buying a pump-gauge or no gauge?

[stated]

The ones with no gauge seem cheaper and more compact, is it best to buy it and then buy one of those connectors that I can use at the petrol station to check the pressure? anyone who does it that way?
I am looking at topeak road morph$57, against topeak pocket rocket master blaster dx $25.

[Bnej]

When you're using a hand pump after a flat, usually you just want to get it to rideable pressure, for which you don't need a gauge, just thumb test.

I have a Blackburn Airstik which has worked great for me, very solid, aluminium barrel, serviceable, pumps up to reasonable road pressure without a lot of effort.

My money goes good quality hand pump, with 2 way action (saves time for the first 50 PSI or so). Proper floor pump to check pressure when you get home. Wouldn't bother out on the road, didn't check mine for months (did it by thumb feel) and it didn't make much difference.

[LuckyPierre]

I'd go the bnej route - out on yourbike you just want the tyre back up to rideable pressure. Worry about what pressure it is when you get home and can use your track pump to finish the job.
Can I hijack this a little?
Too late, I have. What about on-bike pumps for mtb's? I'm dreading the thought of getting an mtb tyre back up after a flat with my road pump.

[sogood]

No need for a gauge if you have a gauge/track pump at home. If that's your only pump, then having a gauge is worthwhile.

[stryker84]

Too late, I have. What about on-bike pumps for mtb's? I'm dreading the thought of getting an mtb tyre back up after a flat with my road pump.

Why the worry? I would've thought it'd be easier than trying to fill a road tyre with an MTB pump, since the fat knobblies run on much lower pressures than a road slick.

[toolonglegs]

don't forget the CO2 option if you have a track pump at home...you will never look back!.

[sogood]

don't forget the CO2 option if you have a track pump at home...you will never look back!.

Yep, when you've used up your CO2 cartridges, you definitely won't look back.

[mikesbytes]

Most of us will probably recommend that you get 2 pumps, a good floor pump for home and a basic pump for the bike.

Peter, The little pump isn't a problem for the MTB on the road as you don't need to inflate the tyre as hard anyway.

[toolonglegs]

don't forget the CO2 option if you have a track pump at home...you will never look back!.

Yep, when you've used up your CO2 cartridges, you definitely won't look back.

yeah but i never have one puncture on a ride...learnt my lesson and take 3 tubes and 3 canisters every ride...i can change a puncture in less time than a lap in hefron and jump staight back on.
I have had more bad luck with pumps not working than running out of cannisters.

[Bnej]

A chunkier MTB type hand pump with a fatter barrel will inflate high volume tyres faster. You'll get there with the road pump, but it will take a lot of pumping if it is one of the smaller pocket pumps.

[stated]

sooo...
I am buying a compact pump with no gauge, where do i find an adapter so i can check the pressure at the petrol station? searched ebay but couldn't find it.

[LuckyPierre]

If you have presta valves, you probably won't be able to check them at a servo - their gauges usually won't go high enough.

[Mulger bill]

sooo...
I am buying a compact pump with no gauge, where do i find an adapter so i can check the pressure at the petrol station? searched ebay but couldn't find it.

I did stumble on them not long ago while hunting for a hacker, pity I can't remember where....
Ahh, here they are

If that's no good, my LBS has them. I'll be happy to post one to you if you want to PM me.

Shaun

[stated]

cheers guys,
I better visit the nearby petrol pumps to see how high their gauges read.

[mikesbytes]

If you have presta valves, you probably won't be able to check them at a servo - their gauges usually won't go high enough.

You can usually get 60-70psi at the servo and then add a bit more with the hand pump. Personally I couldn't be bothered with the servo.

[stated]

So what is floor pump do you recommend? thanks.

[LuckyPierre]

A couple of us have the Airwave, but a metal barrel is probably better in the long run.

[mikesbytes]

So what is floor pump do you recommend? thanks.

One with a long skinny shaft, definitely not the ones with fat shafts.

[Bnej]

I have a Bontrager TurboCharger floor pump, seems very good so far, long narrow metal barrel.

[drevil]

I just bought a pump from Torpedo 7 for $39 and it seems pretty good. Has a guage and steel/alloy barrel and is rated to 200 PSI.

[GaryF]

I would recommend buying a track/floor pump for home. One that will pump up the tubes for road and mountain bikes. It is really handy to know what pressure you are running in your tubes.

[stated]

The topeak pocket rocket master blaster dx arrived today. Both 70-23C tyres I have have a rating of 100psi and after using them for 300km from new they seem they are running low on pressure, I pumped them up and now they are much stiffer. Went for a 12k ride and I felt the front needed to loose some pressure, mainly by looking at how much its buldging and squeezing it with my fingers. Topping them up with air seemed so easy, I recommend this pump.
I'll buy the floor pump in the future, thanks for you're advice.

[stryker84]

related note: don't just go by the tyre rating, pump them up according to how how heavy you are,and what rolling resistance you get. sheldon brown's site has a good GUIDE on tyre presures, so have a read.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tyres.html

but yeah don't just go "the tyre says 100psi, so that's what i'll always pump them to"

[thm]

Just read that Sheldon article and its pretty good.

Being really light it seems I don't have to pump my tyres that hard.


I shocked myself when I checked my weight tonight. Lets just say my tires need to be pumped to less than 55 PSI when I'm riding on my 2.1 knobbies. Is that right. It sounds so wrong.

[Bnej]

2.1 knobblies I'd run about 35 or as low as you can run without pinching if you're going off road. MTB tyres you are normally going for traction (big contact patch) not rolling resistance.