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

Tan says:

Sep 6 2012 at 12:58 am

You lot really need to Rule #5.

It's all talk. Old school is where it's at. I carry an inner tube, levers (as my girly hands can't get the tyres off otherwise), mini pump and puncture repair kit. If you get more than one puncture, you sit at the side of the road in the pouring rain and fix it. Even if you get 6 punctures, you'll be fine, whereas you guys with your fancy CO2 canisters will be crying down the payphone for the missus to come and pick you up from the gutter, because no you don't carry a phone either, despite most of the worlds payphones having vanished due to the advent of mobile technology. Although walking miles to find a payphone in your socks (so as not to ruin your cleats) is kinda Rule #5, it certainly isn't Pro...
meursault says:

Sep 6 2012 at 6:42 am

@the Engine

@chiasticon

@flyfly

A multitool isn't an obvious choice for me. You should check your bike before the ride. Or carry with you also a spare chain, just in case.

never understood the "no multitool, you should maintain your machine properly" argument. of course i maintain my machine. but of course, i've also broken a rear-shifter out of nowhere, 35km's from home. a multitool was quite handy at securing the rear derailleur into a reasonable gear to get home (with ~700m of climbing in-between). i've also been taken down by some wet leaves before and had a crooked shifter and saddle. etc, etc, etc... again, multitool came in quite handy.

fact is: issues happen. yes, a flat tire is the most likely of them. but it's not the only one.

Or your dropouts come loose, or a cleat gets slack - I've had the tension spring on my rear shifter snap and had to shorten the chain to get home. Check everything as much as you like - shit still happens.

Had this exact scenario, when I had an off recently due to ignorance about chain wear. The chain dumped on a climb, and didn't unclip in time. When I got up, the seat was about 5 degrees off. Lezyne V5 saved the ride. That it is called a V5 should be enough for anyone.
unversio says:

Sep 9 2012 at 10:53 am

Purchased a Lezyne Pressure Drive (Black) 120psi maximum. Good to carry during winter base miles. Maybe back to CO2 in the Spring.
mxlmax says:

Sep 10 2012 at 12:48 pm

Local bike shop handed me this FREE just for asking about pumps versus CO2. Blackburn Airstik SL (7in)

- Aluminum barrel and shaft
- Rebuildable internals
- Presta-specific head
- Cage mount included
- 58 grams
- Max pressure 160psi
itburns says:

Sep 11 2012 at 3:07 am

@mxlmax

Have to love that price. I'm going to ask about more things than usual next time I'm in the LBS.
chiasticon says:

Sep 11 2012 at 9:20 am

@mxlmax

so what's your review? does it live up to those specs? what psi were you able to get into the tube? how many pumps did it take? did you rip a valve off? is it suitable for cyclists with weak, tyrannosaurus rex-like arms?

been curious about this pump for a while (as well as the two-stage variant) but reviews are all over the map. and i trust the opinion of a velominatus over that of your average amazon reviewer, so i'm curious what your take is.
mxlmax says:

Sep 11 2012 at 11:41 am

@chiasticon I will have to have the Blackburn "field test" in the lovely indoors before I hit the road with it. It was FREE, but that does not mean that I intend to use it -- or prefer it. We will see (soon).
The Oracle says:

Sep 27 2012 at 6:58 am

4:45 am, 3.5 miles into my ride found me by the side of a dark and deserted Wisconsin highway, thinking about this article. I had hit a decent sized rock "just so," and my rear tube blew apart (I have a bright light, but when you're going at the speed of awesome, sometimes you don't see those suckers until it's too late). After changing out the tube, I went to screw my chuck onto the CO2 cannister, only to watch in horror as it immediately began spitting out gas. I furiously attempted to close the valve on the chuck but it just spun uselessly--I realized with horror that it was fucked. By the time I got it on the stem there was nothing left. And that was my only cannister. Since I was in the middle of nowhere and it was 4:45 in the morning, calling the wife and waking the kids was not an option. I had no choice but to ride slowly home on the flat at 10 kph, picking my way around gravel and bumps in the road. Thank goodness I wasn't further away.

I had a bontrage air rush or something like that. Guy at the LBS said it was bombproof. Got it 3 months ago and used it only twice, and it is already broken. I still prefer using a chuck for its speed, especially on dark cold mornings, but after this morning I'll definitely be doubling up in case disaster strikes again.
blackpooltower says:

Oct 1 2012 at 12:37 pm

@unversio How is the Lezyne Pressure Drive, can I ask? Did you get the medium or small? I was considering the medium but obvs need to check it won't poke out of jersey pocket etc. Got to keep the mouse in the house, as they say.
unversio says:

Oct 1 2012 at 1:28 pm

@blackpooltower I will verify the size (think it is 9 inches). Honestly I keep grabbing the old items and have not switched. I planned on using it thru the winter. I will start using it this Saturday and let you know how it goes. I like most everything about it though. Wanting to find a sleeve to keep sweat from messing with the shell. It did come with a mount for the frame, but I am resisting that.