I'm wondering what people are carrying on their bikes to pump up their tires after a flat. I'm about to do the trans-atlantic route through the sahara and I'm looking for light weight and small-- what is available on the market and does anyone know if it is available in Dakar? Thank you in advance.
P.S. as of now, I have only found one pump that is a large stand-up pump, bulky and weighty.

I have had good use of a small, lightweight, hand pump that can also be used with CO2 cylinders (but unless I'm on a relatively short ride I don't bother with them as they add unnecessary weight). I would expect that you would find a reasonable range of pumps in various sizes and styles in any bicycle shop - especially one that stocks mountain bikes. I would also think your chances of finding one in Dakar are not good. I suggest you pick one up in Europe before you leave.

Best wishes for your trip.

You can buy small electric tyre pumps for £10 from car accessory shops these make puncture repair much easier also back it up with a small footpump Hein-gericke do one called bikers dream which is v. compact.

Keep the weight down - a quality bicycle double-action pump is amazingly good, and I carry 4 co2 canisters and adapter for when I'm in a serious hurry and as backup.

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Grant Johnson

Share the Dream!
at: www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

Have you seen the Engineair pump? It uses the engine as the pump - but you'll need at least 2 cylinders. I'm a bit sceptical of gadgets like this - but Ted Simon used something similar for his first RTW trip. Have a look at the 'Tire-Tools' link at http://www.aerostich.com and go to the bottom of the page.

Has anyone used this? Is it any good?

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Fuzzy Duck


[This message has been edited by Fuzzy Duck (edited 27 December 2001).]

I USED TO carry a version of the engineair pump.

They do work, but reliability is suspect. The one I carried failed spectacularly - it broke into fragments while in the engine first time I tried to use it, necessitating some very careful picking of bits out of the spark plug hole, worrying I was going to have a lot of metal fragments end up inside. And that would have meant taking the engine apart at the side of the road.

That wasn't the first time I had seen one break apart. Note however that it was from about 1985, so they may well be much better now.

Aerostich has a good reputation, and I will assume that the one they sell is decent - but I would look closely and test it at home a few times.

Regardless, always have a backup of some sort for whatever it is you use - bicycle hand pump, or half a dozen CO2 cartridges.


BTW - DON'T put your email address in a post - not needed and you open your email address to the spambots that cruise the web looking for email addreses.

You email address is secure from spambots in the HUBB system, but available to all by clicking on the face/envelope icon above a post.

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Grant Johnson

Share the Dream!
at: www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

[This message has been edited by Grant Johnson (edited 27 December 2001).]

I have seen a device like that, it's like a sparkplug with a hose. The first thing I wondered was if the gasoline-fume's (witch are used to pump up the tyre) won't affect the rubber tube.

The second thing I thought of was that if you bend the ventil the right way you could make a jet-engine

Seriously, wouldn't the gas-fume's distroy the rubber tube after a while?

Maarten

ps. It also works on a single-cyl. engine with an electric starter.

Re: Gasoline in the tubes.

Engineair say: "...The cylinder pump pulls air from the atmosphere, ensuring no gas or oil fumes turn your Metzeler's into a Hindenburg wannabe..."

So I guess that's okay. Sounds like Grant's experience was horrific - has anyone else tried these things out with less destructive results?

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Fuzzy Duck
(I'm quackers about bikes)

if you need a new gadget try one of these and please let me know if it was worth the weight.
http://www.gr8designs.com/Tech/AirComp.html

reading the comments on this question of tyre pumps, begs a question- why rely on fancy, fickle gadgets? keep it simple. I use a small hand pump ( once BMW original equipment), alloy, indestructable and easily strapped to the bike frame. OK so it requires a bit of effort to pump up a tyre from flat but it never lets you down. I think Motorworks (BMW/Guzzi mailorder parts UK ) still supply them