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I need a new pump for the road bike. Not after a full size frame hobby, just something to tuck into a jersey pocket in case I get through both CO2 cartridges. Any recommendations?
Feature-wise I guess a hose would be good, preferably not screw-on as that always seems to undo the valve core when you remove the pump!
For a jersey pocket and for only occasional use, I'd go with a Topeak Micro Rocket, personally.
picked up a couple of the dual blow PX ones recently.
Under a fiver, bottle mount, dual valve and will easily do 80'ish PSI.
Not huge pressure but they'll get you home for a lot lot less that the others.
Feature-wise I guess a hose would be good, preferably not screw-on as that always seems to undo the valve core when you remove the pump!
I've got the smallest Lezyne one. It's got a screw on hose, but it's also got a pressure release button that avoids the problem of unscrewing the valve core. I'd definitely recommend it: very small, but very effective.
Anything by Lezyne; their kit is superbly manufactured.
I don't carry a pump. If I get through both the CO2 cyclinders I carry, I'll shoulder the bike and stick out a thumb or call Mum's taxi.
Gave up on the really tiny ones (Topeak Micro Rocket carbon and pocket rocket) and carry a Lezyne Mini Drive in an Elite Tool Bottle. It has a hose which really helps with pumping because the micro pumps are too close to the spokes when pumping.
If must have tiny, I also have a Zefal Air Profil Micro Mini Pump and it is much better made than the Topeaks. Fits in my race pouch (read small clear pencil case) for back pocket duties.
I use CO2 cartridges by first intent. Carry two plus a two tubes and instant patches. I haven't got to pump and patch desperation yet!
While Lezyne kit may be "superbly manufactured", I've found like the OP that the valve core gets unscrewed when you remove the pump which somewhat negates the point of having a pump in the first place!
The hose with the pressure release button sounds interesting, I might seek out a "replacement" hose to give it a go.
Currently use a Topeak Mini Morph, not the sleekest or easiest to have in your jersey pocket but at least it works.
I just tighten my valve cores up tight and carry the tiny little tool.
Never had a non screw on type that hasn't been a pain to use at some point.
Patches and a pump. Maybe a spare tube but thats unnecesary as i'm happy to patch at the road side
If you'd actually prefer to pump your tyres up, and not burn your arms out in the process, then a Topeak Road Morph can't be bettered.
Lezyne look nice and I wanted a hose, but I resorted to Loctite on valve cores, even using the pressure release button after tightening with a small plastic valve core tool still led to unscrwing despite not scrwing up tight and living the hose o ring. Extremely frustrating.
I just tighten my valve cores up tight and carry the tiny little tool.
Never had a non screw on type that hasn't been a pain to use at some point.
Patches and a pump. Maybe a spare tube but thats unnecesary as i'm happy to patch at the road side
And therein lies the problem: a pump should just work as invariably you are going to be in a situation where you need it to work. Lezynes don't, by your own admission you have to screw up the valve core extremely tightly, carry an extra tool or loctite it in place.
Poddles is right, though I wouldn't fancy popping one in my jersey pocketIf you'd actually prefer to pump your tyres up, and not burn your arms out in the process, then a Topeak Road Morph can't be bettered.
The great Lezyne valve core problem
All my pumps are now Lezyne. Think I removed the valve core a couple of times to start with, then I figured it out. Not happened again in the last 3 years.
Once you've done it once, if it happens again, its actually not a Lezyne design problem. 😉
After wasting a lot of money on various micro pumps which were incapable of getting a tyre up to a decent pressure and invariably ripped the valve out or bent the core while trying to use them I bought a Topeak Road Morph. Which actually works.
Slightly bulkier but ultimately it's only worth carrying something that actually works.
Topeak Race Rocket is pretty small, has an extendable hose. It does screw on, though I've not had any problems with it unscrewing the valves.
Topeak Mini Morph is the only pump I possess & I've had 80+ psi in a road tyre. It's got a hose, a T handle & a flip out stand at the bottom, so It's like a mini track pump. Fits in pockets too.
Go on then, what's your Lezyne tip?
Lube the o ring
Tighten the core hard
Don't overtightened the pump, but enough to seal
Press the button after pumping
Unscrew carefully while crossing fingers
Relying on the correct thread of a pair to undo based on more friction is a poor Engineering solution. I'm buying new pumps.
I find the third option is quite sufficient.
I've used Lezyne pumps for a few years now and never unscrewed a core. Am I doin it rong?
The Birzman Velociy Apogee looks awesome (by spec alone) as it has a guage, flexi spout, fits in a hobbits pocket and weighs 118g.
I have not used one yet (planning to take it on our Divide amd TAT).... can anybody offer a users opinion on it please?
I've used the Topeak race and pocket rockets - this looks better specc'd.
I just use decathlon cheapo
Not a great tragedy when they get lost....
Has reversible tip for Schrader / Presta valves
(And it does exactly what it should unlike some mini pumps I've experienced)
I have two road bikes and for one I have a Bontrager dual action pump which goes in the pocket and some CO2 cartridges in the seat pack. For the other I have a topeak pocket rocket dx2 on the bottle mount and a multitool with a CO2 inflator on it in the seatpack. Both solutions work but the latter is "easier" as I don't need to remember the pump.
I'm just wondering if the Lezyne problem might be certain unbranded cheap innertubes.
I've tried the "don't over tighten" method #3, that doesn't work. I'm assuming that the pressure release button is on more recent versions of the pumps as mine which is about five years old doesn't have one.
Based on my (and others') experience I wouldn't rely on a Lezyne pump, as @gravity-slave says, "it's a poor engineering solution"
it happened so frequently with me I ended up gluing the core into the tube. That said, the pump in question is a portable track pump style thing so a couple more mins if the core pops out isn't a huge drama. It's why I've not bought a Lezyne pump for out on the road tho