Does anyone have any recommendations for tiny bike pumps to keep on my commuter? Durability is preferred, but I don’t want to break the bank if it gets stolen.
Are you opposed to CO2 inflators? That’s about as compact as you can get, and relatively effortless to use too.
I have Lezyne Tech Drive HP ABS Mini Pump and I’m happy with it. Per other posts, this is small, metal and has a hose with both presta and schrader
Also travel with a super light bead jack to help with getting road tyres back on
Genuine question but why do you need one? I’ve cycle commuted for around 10 years now and have never needed to carry a pump on me.
Some people (myself included) like having a pump in addition to a couple CO2 carts just to be prepared
But why carry excess weight and lose valuable bag space everyday taking unnecessary things with you. If you are commuting by bike then you need your bike to be reliable which means you should invest in good tyres.
If you are getting punctures then you either need to get an armoured tyre if you are using tubes (I’ve used specialised crossroads and marathon plus) or invest in a proper tubeless setup.
I just don’t really understand why you’d carry a load of crap you don’t need for the sake of being “prepared” rather than investing in the mode of transport you rely on to get you to work every single day. No one wants to be trying to fix a puncture in the pouring rain knowing you still have to also work a full shift for the sake of not just investing a small amount of money into tour setup.
I haven’t had one puncture in all my years of commuting which I put down to being prepared in terms of getting the right gear for the job in the first place. Regular maintanance and cleaning to keep your bike running well is all you need, the only tool I’ve ever carried is a small multi tool and I’ve not once used that even.
My pump doesnt go in my bag it’s strapped to my frame. When im commuting im carrying lunch, and a change of clothes. What is a few extra ounces fit piece of mind?
I like commuting on lightweight tires and standard butyl tubes because the lowered rotational weight is much more noticeable than the static weight of an extra co2 cartridge, tube and pump. I commute on the same road bike I use for fun.
Airing up my bike before i leave in the morning and not riding in the gutter means I’m not putting my tires where all the thorns and road debris is located.
Im not gram conscious. And i think it’s a little ironic that you are considering how heavy you’ve made your wheels in the name of flat protection.
I’m glad your experience has been idyllic, but oftentimes things happen to people. Not unreasonable to carry an item the size of a banana to get out of a jam. Something I have used 4 times over the last 4 years riding in an urban setting. Really saved my butt out riding with my kid. Why sound so shitty on people? Different people experience different things.
I’ve helped a five or six folk over two decades who have thought the same as you. Donated a tube and used my pump to infate and get them on their way.
That said if it’s worked for 10 years why bother now? The only point to make is if it does happen that you get a flat, what will you do? Ring your partnter and get a lift, or use an Uber (?) fair enough. Walk with the bike for 20k in the dark to get home ? Maybe an idea to have a spare and a pump?
I’ve helped out several people with flats, and had a flat away from home which required a pump (obviously). Even came in handy when I punctured a tubeless tire on my escooter.
That was all within three years. For something that weighs less than a bottle of water, but can provide a ton of benefit, seems like an easy choice.
Having used quite a few different bike pumps I chose one which is made of metal, has a hose and pressure meter, it is basically a mini floor pump but the size of a hand pump (slightly longer but more narrow). Mine is Moon Aiolos Gauge MFP but eg Lezyne has similar models. Screw-on adapter can be problematic with presta valves because some models tend to screw the valve core out when you remove the adapter, but I’ve never had that problem with mine. Here’s a review of the pump. Basically don’t need a floor pump either when I have this.
I got my daughter a nice accessory for her bike: An electric pump. You can pre-set the target pressure, clip it on, press a button, and it gets gone. It also works as a flashlight and a power bank, so it is actually a useful thing and gets charged up often enough to actually have power when needed.
This sounds handy, however I’m prioritizing reliability which is hard to beat with a mechanical pump.
