Hi everyone, I’d be looking for some recommendation for an on bike pump.
Some background to the question. I was recently out on a road bike ride when I had a puncture. I am running inner tubes and I always carry a spare plus some patches. I was able to fix the puncture but did not manage to pump the tire up to sufficient pressure to get it to seat properly with my lezyne pocket drive mini pump. What ensued was a very bumpy ride home.
Later at home I was curious and tried if I could get the tire to seat properly given enough time using just the mini pump. I was able to do so but it took considerable effort.
My LBS recommended I buy a little electrical pump. While that might be a good suggestion, I don’t want to have yet another device I want to keep charged and ultimately produce more electronic waste.
So my question would be, are there any good on-bike pumps for road usage? I’m not opposed to the idea of a classic frame pump either such as the ones from Silca.
Since I bought my Silca Tattico every flat is a pleasure. The chuck is great, aire volume is great and since I don’t need my bike to be or look super light I’m fine with the size too. I used Lezyne and Blackburn pumps before and Silca is completely differenr ballpark. It’s not rare that I end up helping with flats on group rides where the Tattico is the most capable pump and doesen’t unscrew the valve core at the end. I know Lezyne has the pressure relief valves on the thread on chuck but it unscrewed a core anyway so many times that I sincerely hate the design
Ah cool, I was also contemplating the Tattico, good to hear that you like it.
I have also experienced the frustration of screwing out the core with the Lezyne. What’s probably even worse is if you just slightly loosen the core so that it’s not completely tight anymore so you end up with a slow leak … that design decision alone is reason to switch away from the Lezyne. I have become paranoid to the point where I always tighten the valve core after using the Lezyne…
+1 for the Tattico. I’ve had one for almost a decade now and it’s been flawless. Not cheap and yes, it’s heavy. But like Tim Krabbé’s tale of Anquetil moving his water bottle from bike to jersey on climbs so he had a lighter bike, I just carry it in the center jersey pocket and I’ve never noticed its heft.
Tattico is great; I have one on my road bike. I have a Silca Gravelero on my gravel bike, and I love it too. The Tattico feels a bit heavier duty and is easier to pump at high pressure, but the Gravelero is lighter and higher volume. I’ve had Lezyne in the past, with similarly poor experience. Also had a crank brothers pump that worked great until I rode with it in the rain…and it let water in and failed. Just normal riding, not a heavy downpour. Very disappointing. I’ve also considered electric pumps, but because my use is very sporadic and because it’s really just there for an emergency, I’ve stuck with manual.
Add me to the pro-Tattico group. It is built to last. I have had a few other mini-pumps which were ok, but the Tattico is something I don’t imagine having to replace in a long time! Just like my Silca Floor pump, which I have had for over 15 years it continues to work so well despite the abuse I have put it through!
I have a Birzman Scope Apogee that came in 2nd in a Dave Rome review to the Tattico, after several years with the Lezyne that unscrewed valves.
It’s good when you get it locked on the valve properly, but it always takes me a while for that to happen for some reason. But I mostly have it as a backup for CO2.
If I was to get a mini pump again I’d just spend the money on the Tattico
I love my Topeak Roadie TT (not the Roadie DA as tested by Dave). It quickly inflates my tubeless tyres (I run around 4 bar) and have used it multiple times for other’s tyres on group rides with quick results. Though it doesn’t have a flexible hose, after several decades using such pumps I’ve never damaged a valve stem so this suits me fine. My only complaint is the rubber strap on the side mount bracket quickly perished, now replaced with a large O-ring.
I have an SKS Airflex Racer fixed to my bike, and it works great. Especially the little flexibele tube also helps with a somewhat comfortable movement and no issue getting pressure in tires. And it is also affordable.
I think as we all know the only way to avoid flats is to carry the required spares. Good to know that seemingly only the sight of a Tattico is enough to compel the air to stay within the tire
Interesting point that I’ve never thought about. I just like having my puncture repair stuff live permanently on my bike so I have a harder time forgetting it when going on a ride. This is another good reason for that approach.
