Pumps & RST

[Swislon]

Where and how do you fix a Zefal HPX to a RST?
Does anyone use a Cyclaire and if so what do you think ?[?]

[goosander]

You fix them parallel to the seat tube.  

IIRC the ends of the pump are shaped so that they sit nicely on tubing, one end sits on the down tube where it meets the bottom bracket and the other end contacts the top tube where it joins the seat tube.  The pump relies on the shaping of the ends and spring tension to keep it in place, so you need to buy one that is the correct length for your bike.

I've got an old one but one of the ends is damaged so it won't stay put on the bike.  I probably won't replace it as I now have a CO2 inflator which is convenient and small enough to live in a pocket of my rucsac - the trouble with frame pumps is they are generally too long to fit in to a rucsac and if left on the bike they tend to get stolen.

[Swislon]

Thanks goosander, SJS have also said the Zefal  fits in front of the down tube but you lose the use of the bottle cage.

They have recommended the Topeak Road Morph Mini Track pump with gauge unit instead. This gets a great write up in Cycling Plus but costs £30.

Anyone have any experience of this pump ?

[julk]

I have the Turbo Morph Mountain version which has a top mounted gauge, but otherwise looks the same as the Road version. It fits in a pannier or on the supplied frame mounted clip (bolton or ziptie). It is an excellent pump and handles just like a small track pump - you have to bend lower than with a normal pump to keep the footrest at floor level. Recommended.

[Swislon]

Cheers julk, sounds like I should consider it.

[stutho]

I can vouch for the Zefal HPX it a quality item.  Not that it helps you but on the old RST frames there was a peg pump to fit the pump to the back of the seat tube.  Don't know why they got rid of it - it works great.

[Swislon]

I have a Zefal HPX that I use for my other bikes but a) it is too long to fit the RST and b) I don't want to lose the bottle cage on the seat tube. I wish they hadn't got rid of the pump peg as well; so now I need to find a good alternative. I've got an old mini pump that I'm using for now which will be OK if I've not got too far to ride.

[Swislon]

I don't really "get it" myself John.
The Tour is most likely to do heavy touring and possibly even off road touring and heavy off road touring. It would make sense in these situations to have lower gears. An RST is more likely to spend most of its time on the road possibly fast lightweight touring or audax.
It comes back to "horses for courses" and gearing to suit the individual and usual intended usage. That doesn't mean to say that occasionally an additional gear at either end wouldn't be welcome.
When you are on a long down hill who doesn't love to keep their momentum up. If you are lower geared you have to coast and dream of the gear 15 or even 16 ![]

[goosander]

Nor do I.  

John please tell me where I suggested that the Tour is 'lowly' or in any way inferior to the sport tour - they are simply different bikes intended for different purposes.

[julk]

I used to use frame fit Zefal pumps and found them excellent. However I now prefer my Topeak Turbo Morph Mountain Mini Track pump due to it having a gauge, the comfy handle pivoting at 90° to the barrel, it pumping effectively and storing in a pannier.
If you need to fit a pump and have no pump pegs on the frame, then one solution is to use velcro self-gripping ties. This is double sided velcro which wraps and binds onto itself.
If you are interested, it can be purchased in the UK from www.sewandso.co.uk/ran2257-0.html at £3.49/£6.49 plus £1 p&p in either of 10mm or 30mm widths for a roll of 5metres which can be cut to length/width as needed. I have no connection with this website except as a customer.

[Swislon]

Thanks julk that looks good stuff for all sorts of uses.

[nnnmvg]

I agree the velcro source is a good tip -- it can also be used to holding front brake levers 'on' when parking bikes against walls etc. (probably should be a new thread!)

[stutho]

To those that have a pump peg (sorry swislon) I would recommend you put some old inner tube over the lower end of your HPX pumps, to cushion the fit with the frame.  I learnt the hard way - with a scratched chain stay.

[Joatamon]

I wanted a minimum emergency kit when I just wanted to dive on the bike but don't always want to take the "big" pannier bag with me. I found my Blackburn Airstick is just a nice tight fit in a piece of domestic 1 1/4" waste pipe.  I strapped a length to my rack with cable ties - it's fixed under the rack, to one side where there's space against the mudguards.  It's reasonably neat in appearance and has the added advantage of keeping the pump hidden and clean at all times.



On the general topic of attaching things to the bike, I managed to knock the cadence sensor off when it was attached to the chainstay with the magnet on the crank.  Plan B was to fix the magnet to the back of the chain wheel with double sided carpet tape and strap the sensor where it can't be knocked.

[Swislon]

Brilliant info, thanks Joatamon. What rack do you have there ?