Categories: Accessories and Gear

The Great Debate: Pump or Chuck

I’ve said it once before, but it bears repeating now: adherence to Rule #29 carries with it the ultimate mission of the aspiring Velominatus, which is to geek out endlessly over the minimum amount of gear which yields maximum security in the event of a mechanical incident while riding.

The goal here is twofold. First, with no European Posterior Man Satchel dangling off the back of your bike like an elephant’s nutsack, pocket real estate is at a premium; filling them up with unneeded tools seems wasteful. Second, sagging pockets are as distressing as an EPMS, so care must be taken to ensure the pockets stay as light as possible.

Minimalist multi tool, lightweight inner tube or tubbie goo, and tire levers are all obvious choices; one is left only to endeavor to find the lightest model of each which still functions reliably (a lifetime can be devoted to this task). But that leaves us with the delicate matter of how we choose to resupply the air which provides a simple yet critical element to repairing the most common mechanical of all, the flat tire. The question in this case is, of course, whether to choose a chuck and cartouche c-oh-duex or minipump. Ignoring the obvious utility of being able to challenge someone to a mini-pump duel in the event of irreconcilable difference of opinion on critical matters of La Vie Velominatus, both means of air resupply have their merits.

Dictum 1 above has historically put me in the camp of using a chuck and two C02 cartridges. (One cartouche is not enough, I am much too clumsy to depend on my ability not to bugger the first one up.) First of all, the Lezyne Trigger Drive appeals to my sense of aesthetics; it’s small, nicely crafted, feels great in the hand and can provide hours of fidgeting should it find its way into my pants pocket. I can’t get excited about any particular C02 cartridge, but they are small and simple and I have an inherent appreciation for anything with a thread on it.

Dictum 2, however, does give me some pause; the ensamble is anything but a featherweight. Enter my Lezyne Carbon Roadlite, which was given to me when Lezyne came onboard as Air and Tool Supplier for Keepers Tour 2012. Initially, the pump only accompanied me on wet rides (C02 has a tendency to cause some freezing when discharged in cold, wet weather – very unpleasant). But before long, it began to creep into my thick noggin that the little devil hardly weighs a thing and is more than small enough to fit in my pocket without protruding out of the top, which is most unsightly and considered entirely unacceptable. Today, I find myself reaching for the pump more often than I do the chuck as it lightens my kit a bit, allowing me to consume an additional ale or two without contributing to any overall rider-kit-bike weight gains.

I find myself wondering where others fall in the Great Debate; which path do you walk, Pump or Chuck?

frank

The founder of Velominati and curator of The Rules, Frank was born in the Dutch colonies of Minnesota. His boundless physical talents are carefully canceled out by his equally boundless enthusiasm for drinking. Coffee, beer, wine, if it’s in a container, he will enjoy it, a lot of it. He currently lives in Seattle. He loves riding in the rain and scheduling visits with the Man with the Hammer just to be reminded of the privilege it is to feel completely depleted. He holds down a technology job the description of which no-one really understands and his interests outside of Cycling and drinking are Cycling and drinking. As devoted aesthete, the only thing more important to him than riding a bike well is looking good doing it. Frank is co-author along with the other Keepers of the Cog of the popular book, The Rules, The Way of the Cycling Disciple and also writes a monthly column for the magazine, Cyclist. He is also currently working on the first follow-up to The Rules, tentatively entitled The Hardmen. Email him directly at rouleur@velominati.com.

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View Comments

unversio says:

Sep 2 2012 at 4:09 pm

@RedRanger

What's the ruling on glossy cages on a matte black bike?

BLACKBURN CAMBER CF BOTTLE CAGE MATTE BLACK
unversio says:

Sep 2 2012 at 4:21 pm

@RedRanger I did have an Elite Moro d'Elite (red) and the tab failed and broke -- no apparent reason. It was 3 weeks old.

I mounted the previous (white) cage version back on. Used it for 2.5 years.
Mikael Liddy says:

Sep 2 2012 at 5:33 pm

@RedRanger these bad boys sit aboard the matt black/naked carbon of the TF3 & I'm happy with the look.
RedRanger says:

Sep 2 2012 at 6:01 pm

@Mikael Liddy

@RedRanger these bad boys sit aboard the matt black/naked carbon of the TF3 & I'm happy with the look.

looks good but I'm not gonna put a another bike companies cage on my C'Dale. Plus I'm looking for black and white only since that's how I'm setting my bike up.
RedRanger says:

Sep 2 2012 at 6:13 pm

Carbon cages are really way down te line anyway.
Mikael Liddy says:

Sep 2 2012 at 7:03 pm

@RedRanger entirely understandable, was more in response to say the shiny/matte combo can work. I was lucky enough to have mine tossed in with the purchase.
scaler911 says:

Sep 2 2012 at 7:06 pm

@wiscot

@unversio

@scaler911

@mxlmax

@scaler911 Road ID wristband?

Well, of course. But that doesn't go in my pocket. One thing I did forget is my mini-med kit with a epi pen and IM/IV Benedryl. I get stung by a honey bee and I'll die (like for real die).

Stung! That brings up another topic "” insect nets in the helmet vents. Made it thru this summer without, but will order them to go in the KASK next season.

This has been a weird week. Got stung by a bee/wasp at the 64km mark today. Hurt like hell for a half hour then subsided. Fortunately I'm not allergic - plenty of wee buggers have entered the helmet over the years, but never been stung before. Another crap thing this week was a rear puncture that happened 16kms out on Tuesday. I rarely puncture (maybe one a year) and I could swear both spare tubes were good. Nope. Both failed leaving me to hitch home. Got two rides by big guys in pick up trucks. Driver #2 asked if I was a serial killer. I answered in the negative, telling him that I didn't think serial killers dressed like this - gesturing to my lycra, diadoras, jersey, helmet and shaved legs. He thought that was pretty funny. In a week where Phil Liggett and Cllint Eastwood dropped out off my top 1000 list of guys I respected, it was nice to have met someone who restored some faith in human goodness as we actually drove past his house to get to mine 6 miles away..

Last summer my buddy, who's not allergic to bees, go stung on his "hood" (you know the one that hides under your bibs). Said he almost got run over while wildly flailing at his crotch, screaming like a toddler. While I nodded in sympathy as he told me the story, I kinda laughed on the inside. I'm going to hell aren't I?
minion says:

Sep 2 2012 at 7:21 pm

@scaler911 There's a special type of comedy hell that you go to, for laghing at shit that's funny, but you know you shouldn't laugh at. Watching Adam Sandler movies is as bad as it gets.

You're definitely going to that place, and now so am I. that's fucking funny!
RedRanger says:

Sep 2 2012 at 7:25 pm

@Mikael Liddy

@RedRanger entirely understandable, was more in response to say the shiny/matte combo can work. I was lucky enough to have mine tossed in with the purchase.

ah, I missed that part
Nate says:

Sep 2 2012 at 8:09 pm

@the Engine

I gather from the narrative arc of your post that the "self adhesive patch" is some sort of transdermal testosterone delivery device?

@scaler911

Insofar as a beesting could be fatal to you I think you are entitled to laugh your ass off about that one.