Expected lifetime for bike pump

[asc99c]

On Monday, I suffered my first puncture of my new bike commute, 14 miles from home, and discovered my pump attached to the bike just wouldn't work - air was leaking from the back of the pump body. Taxi home job [emoji35]

Anyway, I bought this pump two years ago, and other than testing it a couple of times it's been used once, about one year ago. It was a relatively expensive one £40 IIRC, lovely design with a pop out hose, Schrader/Presta valves and a pressure gauge, and really compact.

It replaced two much cheaper ones I'd had (Halfords specials), that in both cases broke the first time I tried to use them out and about. But I did a lot less cycling then, so they might have been 3-4 years old.

I've had the same track pump in the garage throughout, always works fine, but these hand pumps just seem rubbish.

Are there any decent ones or is it better to just keep one of those CO2 canisters instead (or do they have a shelf life also?!)

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[Deleted member 4366]

That's right. Pumps often let you down in your time of need. I've been using a Lezyne one for the last few years. It's always worked and I've used it many times. The only thing against them is the plastic thread in the main body is easy to cross-thread. I was warned, so I'm always careful and haven't had the problem, but I can see a lot of ham-fisted guys ruining them. On the plus side, the hose thing is a lot more robust than your average pump and it fits both size valves by swapping it round (It screws on two ways):

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lezyne-Sport-Drive-HP-Small-Bike-Bicycle-Hand-Pump-GREY-w-Bracket/162169949248?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid=222007&algo=SIM.MBE&ao=2&asc=43782&meid=5567c7c310bc4c96a85564638274a9a2&pid=100005&rk=3&rkt=6&sd=172690129292

 

[Trevormonty]

That's right. Pumps often let you down in your time of need. I've been using a Lezyne one for the last few years. It's always worked and I've used it many times. The only thing against them is the plastic thread in the main body is easy to cross-thread. I was warned, so I'm always careful and haven't had the problem, but I can see a lot of ham-fisted guys ruining them. On the plus side, the hose thing is a lot more robust than your average pump and it fits both size valves by swapping it round (It screws on two ways):

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Lezyne-Sport-Drive-HP-Small-Bike-Bicycle-Hand-Pump-GREY-w-Bracket/162169949248?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid=222007&algo=SIM.MBE&ao=2&asc=43782&meid=5567c7c310bc4c96a85564638274a9a2&pid=100005&rk=3&rkt=6&sd=172690129292

I bought same Lezyne pump after cheap one let me down in middle of nowhere. Not lot of use, do like hose as puts less strain on valve and doesn't take long to get to rideable pressure.

Does pay to test your pump every so often.

 

[mike killay]

I have gone the easy way and carry a gas one.
Never used it though.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

I have gone the easy way and carry a gas one.
Never used it though.

The problem with the gas ones is deciding how many gas bottles to take. One time, I had 6 punctures in my tube from the same event. They only showed up one at a time when the tyre kept going down, so I had to stop three times to repair them. You need to pump the tube up a bit to find the puncture, so one cylinder might not be enough for one puncture, especially if it's a wide tyre. I used to carry a CO2 pump, but now I prefer the certainty of a hand-pump.

 

[mike killay]

The problem with the gas ones is deciding how many gas bottles to take. One time, I had 6 punctures in my tube from the same event. They only showed up one at a time when the tyre kept going down, so I had to stop three times to repair them. You need to pump the tube up a bit to find the puncture, so one cylinder might not be enough for one puncture, especially if it's a wide tyre. I used to carry a CO2 pump, but now I prefer the certainty of a hand-pump.

On my Tonaro, with QR skewers etc., it is quick to remove the wheel and tyre and change the tube.
Repair the old one back home.

 

[asc99c]

S*** another puncture today, and my new pump broke the first time I tried to use it. Think I'm going to get those cartridges instead...

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[Deleted member 4366]

S*** another puncture today, and my new pump broke the first time I tried to use it. Think I'm going to get those cartridges instead...

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk

If you get a good quality pump like the Lezyne, you'll be OK. The CO2 doesn't work in all circumstances. It'll be OK for a simple puncture when you're at home, but things are never that simple out on the road.

 

[rich_r]

I've still got the 18" long Halfords branded one I bought back in 1981, and it still works. Having said that it hasn't had a huge amount of use over that time - once I had a house of my own I got a compressor in the garage. And as I rarely do more than 3 or 4 hours of cycling in a day I usually just top the tyres up with that unless I get a puncture.
Perhaps I ought to buy a more 'modern' pump that takes up less room!

 

[Gringo]

I have a lezyne attached to my pedelec and lve used it 3 times in 4000 miles, faultless.

Right now as I type this, in my eBay basket I have another pump http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/232273050604
And this co2 inflator
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/182606456884
Both to use on a analog 29er I've just built
now I'm riding regularly with a local casual group, I'm seeing the speed advantage of co2 & not wanting to be the cause of too long a hold up should the worst happen I'll carry a co2 inflator aswell.
I've chosen this particular inflator because it takes non threaded co2 cylinders (as used for paint ball guns) and these are les than 1/4 the price of cycle specific co2, oh yes I've a box of them in the back of a cupboard as well
Anywho, I'd best be off to the bay and pay for my goods

 

[EddiePJ]

I have been using a Topeak Mountain Morph with great success for a number of years, but also have a Lezyne pump that I found on the South Downs. The Lezyne pump has better feel and quality about it, but I shall just continue using the Topeak pump, as the air chamber is bigger.

With a plus size bike on the way, I will probably switch to a 25g co2 system, but that is a kind of reluctant switch, as previous experience with co2 hasn't been great, with wasted one shot cylinders, and questionable valve stem fit.

 

[topographer]

I have been using a Topeak Mountain Morph

Oh *******. I didn't know you could get small pumps that you could brace on the ground for track pump style inflating. I just bought the smallest pump in Halfords. I wish I hadn't because I hate hand pumping.