used a better one.

Dennis Noward

e999sam

I got one of these from Decathlon about a year ago also got one for my Dad as a present both are very good.[http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/clever-7000-3959008/]

toshmund

Invested in an Alloy Beto from the lbs - £29.95, must be because of the Oak handle . Got a plastic one from Decathlon, which is fine for the Mtb but after reading the thread about the Aldi exploding plastic track pump, never really felt comfortable with it again. Yes, have had the "ripping the valve off" whilst using the mini pump. Good reason to always carry at least 2 inner tubes.

always_tyred

2 basic track pump philosophies - 1) buy expsensive and assume that the seals (particularly to the valve on the tube) will be available when they wear out 2) buy cheap and replace when the seals wear out.

In a decade, I've had 3, 2 of which are still fine. Largest investment £15 from each of the Edinburgh Coop and Halfwits. Probably made in the same factory in Taiwan and both go to higher pressure than I'll ever need.

the_hundredth_idiot

Thanks for all the suggestions. I had a severe case of options paralysis but finally plumped for ths one: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=10096

I'd looked at the Joe Blow which seemed a good price and then saw this and thought, "ParkTools? They're pretty solid aren't they? Can't go wrong for £23" My neighbour will be grateful - stops me bothering him every weekend for a loan of his pump.

THI

PS. Anyone else find the bikeradar forums don't work with Safari? Wouldn't let me log in and I thought I'd completely forgotten my password - until I thoughtof trying Camino instead.

DavidTQ

Jamey wrote:

Basically what I'm saying falls into the "you get what you pay for" category... It's just that it surprised me how much difference there is. I thought all track pumps would be pretty much alike.

If only you did get what you pay for...

I brought a £30 track pump from the LBS which managed to pump up the tyres all of 5 times before the seals let go...

Ive brought two different pumps from lidls both somewhere around the £5 mark and they both do the job just fine... The second one I brought is a bit odd but its the easiest pump Ive had for getting the tyres up to pressure - it appears to lack a non return valve so the tyres are losing ait all the time you're not pressing down on the pump, but it makes really light work of getting the tyres up to 120psi...

Price tag IS NOT necesarily a reflection of quality.

I dont doubt theres pumps for over £30 which are better than both the lidls ones but paying £30 doesnt automatically guarantee a better pump...

Specialized Needs

The Hundredth Idiot wrote:

PS. Anyone else find the bikeradar forums don't work with Safari? Wouldn't let me log in and I thought I'd completely forgotten my password - until I thoughtof trying Camino instead.

There is a known problem with Firefox and cookies. This might (or not) be a similar issue. Might be worth popping into the bike radar office forum to check/ask.

Stuart

the_hundredth_idiot

Good suggestion - I couldn't find any comments about this problmem with Safari but posted a comment in the sticky to raise it.

goldblendslurper

In the workshop we have the Origional Rennkompressor which simply cannot be beaten for road tyres, but takes an age to pump up MTB tyres (skinny barrel). The other workshop pump is an el'cheapo plastic thing which has a latex glove seal (yes the seal went at the bottom of the barrel and we fixed it with a latex glove), which works great for MTB, but isn't too great for Road.

My personal home trackpump is a Joe Blow. Lifetime warrenty on them which is nice and only £30 RRP. Mine has a fault at the moment with the gauge which I shall get fixed. But I am getting a Rennkompressor just because they are rebuildable, you can get spares and they are brilliant all round. Yes hard work for MTB, but worth every penny.