Best pump for touring.

[tomjw]

What is the best pump for touring i.e light but able to pump tyres up to a high pressure - and reliable/strong ? I am taking the bike by plane so the tyres must be deflated - I had though of carrying cartridges with a small pump for emergencies/topping up. Advice would be appreciated.

[Jeremy Parker]

My pump is a Zefal of some kind - I've had it for years, and it has pumped up many punctures in its time.

After you have deflated your tyres, don't let the airline lose your pump. I used to carry my pump on board until I was accused one time of wanting to hijack the plane with it. Wrapping some duct tape around pump and frame isn't very elegant, but it works, and a few inches of duct tape might always come in useful for something.

Jeremy Parker

[bikepacker]

I have purchased for my wife, one of the 'cyclaire' pumps reviewed in Cycle and other mags. It seems to work very well. I was able to get 95psi into tyres without too much effort. it packs into a case that can be attached to frame or it can go in saddlebag or whatever.

My own prefered option is one of the Pneuforce pumps. Easy to use and the frame acts as an aid to leverage. You need to put into luggage or tape well to frame if taking it on an airline.

Someone did manufacture a pump lock but they seem to be no longer available. If you find any let me know.

[Pedalling Pete]

I have always relied on a full-sized frame-fit Blackburn pump. Their Air-stick mini-pumps are better than most of that type, but if touring you need a big un. Topeak are similar quality I believe.
You raise the old chestnut about having to deflate tyres before flights. The jobsworths at the airports have been trained to counter the risks of pressurized (sic) containers exploding in flight. As a bike tyre is pressurised, they have to be seen to take action. In reality a tyre is designed to handle up to 7-8 BAR when ridden, with a safety margin on top. As the additional pressure from ground level to stratosphere cannot exceed another 1 BAR, it remains within the design tolerances. But when tyres are deflated by the jobsworths, there is a risk of inner tubes being trapped under the tyre beading, and bursting after being reinflated and ridden away from the airport. That can put the rider at risk of being killed in traffic. One might have thought that the CTC could have sorted out this nonsense by now, but then again....

[tomjw]

Thanks for the advice. I have bought a Topeak Mountain Morph. It was quite expensive 24.50 from the CTC shop but it was worth it - it is quite small and attaches to the frame and it has a hose rather than fiiting directly to the valve and it has a small footstand. It is so easy to get the tyres up to a high pressure compared to other pumps I tried. Off to Andalucia soon and I won't have to work up a sweat re-inflating the tyres at the airport. Problem solved.

[CunningFox]

I would advise you to get one that is made with as much metal (aluminium) as possible as I find plastic nozzles last.

Specialized Windpipe (Aluminium Barrel + nozzle, Patch kit, Integrated tyre iron)

www.wiggle.co.uk/Default.aspx?Main=Prod ... 5300005073

[Helen]

I'm a little weakling and can recommend the Pneuforce. I keep it in the pannier.
Have taken bike on plane many times and sometimes had trouble pumping up tyres at destination UNTIL I started only semi-deflating tyres and replacing dustcap. This seems to have stopped tyre damage. You might have to reassure airport staff that you HAVE let some air out.
Some airline websites nowadays say that cycles and wheelchairs that might have trouble with re-inflation need not let any air out.

[Peter Pan]

I'd agree about the Pheu Force. Great pump and no phew - whether you use the full size or the mini - they're both great. Spares available too.

PP