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 like them for road biking but would prefer a mechanical pump for a commuter bike due to reliability and being able to change infinite flats.
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.
I carry a spare tube, so I need a way to inflate it.
I have had rides ruined because of a friend not carrying a spare tube or a way to inflate it.
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.
Armoured for an electric bike I’ve had in the past where it didn’t make that much difference, tubeless otherwise. It isn’t so much the weight it is the carry extra crap.
I commute on the same bike I use for training / fun, what’s your point. Like you say as long as you are conscious of where you are riding I just don’t see the necessity of carrying even more parafinalia around with you.
A good tubeless set up means minimal rotational weight and not having to stop at all and fight with tyres and tubes and pumps and all that shit. It just all seems illogical to me.
If you define useful tools as “crap” then i can see why it’s illogical too you.
I do not define tools as useless “paraphernalia.” I carry enough things with me to get my bike back on the and me to my destination without having to rely on anyone else. If i flat 3 tires on my hour long bike commute, but ive only got 2 CO2 carts, then that pump is going to get me home.
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.
In this case it was more about ease of use. My daughter has difficulties in finding if the tire pressure is right. Just having to press a button and get the pressure right on the first attempt is worth it.
