The Kuwahara Hirame pump head
I pump my tires up every single day, and every day it is the only part of Cycling I don’t like. The act of pumping while holding the pump in place is itself a bit of a bummer, especially if you are trying to do it in your Cycling shoes because your brain is too small to contemplate doing it while you’re still wearing your Adilettes. But even under the best circumstances of pumping your tires with rubber soles, it is still just pumping. Up and down, up and down. Is the dial pointed at the right spot? Up and down, up and down. Yuck.
Ignoring all that, the worst part of pumping tires is actually connecting the pump to the valve stem in the first place. My old Silca pumps would always pop off under pressure. Infuriating; if there is one thing I can’t stand, it’s an inanimate object that refuses to obey my strictest orders. At one point I had a velcro strap with a hole in it that I wrapped around the tire to hold it on for me. Greatest pump ever, my ass. Other lever pump heads are so tight you’re likely to tear off your valve stem in the process of connecting or loosening it. Lezyne has the best mainstream solution with the screw-on head, combined with a lovely air-release button you can use to maximum woopie-cushion effect. If, however, you use valve extenders like I do, then it’s maddening to get a good seal on the devil and eventually you lose your patience and ruin the threads, making it as good as a Silca pump head.
Enter the Kuwahara Hirame pump head. @Oli flashed a photo of his a while back and I became immediately obsessed. I was also amazed at how expensive they were, which only served to deepen the fascination. Amazon’s checkout is so easy that I don’t even remember placing the order; all I remember is putting it in my shopping cart. Thusly I was amazed to find one of these little babies in my mailbox a while later.
We Keepers have a pact never to post a Reverence within 6 months of owning a product, but pacts are made to be broken. This thing is insane; I’ve only had it for about a month, and I’m in love with thing. I occasionally walk into the workshop just to look at it. Even when I have nothing whatsoever to pump up, I’ll just flip the lever back and forth and hold it in my hand a bit.
I don’t even hate pumping up my tires anymore. Connecting it is as easy as can be, it holds tight without stressing the valve, and it comes off just as simply.
Just, awesome.
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Well, I have a Specialized (GASP!!) HP floor pump. The head on that is best I have come across. There is a lever to compress the gasket which prevents it blowing off but I am yet to need to use it. Two years of daily pumping up (some tyres I push to 120psi) it's easy on, easy off without use of the lever. I did have some valve extenders that the head would occasioually leak air with (not blow off) and they required closing of the lever but I got rid of those.
@Puffy
The Speshy Air Tool pumps with the 3" gauges and the big block pump heads work as well as any pump I've used. I recently picked one up when I learned of the 3" gauge. That's what I wanted. The fact that the head works as well as it does is a big plus.
I immediately leaped upon this new piece of bling feeling that something like this would obviously make me climb better.....I have just looked at the price......my piggy bank is not full enough yet, rest assured it goes on to the long list of shiny bits and pieces I will buy one day!
In defense of the "greatest pump ever", if you have the Silca chuck that works with Schrader and Presta, just set up the chuck for Schrader, then screw in a Presta/Schrader adapter into the opening of the chuck. Then just thread the whole chuck down onto your Presta valves and pump away. It will never pop off under pressure, the rubber innards of the chuck will never wear out, and the adapter fits tight enough in the chuck that it will not unthread from the chuck when you are removing the chuck from the valve. Just a little tip...
I try to make all bike purchases while under the influence of something, thus making the money I'm spending easier to let go of and making the arrival a surprise since it'll slip my mind that I ordered stuff.
I'm sticking with my Park Tool pump until is dies, then we'll see. You know what is more annoying than the pump head bursting off as you get up to the desired PSI? When the inner tube, no matter how far/not far you slip the head on, hisses out air as you pump, so it's a desperate race. Fack, my commuter has this issue on both tubes! Cheap tubes I wonder?
Also, I recently received a compressor. I have yet to find a head to use with it for Presta valves. Anyone have good suggestions on those? I'll use it mainly to seat tubeless tires for cross. Thanks!
Ron, haven't tried it, but this looks decent: http://www.prestaflator.com/
@rfreese888
I have a JoeBlow and it goes ok for me, no wobble. I know what you mean about bleeding the valve but I'm fine with that; adds a little to the whole ceremony.
@ Frank - I add air before each ride and thoroughly enjoy the process. Combine it with a tyre & light check. Mind you, if I was wearing awful plastic slippers it would probably not be so much fun. Crocs at a pinch.
Please don't mistake the Hirame copies that are available for the genuine article. They are utterly shit and deeply frustrating to use - my mate's one refuses to stay attached under even the lightest pressure.
@PT
Totally agree. It's part of the pre-ride routine and subject to its own little nuances and OCD touches.
Rear first, undo the valve, bleed a little air, attach the head, pump to the designated pressure (always in psi for tarmac, bar for pave and never, ever kPa), release the hose pressure, unscrew the head, repeat for the front before donning one shoes, cap, helmet and eyewear.
Only then should one commence the serious business of pushing down on the pedals. We after all talking about the most important of contact points.
It is possible that a tool can be so beautiful so as to distract from the process and lessen the overall experience.
@Chris
Yup, it's always rear tire first, then front for me. Then bottles in cages. Then shoes, load pockets, helmet, sunglasses, gloves. My routine is so second nature that I don't even really think about it which is why it's good to have a routine - that way you don't forget something and I can focus on the important thing - the ride.