I have a Topeak race rocket HP in my road jersey and yesterday had to do a road side puncture. The pump has a 'clever' presta adapter which screws onto the valve's thread - but has a nasty habit of unscrewing the valve core when you remove it. This isn't the first time I've had the problem with this bloody pump - so I am going to put it in my bin pile.
I looked up a few online reviews and the pump has been reviewed very well. Scores of 4 and 4.5* reviews - which leads me to believe that nobody really tried to use it (...I don't think I'm that much of a butter fingers)
So the question is - does anyone have any recommendation for a decent road mini pump which actually works. Normally carry a CO2 canister, so it is more a contingency but need to be able to actually get a road tyre upto pressure.
Unscrewing the valve core after nearly 200 pumps is very very annoying!
Nip up the valve core on new tubes. Especially Continental tubes. I had a new one unscrew 180km into a cold wet Liege Bastogne Liege sportive once. They’re just too loose from the factory.
This one is fantastic, but it’s not very mini:
https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/p/lifeline-motion-floor-mount-mini-pump
Silca - various options. I’ve got a Gravelero.
I have one of these:
https://www.topeak.com/global/en/product/230-MICRO-ROCKET-CARBON
Just push on, so no way it'll unscrew a valve core. It's pretty hard work to get fully up to pressure, and of course you have to be careful not to cut the valve on the rim hole. So it's not a great pump... but for very rare use as a backup to CO2, it's good. 🙂
I have 2 of the topeak race rockets and the race rocket MT and have never had an issue unscrewing the valve core.
Anopther one for the Topeak Micro rocket
Ive got the carbon version on the good road bike and the alloy version on the work bike, perfect addition to a CO2 cannister and really is just a back up, had to use mine a couple of times when there was an issue with the Co2 cannister/head
It does take a hell of a lot of pumps to get upto 80 psi but it gets there without breaking or damaging anything
I've got a topeak one that stores inside the seatpost. Works great, doesn't screw on, and also stays clean and dry. Comes with a rubber band thing that sits on the seatpost to reassure you that it's on that bike and not the winter bike and also to save your saddle height when you replace the post.
Doesn't with with droppers and Thomson posts (turns out they have an oval profile inside)
I have the Topeak Micro Rocket on all my road bikes, never had a problem with it.
https://www.topeak.com/global/en/product/230-MICRO-ROCKET-CARBON
I've got a Topeak roadie DA. Its light and does the job. shove onto presta valve and lift lever.
Not answering the question I know, but I've never regretted going back to a frame pump. Bought a Silca mainly to bling up my steel frame bikes, but it just works so well. Puncture drama is a thing of the past with my pump from the past.
Lezyne screw on heads have a release valve to release the pressurised air from the tube before unscrewing the head. Also the head doesn’t need to be screwed on very tight.
Whichever Lezyne fits your finacial and literal pocket is my usual response - if you unscrew the valve more than once the problem isn't the pump.
Bontrager Air Support works for me - actually capable of getting a road tyre up to pressure without making your arms drop off. It's not as mini as some out there though - a bit too long for a jersey pocket I'd say unless you have very deep ones.
I actually bought a silca frame pump which was great for about 3 years...before it started spontaneosouly ejecting itself from the frame. Wonder if it needs new springs!?
https://www.tweekscycles.com/truflo-road-cnc-high-pressure-mini-pump-madqa4203/
I bought this after one too many disasters with threaded pump connectors. Good old fashioned thumb chuck on a flexible hose 👍
If I had the spare cash I'd probably go Silca or Birzman, I think they both have threadless connectors
Zefal HPX. Give up on mini pumps and lean into the full on audax mindset.
I like this Blackburn CO2fer for road riding - small, end is on a tube rather than solid, screws on, end detaches to become a CO2 adaptor, other end is a valve core tightener.
Another vote for silca tattico. Spendy but worth every penny.
Joe
Free Member
I actually bought a silca frame pump which was great for about 3 years…before it started spontaneosouly ejecting itself from the frame. Wonder if it needs new springs!?
I use a little velcro strap to ensure its not going to eject. I think Silca sell every spare you'll ever need.
I've got a Tattico too, but it has let me down in the past. Good after sales and was sent a spare part to sort it, but got left very far up shit creek at the time
Do the valve core up tighter then fit a valve cap with an integrated valve core removal tool.
I like the topeak morph or mini morph. Has an extender so it doesnt strain the valve and a foot bar to hold it in place. Mini is 150g, normal one is 200g
Nip up the valve core on new tubes. Especially Continental tubes
Zefal HPX is superior to any mini pump, but yes, Lezyne pumps are fine if you nip up the corw.
Zefal HPX is superior to any mini pump, but yes, Lezyne pumps are fine if you nip up the corw.
Got an HPX on my winter roadie, and a spare from another old frame, they shift air and work for the job better than any mini pump I've owned but you sort of have to hold it in place and try not to bend the end of the valve while pumping, and inevitably you bend the valve...
Ultimately yes, proper sized frame pumps FTW. but I can't afford Silca money, so something like an Impero but for HPX money please...
Edit: it's not an HPX it's a 'Rev 88' apparently, I might get an HPX.
Silca Tattico is really functional; a bit bulky for a mini-pump but fantastically made. I like its hose/thumb-lock arrangment which doesn't unscrew valve cores or break the tubeless rim/valve stem seal.
I've also got a Topeak Race Rocket HP which has a hidden valve core tool on the end of its handle and is nice and small.
CO2 by first intent (I carry two) and Topeak micro carbon on the frame for when that doesn’t happen. Of course I’ve tested it at home and had no problem. I’ve watched Lezyne pumps snap off valve stems. Topeak sell spare frame mounts for their mini pumps to move between bikes
if you want the best on bike pump, either a silica frame pump or a Topeak mini morph. I took my mini morph for a week away in lieu of a track pump for daily pumping of latex tubes. It’s a decent pump. It will do track tyre pressures.
On the flip side - I've just bought a MucOff airmach mini pump.
Its looks lovely - but the hose which slides out of the body and attaches to the valve is weird.
If you apply any pressure to it it leaks the air out of the pump as you pump, its probably doinga good job, but it sounds weird and i have to keeo checking its not just leaking from the tyre again.