I lost a fight with a CO2 inflator this weekend and am ready to start carry a pump rather than rely on CO2. Any recommendations for a specific model or warnings on one to avoid. My focus is on 500-mile self-supported races, so space and weight are a definite issues. Any thoughts or experiences to share about the small electrics vs hand pumps?
There’s a thread about electric pumps, but I don’t know how long they’ve been used for
I do self-supported long-distance events and would not touch an electric pump or CO2 cartridge with a ten-foot pole. At 3 AM, in the cold and dark, it is too easy to mess up and anything with a limited number of “inflations” doesn’t cut it. (Yes, they work fine, but not in worst case scenarios.)
The ideal pump is small, lightweight, and reliable. Get one with a locking chuck (a lever of some type), not one with a screw-on chuck. The screw-on ones will unscrew your valve stem and leave you looking like an idiot when you can’t get the stem out of the pump. Yep, seen this happen many times.
The two I’ve seen that people count on regularly are:
Topeak Road Morph
Silca Tattico
There are plenty of cheaper and lighter pumps, but I’ve watched many of these implode and get tossed in the rubbish bin on the side of the road. I’m sure others will have good suggestions as well. Likewise, I’m sure folks have done thousands of miles with their electric pumps and/or CO2 cartridges, so YMMV.
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I use a Topeak Race Rocket for road. I like that it has an extendable hose to relieve stress on the valve stem. I use larger volume (bigger diameter) versions of the same pump for wide gravel and mtb tires. Mini Pumps | Topeak
I’m also in the manual pump camp after having CO2 and electric inflators fail me on long rides.
I have a Silca frame pump and it fits perfectly in my frame. It’s not much heavier than a few CO2’s, either. Whether it fits well on yours well depends on the geometry.
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I have also been in difficult situations on long exposed rides relying on CO2 or even mini-pumps.
I now carry a Lezyne HV Micro Floor Drive which isnt the lightest but has been super reliable. It does have the annoying screw-on valve attachment…although there is a little button to press to release the air and stop it undoing the valve core. It seems like a large pump but has saved my arse, and other peoples, many a time.
However, looking at the pumps recommended by @mimod above, the Topeak Road Morph looks like a great option for a similar option with a locking chuck and, if I was to replace, I’d definitely consider that option.
I’ve had problems with both types, either the valve core coming undone with the screw one chuck or the valve core stem bending or coming off anyway with a locking chuck.
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I’ve been using this one for many years. Light, compact, and reliable.
I highly suggest the Silca tattico (which I have) or the gravelero (which I think is the same but lighter). The thing is like 2/3 as good as a floor pump at a fraction of the size. It puts out/in a lot of air for far less effort than other pumps near its size. I had a topeak ninja which was cool because it fit inside the seatpost but that thing took 2-3x as many pumps to get to nominal pressure than the tattico(did a little comparison one time). Sure, the tattico is a touch heavy but it’s not all that big, has a bottle cage mount that works well and it won’t wear out your elbow trying to pump up a large volume tire, or for that matter any tire. I’ve been commended on it twice when I’ve saved other riders with it. Once on a gravel event with a guy with a full flat putting a tube in, got him up to rideable in not all that much time. Second was a lady with a slow leak who didn’t want to freeze her sealant with a Co2. Both were impressed and so am I every time I use it.
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I bought I think this same pump over 10 years ago. Still works to this day. Been with me for over a decade of commuting.