Travel track pump

mrb123
mrb123 Posts: 4,828
in Road buying advice
Anyone able to give a recommendation for one of these?

Going to be taking the bike away a few times next year and looking to avoid the usual struggle to get the tyres up to 90psi with a mini pump or having to scrounge the use of a pump from the nearest bike shop.

Appear to be a few options out there - Lifeline, Zefal, Giant and Decathlon seem to do them among others.

Looking for something I can fit in the bike box with the bike that will deliver a decent pressure without too much effort.

Comments

  • daniel_b
    daniel_b Posts: 12,033
    This always gets good reviews - always meant to get one, never gotten around to it.
    I have a van, so the full size one tends to get bunged in.

    https://wiggle.co.uk/lezyne-micro-floor-drive-hv-track-pump-with-gauge


    Felt F70 05 (Turbo)
    Marin Palisades Trail 91 and 06
    Scott CR1 SL 12
    Cannondale Synapse Adventure 15 & 16 Di2
    Scott Foil 18
  • mrb123
    mrb123 Posts: 4,828
    Cheers Dan, been looking at those.

    FWIW there seem to be several versions. The HV stands for high volume which is for MTB tyres. The HP one is for high pressure, I.e. road. They also seem to come with and without pressure gauges.
  • wobblebob
    wobblebob Posts: 73
    What about a fumpa? https://www.fumpapumps.co.uk/

    I have the mini which I take on all my foreign trips as well as regular rides and fits in a jersey pocket no problem.
  • mrb123
    mrb123 Posts: 4,828
    https://www.wiggle.co.uk/lifeline-motion-floor-mount-mini-pump-1

    Possible budget option.
  • Munsford0
    Munsford0 Posts: 680
    I have a Topeak Road Morph G on my winter bike. Operates like a mini track pump. Little inline pressure gauge. Used this exclusively for a couple of years before buying a full size track pump to sit in the garage.

    https://www.wiggle.co.uk/topeak-road-morph-with-gauge
  • sungod
    sungod Posts: 17,413
    i've used one of these for years...
    https://www.condorcycles.com/products/lezyne-cnc-travel-drive-floor-pump?variant=37792495304854

    ...but with a sks eva head on it - with a lot of use the lezyne screw-on chucks wear pretty fast and still tend to loosen valve cores/extenders no matter what lezyne say

    it travels in my big backpack, but if you're just taking a bike box it'll probably fit there ok, only weighs 8-900g

    need to top up daily as i use tubs with latex tubes, having a proper pump is just better
    my bike - faster than god's and twice as shiny
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 27,417
    edited November 2022
    sungod said:

    ...

    ...but with a sks eva head on it - with a lot of use the lezyne screw-on chucks wear pretty fast and still tend to loosen valve cores/extenders no matter what lezyne say

    ...

    My cure was to simply tighten the valves before using the inner tube. A 1/4 turn was fairly standard indicating that they are often under tightened on installation.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • First.Aspect
    First.Aspect Posts: 17,322
    daniel_b said:

    This always gets good reviews - always meant to get one, never gotten around to it.
    I have a van, so the full size one tends to get bunged in.

    https://wiggle.co.uk/lezyne-micro-floor-drive-hv-track-pump-with-gauge


    Don't. The handle is tiny and has a channel for storing the hose in it, so it is agony to use unless you are wearing a falconry gauntlet. And it really is very small, so will need a lot of throws to pump a tyre up.

    Also Lezyne use the screw on adapters that help you to extract the valve core once you've pumped up a tyre.
  • sungod
    sungod Posts: 17,413
    pblakeney said:

    sungod said:

    ...

    ...but with a sks eva head on it - with a lot of use the lezyne screw-on chucks wear pretty fast and still tend to loosen valve cores/extenders no matter what lezyne say

    ...

    My cure was to simply tighten the valves before using the inner tube. A 1/4 turn was fairly standard indicating that they are often under tightened on installation.
    yep, cores are often loose on new tubes/tyres

    because i always fit extenders, i make sure they are tight, but after umpteen inflations the cores still can work loose

    the other problem is the threads on the lezyne screw-on chucks soon wear out with daily use, probably doesn't help that with some extenders there seems less thread for the chuck to screw onto - on one trip the chuck was useless by the third week (fortunately i had a spare), after that i put the sks head on it
    my bike - faster than god's and twice as shiny
  • daniel_b
    daniel_b Posts: 12,033
    edited November 2022
    First.Aspect said:

    daniel_b said:

    This always gets good reviews - always meant to get one, never gotten around to it.
    I have a van, so the full size one tends to get bunged in.

    https://wiggle.co.uk/lezyne-micro-floor-drive-hv-track-pump-with-gauge


    Don't. The handle is tiny and has a channel for storing the hose in it, so it is agony to use unless you are wearing a falconry gauntlet. And it really is very small, so will need a lot of throws to pump a tyre up.

    Also Lezyne use the screw on adapters that help you to extract the valve core once you've pumped up a tyre.
    That's annoying about the handle, but I have to say I much prefer the screw on connectors - the push on/lock on ones I often find (Might just be down to poor technique) that they may do some or all of the below:

    - don't lock on properly
    - can't get air into the tube
    - bend the valve horrible - presta not schraeder

    I've had the valve come out once on the road too, forget the make, it's one of the REALLY small hand pumps, may also be a lezyne actually, as that too has a separate tube that screws onto the valve.

    I always carry one of these badgers around now, and also tighten them up straight out of the box.

    sungod said:

    pblakeney said:

    sungod said:

    ...

    ...but with a sks eva head on it - with a lot of use the lezyne screw-on chucks wear pretty fast and still tend to loosen valve cores/extenders no matter what lezyne say

    ...

    the other problem is the threads on the lezyne screw-on chucks soon wear out with daily use, probably doesn't help that with some extenders there seems less thread for the chuck to screw onto - on one trip the chuck was useless by the third week (fortunately i had a spare), after that i put the sks head on it
    That sounds unlucky, or as you say some kind of mismatch between the pump and the tube, or unless newer ones use a less hardy material.

    I pretty much exclusively use my lezyne to pump up a raft of tyres, and it still screws onto either schraeder or presta as well as it did on day one.
    I tend to use conti tubes, but needing some longer valves, have bought a fair few makes over the years.

    I've just checked back through my e-mails, and I bought it back in 2014!
    It must get used at least 3 times each and every week in all of that time.

    I did buy a couple of those chucks to have as spares, but they are still sat in my toolbox.

    Now I will say the quick chuck, or whatever they call it IS rubbish, that did work for me for a bit, but then soon became useless as soon as the psi went north of 70.

    I like the screw on design so much, I have just bought a 2nd one (To replace a backup Blackburn which was a warranty replacement for another blackburn), but this time with a digital gauge, but interestingly they have given up on the useless quick chuck, and just have the screw on one.


    Felt F70 05 (Turbo)
    Marin Palisades Trail 91 and 06
    Scott CR1 SL 12
    Cannondale Synapse Adventure 15 & 16 Di2
    Scott Foil 18
  • mrb123
    mrb123 Posts: 4,828
    Update on this.

    Got the Lezyne one to have a look at (ordered before FA's comment was posted).

    It's fairly useless and has been sent back. Nicely made bit of kit but in use functions no better than any other micro pump I've tried. 100 pumps only had a road tube/tyre up to 30-40psi. Plus the screw on attachments seem quite annoying.

    Decided what I'm after is a fairly compact track pump rather than a glorified micro pump. With that in mind I've ordered one of the below. Stated dimensions suggest it's 10cm shorter than my existing track pump and should go in my bag ok. Plus for the price it won't be too disastrous if it gets wrecked in transit. I will report back...
    https://www.halfords.com/cycling/bike-maintenance/bike-pumps/sks-air-control-8.0-floor-pump-439574.html?stockInventory=undefined&_gl=1*qrrdmx*_up*MQ..*_ga*OTYzMTMyODYwLjE2NzI5ODk4NjE.*_ga_VK44BRER97*MTY3Mjk4OTg2Mi4xLjEuMTY3Mjk4OTg2Mi4wLjAuMA..
  • mrb123
    mrb123 Posts: 4,828
    Picked up that SKS pump from Halfords. Should be just the job I think. 25 pumps achieves 90psi so a world of difference to a mini pump. It's a proper track pump but fairly compact and not heavy so will go in my bag pretty easily I think. Bargain at 16 quid. Photo below next to my Bontrager Charger pump for size comparison...


  • seanoconn
    seanoconn Posts: 11,703
    mrb123 said:

    Picked up that SKS pump from Halfords. Should be just the job I think. 25 pumps achieves 90psi so a world of difference to a mini pump. It's a proper track pump but fairly compact and not heavy so will go in my bag pretty easily I think. Bargain at 16 quid. Photo below next to my Bontrager Charger pump for size comparison...


    Is this your travel bag?


    Pinno, מלך אידיוט וחרא מכונאי
  • mrb123
    mrb123 Posts: 4,828
    Yes, but that is a picture of a normal sized bag being worn by a tiny person.
  • michaelmichaelmichael
    michaelmichaelmichael Posts: 13
    The Bontrager Travel Charger Pump is excellent as the handle and foot both fold inline so it packs very well, they don't seem to be available any more but worth looking out for old stock or second hand

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