Kit - Pump

[ymfb]

At present I carry a mini pump and C02 canisters, which has been good enough for local rides.

Earlier in the year, along with the same two friends who I’m planning Lejog with for next year we rode Hadrians Wall C2C. As my wife was our support in the car I took my Michelin rechargeable tyre inflator that I carry on my m/c. For three mornings I checked and topped up our tyre pressures.

I’ve dismissed the idea of the new micro rechargeable tyre inflators as they seem to have a very limited number of inflations. Am I right to do that ?

I’m wondering if I should purchase something like the Lezyne HV Micro Floor Drive Pump With Gauge as six tyres a day all 32-38 mm would need checking. Or should I just stick with what I have and take a separate pressure gauge?

[roubaixtuesday]

At present I carry a mini pump and C02 canisters, which has been good enough for local rides.

Earlier in the year, along with the same two friends who I’m planning Lejog with for next year we rode Hadrians Wall C2C. As my wife was our support in the car I took my Michelin rechargeable tyre inflator that I carry on my m/c. For three mornings I checked and topped up our tyre pressures.

I’ve dismissed the idea of the new micro rechargeable tyre inflators as they seem to have a very limited number of inflations. Am I right to do that ?

I’m wondering if I should purchase something like the Lezyne HV Micro Floor Drive Pump With Gauge as six tyres a day all 32-38 mm would need checking. Or should I just stick with what I have and take a separate pressure gauge?

I've got one of those and also a Topeak morph pump. Both are good kit. The Topeak pressure gauges are better, i think (the Lezyne one tends to stick) if that's important to you.

But for three days, topping up tyres every day seems OTT to me. I'd only use a pump if punctured under those circumstances. Nothing much happens in three days (perhaps unless tubeless?)

If you do want a pressure gauge, I've got a Schwalbe digital one which has been great.

[Paulatic]

I’m wondering if I should purchase something like the Lezyne HV Micro Floor Drive Pump With Gauge as six tyres a day all 32-38 mm would need checking. Or should I just stick with what I have and take a separate pressure gauge?

My bold
Why?
Have you got leaky tyres/ tubes or you don’t trust your thumb.

[Jdsk]

The archives contain a vast amount of information on and experiences with small pumps:
viewtopic.php?t=165442
viewtopic.php?t=165414
viewtopic.php?t=165369
viewtopic.php?t=165084
viewtopic.php?t=164237
viewtopic.php?t=163753

What's the mass and size of your powered inflator and cylinders?

I carry that model of Lezyne pump with me all of the time, except that mine is an HP rather than an HV: utility, day rides, big family day rides, long tours. I don't carry another gauge, and i've checked the one in the pump against the best gauge that I have. On tour tyres are checked once a week whether they need it or not (see Queen Elizabeth's bath schedule).

Jonathan

[Jdsk]

I can't get the precision that i want using my thumb. But I now carry a pump with a gauge anyway.

It's not hard to test the thumb method, and I recommend doing that blinded with someone else setting the pressure.

Jonathan

[Paulatic]

I can't get the precision that i want using my thumb. But I now carry a pump with a gauge anyway.

It's not hard to test the thumb method, and I recommend doing that blinded with someone else setting the pressure.

Jonathan

I doubt anyone can be as precise as a gauge with a thumb. I often play guess the pressure before putting track pump with gauge on to the valve. I know I can be be as far as 20 psi out. When out on the road touring that’s not what I’m looking for.
I know what the pressure was when I set out a week ago all I want my thumb to detect is how much air have I lost in the last week and is it worth topping it up. We gain some insight, while at home, as to each tyres weekly air loss, which helps decide.
I did get a puncture on LEJOG but I’d put that down to a Yorkshire 'tight' trait ( getting every last mile out of a tyre) rather than running on an imprecise pressure.

[rareposter]

Earlier in the year, along with the same two friends who I’m planning Lejog with for next year we rode Hadrians Wall C2C. As my wife was our support in the car...

Are you going to have vehicle support on your LEJOG?
If so, a track pump in the car is probably the easiest.

If not, you could:
learn what the optimum pressure feels like by thumb at home. It probably won't be accurate to the nearest ionosphere but unless you're extremely particular about being +/- 5psi of "perfect", it's likely good enough.

buy a mini-pump with a pressure gauge

buy a pressure gauge and check them every morning

buy one of those micro-inflator pumps with a built-in gauge

Most of those will do about 4 full inflations before needing a recharge and that only takes 20-30 minutes. Personally, I think they're an absolute game-changer. Completely reusable (unlike CO2 canisters), you always get pressure to the exact psi you want, they're smaller, lighter and much faster to inflate than a pump and the charge thing is irrelevant since you'll be recharging phones, GPS, lights etc on a regular basis anyway. I've not taken my actual mini-pump on a ride since getting one.

[ymfb]

I’m wondering if I should purchase something like the Lezyne HV Micro Floor Drive Pump With Gauge as six tyres a day all 32-38 mm would need checking. Or should I just stick with what I have and take a separate pressure gauge?

My bold
Why?
Have you got leaky tyres/ tubes or you don’t trust your thumb.

Because we are anal

[ymfb]

Earlier in the year, along with the same two friends who I’m planning Lejog with for next year we rode Hadrians Wall C2C. As my wife was our support in the car...

Are you going to have vehicle support on your LEJOG?
If so, a track pump in the car is probably the easiest.

If not, you could:
learn what the optimum pressure feels like by thumb at home. It probably won't be accurate to the nearest ionosphere but unless you're extremely particular about being +/- 5psi of "perfect", it's likely good enough.

buy a mini-pump with a pressure gauge

buy a pressure gauge and check them every morning

buy one of those micro-inflator pumps with a built-in gauge

Most of those will do about 4 full inflations before needing a recharge and that only takes 20-30 minutes. Personally, I think they're an absolute game-changer. Completely reusable (unlike CO2 canisters), you always get pressure to the exact psi you want, they're smaller, lighter and much faster to inflate than a pump and the charge thing is irrelevant since you'll be recharging phones, GPS, lights etc on a regular basis anyway. I've not taken my actual mini-pump on a ride since getting one.

No support for LEJOG

My thumb isn’t calibrated, so checking with a gauge is best

I’ve already decided the 4 inflations isn’t practical for a three week trip.

[roubaixtuesday]

Earlier in the year, along with the same two friends who I’m planning Lejog with for next year we rode Hadrians Wall C2C. As my wife was our support in the car...

Are you going to have vehicle support on your LEJOG?
If so, a track pump in the car is probably the easiest.

If not, you could:
learn what the optimum pressure feels like by thumb at home. It probably won't be accurate to the nearest ionosphere but unless you're extremely particular about being +/- 5psi of "perfect", it's likely good enough.

buy a mini-pump with a pressure gauge

buy a pressure gauge and check them every morning

buy one of those micro-inflator pumps with a built-in gauge

Most of those will do about 4 full inflations before needing a recharge and that only takes 20-30 minutes. Personally, I think they're an absolute game-changer. Completely reusable (unlike CO2 canisters), you always get pressure to the exact psi you want, they're smaller, lighter and much faster to inflate than a pump and the charge thing is irrelevant since you'll be recharging phones, GPS, lights etc on a regular basis anyway. I've not taken my actual mini-pump on a ride since getting one.

No support for LEJOG

My thumb isn’t calibrated, so checking with a gauge is best

I’ve already decided the 4 inflations isn’t practical for a three week trip.

You're aware they can be recharged? I would have thought one of those plus a minipump for emergencies/backup would be fine, however anal you are!

[geocycle]

I use a Fumpa nano electric pump as backup to my Lezyne floor drive or Topeak mini pumps. It does 1-2 inflations from flat to 50-60psi in a 38 mm tyre. It recharges in less than 30 mins so possible during a cafe stop. It is the size of a matchbox but if buying again I might go for a slightly larger model with a gauge. I would not use it as my only pump but it does help when you puncture after a day of hill climbing.

However, on a long tour I would tend to fully inflate the tyres at the start and inspect each week as they should still be well within operating range. When touring I try an avoid tinkering with anything unless absolutely necessary as it inevitably leads to a bigger job for which you probably don't have the tools!

[rareposter]

I’ve already decided the 4 inflations isn’t practical for a three week trip.

3-4 inflations per charge.

They recharge in half an hour. And frankly if you're getting 3-4 punctures per day, there's more pressing problems than the tyre inflator!

Good thing with them is you can programme a pressure and it'll inflate the tyre to that pressure, then turn itself off.

[ymfb]

I’ve already decided the 4 inflations isn’t practical for a three week trip.

3-4 inflations per charge.

They recharge in half an hour. And frankly if you're getting 3-4 punctures per day, there's more pressing problems than the tyre inflator!

Good thing with them is you can programme a pressure and it'll inflate the tyre to that pressure, then turn itself off.

Yes I’m aware they are rechargeable.

If I were to carry a mini tyre inflator that would be additional to a mini pump. If I bought something like the Lezyne micro floor pump with gauge it would replace CO2 canisters & inflator also the mini pump.

[ymfb]

My LBS doesn’t have so have ordered the Lezyne micro floor pump with gauge, if I dont like it I can return it.

Thanks for the replies.

[Grandad]

Does anyone still use the old frame fitting pumps?