No Frame Mounted Pumps-Rule #30
Either CO2 cannisters or mini-pumps should be carried in jersey pockets (See Rule #31). The only exception to this rule is to mount a Silca brand frame pump in the rear triangle of the frame, with the rear wheel skewer as the pump mount nob, as demonstrated by members of the 7-Eleven and Ariostea pro cycling teams. As such, a frame pump mounted upside-down and along the left (skewer lever side) seat stay is both old skool and euro and thus acceptable. We restate at this time that said pump may under no circumstances be a Zefal and must be made by Silca. Said Silca pump must be fitted with a Campagnolo head. It is acceptable to gaffer-tape a mini-pump to your frame when no CO2 canisters are available and your pockets are full of spare kit and energy gels. However, the rider should expect to be stopped and questioned and may be required to empty pockets to prove there is no room in them for the pump.
This Rule must have been one of the original Rules to come down from the summit of Mt Velomis, it’s that old. If you want to still use a frame pump you are going to have to find a Silca pump and a Campagnolo pump head, both of which are on the shelf next to the leather Cinelli hair-net helmets in lower Serbia. Or grow a giant ‘stache, infiltrate the retro Strade Bianchi fondo and nick one off any 1970’s bikes there. Or go on eBay and easily find either item.
The italian company Silca has recently “left the building”. They were renown for their trusty floor pump and slightly less trusty frame pumps. The floor pump is indestructible; mine still hangs out in the dark corner of my shop, ready. It’s always ready. The frame pumps were less indestructible but then again, we were asking them to come on every ride with us, hanging on only by its own spring tension. Between crashes, potholes, and repulsing dogs, this frame pumps took some hits.
Silca has been reborn in the USA and their floor pump has been also been reborn hard as the most beautiful floor pump ever. The Silca name seems to be in very good hands. However, I’m not expecting to see a reissue of the frame pump anytime soon but I’m usually wrong. The mini-pump and these new fangled CO2 canisters may have truly sealed its fate.
Why would a Rule be so specific about its exceptions? Did Lord Merckx favor the Silca frame pump with a campy steel pump head? It’s a question of faith, isn’t it? A pump jammed in the rear triangle of the bike did look very studly, not unlike a Beretta casually stuffed betwixt pants and underwear, in the back, no holster. It’s a little crazy but very functional.
As The Rules go, I’ve been known to “interfere” with myself on this one (god love the Irish for that expression). But this is still preferable to using gaffer tape. Gaffer tape? Something must have been lost in translation between the ancient Flemish and today. Gaffer’s tape was only acceptable anywhere if your first name was Sean and last name was Kelly and you were such a Hardman that anything other than toe clips was a worse sin than interfering with one’s self.
Here’s the stylish bloke David Millar, and what’s that on his down tube, it front of the bidon?
http://cycletechreview.com/2013/news/new-garmin-edge-810-and-510-launched/attachment/david-millar-garmin-sharp-edge-810/
I will never mount a pump on any frame I ride. End of.
In contrast to your praise of the Silca, the Lezyne floor pump which I paid for in full has been a major disappointment. It Looks Fantastic in every way but performs like Challenger. Bad O rings.
@Harminator
For $450 US you could get a new Silca which better not have o-ring issues. This struck me as a crazy price for a floor pump but really it’s maybe two years worth of tub tires. Also, over its lifespan, a worthy investment, and half the money one might spend for one trip to dentist for tooth repair in US, FFS.
I also have a lezyne floor pump which, once I figured out how to operate the chuck, works like a bastard (in a good way).
On a completely unrelated note. If anyone needs a laugh, please reread the Hinault-Fignon cartoon at this link.
@Gianni
I will never pay $450 for any floor pump. End of.
Word.
Bernard would never clone nine CsOTHO. Merckx forbid the thought.
I do have one of these that still works well enough — leather plunger and all.
Though planning to make the new SILCA part of our service course this coming year.
@Harminator
Why pay more than $750 for 32h wheels ? Period.
@Harminator only issue I’ve had with my Lezyne floor pump is with tubes that have removable valves, it ends up unscrewing the valve from the stem when I go to unscrew the chuck!
@Mikael Liddy
Problem solved http://www.lezyne.com/product-dpumps-acc-speedchk.php#.VJi03BAJw
I will stick with a frame mounted pump. Just under the top tube where TK put the pump peg. CO2 canisters just don’t cut it for me. I just need to locate an appropriately sized Silca pump that can be painted to match the frame (in the interim a very serviceable Topeak pump will fit the bill). Call me a heretic…
I was wondering what this little braze-on is for, that the Prophet put on his bike?
@mauibike
I have an MX-Leader and that little braze-on is gone. Though he was interested in keeping the number hanger on the top tube.
@RedRanger
Or a little teflon tape on the removable core and snug that buggah down good then the lezyne behaves as it should.
@Jay
The white plastic pump painted to match the frame is most bitchin’. The silcas might be hard to find but any clear coated carbon pump will paint up well too. Before I was shamed into partially adhering to Rule #30 I had a Blackburn carbon frame pump that was quite excellent. It could have been painted.
@mauibike
The Prophet was quite a handy man with a torch. But he always had followers and they always had spare wheels so he had little need for a pump.
@RedRanger
yeah that came with it, has a tendency to pop off as you increase the pressure.
@Gianni
yeah, I bought a bulk load of tubes with fixed valves but once I’m done with them I have some plumber’s tape awaiting deployment.
@Mikael Liddy
Yep. Valve cores unscrewing is a well documented problem. Add in that the user needs to adapt valves to suit pump = bad design.
Further, the swivel action of the chuck is super stiff when there’s pressure in the hose making chuck removal awkward.
I’ve already switched the O-ring on the plunger with one of the “bumpers”. Now that’s crapped out.
@David B
If it’s good enough for @dmillar, I’m cool with it too. I’ll be damned if I’m going to find myself stuck 50 miles from nowhere because I’ve run out of CO2, and the teensy little pumps one can fit in a jersey pocket aren’t worth shooting. EPMS? Not on your life. Frame pump? Yup, don’t mind if I do, and to hell with Rule #30.
Many moons ago I mounted my pump on my down tube… Many moons ago my pump got so full of water and shit it refused to work. I saw the light and stuck my pump in my jersey pocket and never looked back. Rule #30 is not just aesthetic, it makes practical sense too.
I am in deep sh*t apparently.
If the bike has a pump peg, it’s getting my frame pump. I seriously don’t remember the brand, the logos have worn off.
Co2’s in the pocket with a mini pump if I don’t ride a bike with a pump peg.
That new Silica pump is pretty slick. But that price could pay a dozen race entry fees, and my ten year old $30 pump works just fine.
@unversio
Oh WOW! I had one of these in the late ’80’s. I have no idea what happened to it but it was the perfect floor pump. Just bought a Lezyne High Pressure Steel Floor Drive pump and it is excellent, but still dream of my old Silca floor pump.
@Jay
Yup. Also lost my silver Silca top tube frame pump years ago. That should have been a keeper as well. I would still use one if I could find one that fit my 2007 Merckx Scandium frame. They are as sacrosanct as riding tubs. Pure old school class.
Frame mounted pump for my commuter machine.
Mini-pump in jersey pocket for road rides. Easy.
That said, I haven’t tried to inflate to 100psi with my mini-pump yet. I might yet change my tune.
@RobSandy
I used to carry a mini-pump…until I had to attempt inflation of a few flat repairs. After that, it’s been C02 all the way. Getting anywhere near 100psi on a mini-pump requires a non-cyclist’s body type to pull off (in my experience).
@justindcady
Yes, well…I keep meaning to deflate a tyre and re-inflate with the mini as ‘practice’. I just keep finding reasons to put it off.
I don’t really have a cyclist body type (6ft and 92kgs) so I might have the puff to get that amount of air in. We’ll see.
@RobSandy
I’m pretty similar – my commuter/touring type bike has a frame pump on its pump peg, but the fast bike doesn’t get one. I use CO2 for the fast bike.
The MTBs generally keep a frame pump zip-tied to the seatstay in case of emergency and a couple CO2 bottles in the bag as well – a weekend away from civilization means I carry plenty of spares.
Decided to go with a Lezyne Sport mini frame pump for my commuter, as it didn’t seem much different from the Road Drive and was half the price at the LBS. And, it’s just my commuter. Well, second use earlier this week and there was some hissing from the hose where it met the Schraeder end, which was screwed into the pump.
Gotta check on it, but not happy if after two uses the hose is hissin’. I do like Lezyne stuff, but I have had some problems with some of their products.
@RobSandy My Blackburn Airstik SL mini pump is labelled as going to 160psi, but I usually get about 90psi max according to my track pump pressure measure. It’s enough to get me home safely though so I won’t complain. Plus it fits snugly in my jersey pocket and weighs next to nowt.
As one of the oldest rules, I would be in favor of a slight update provided that in addition to the aforementioned silca w/campy head, the only exception would be a color matched frame pump on a steel frame with a level top tube:
yay
nay
GOOD LORD! As if those wavy noodle Pinarellos aren’t ugly enough as is, the frame pump! The EPMS!! The front skewer in need of some pep pills!!!
Based on the name on the TT, being a PRO doesn’t mean looking PRO (unless this was a sell-off and has a non-PRO owner?) Nonetheless, I see a new Pollack joke in the works…
@Ron
Your screen resolution must be better than mine – I can’t read the name.
Also he appears to have stuck some little doll people in his spokes.
@Ron
@ChrisO
Its Joe Dombrowski’s training bike (or rather it was since he’s not with Sky anymore)
@VeloVita
Good god, that Pin is a war crime.
Frame pumps are fine in my book but only on traditional geometry steel. Painted to match or plain black and chrome. Take them off for the race but fine for training, rando’s, group rides, etc.
@Ron
That might as well be red gaffer tape holding that pump up. So uncool. No wonder he had to leave Team Sky. Maybe Joe is too young for this. And yes, I agree, those wavy bike frames are just ugly.
I’m glad others here have points-of-view that align with mine, that being that a full-length frame pump actually is consistent with a V-view of the world when used on the appropriate frame. There’s nothing V about having inadequate equipment to be self-sustaining on long rides, and after using both I put mini-pumps and CO2 in that category. My Blackburn frame pump, mounted old-school style along the NDS seatstay, is about as pro as you can get for non-racing/no support vehicle rides. Fortunately I’ve had to make limited use of it personally, but I’ve been a good Samaritan a whole lot of times to get people back up and running when they were in a tough spot.
Pic is from last winter/spring and there have been a few changes to the steed, but the pump remains secure in the location pictured.
If the bike is the correct vintage and designed for it, with original pump……..
The GPS is clockwork…………..
@Teocalli
Did… did you photoshop a bidon onto the road there?
@SamFromTex I carefully removed it from the bike and put it out of the way up the track then stupidly took the photo in that direction!
Many, many moons ago back when I was riding my 4130 CrMoly steel frame bike from Japan with the down tube shifters around the city of Pittsburgh (the perfect bike for a frame pump) I simply carried a little patch kit box of tip tops with the red edges. Carry an extra tube ? Shoot, I didn’t even own an extra tube. As for mounting a pump? I had nowhere near enough class, or $$ (at least by my reckoning of priorities) to consider. So, basically I figured I was always within a mile of a gas station, they’d lend me a screw driver, I’d pop the tire, repair the tube and fill it up w/compressor… Today ? CO2 all the way. Just far too convenient. But, I haven’t been 50 miles from nowhere on a mtn bike either. That’d be pump kinda riding there. The Hampsten, Baum (? with color match) and Butler all look cool with the pumps. And I think I see toe clips on the one bike. Good fun there. Cheers all.
@VeloVita
With his bike looking like that, I’m not surprised he’s no longer with Sky.
Those bars are properly ugly.
@Harminator
A bit of locktite does the trick. There’s nothing quite like having a valve core come loose midway through glueing tubulars to fuck your day up.
The later Lezyne valve heads with the pressure relief valve button thing are much easier to use. Well worth it as an upgrade.
@antihero
This has been discussed ad nauseum on here before. That pros do it doesn’t excuse it. There’s a difference between acting like a pro and look fantastic.
I’ve got a Lezyne Carbon drive. Granted it’s a bit of a pain to pump up a decent sized mtb tyre but road tyres aren’t a problem.
@Chris yeah I’ve got one with the pressure release, no problems so far with that aspect.
@VeloVita
When I had my 1986 steel Trek 770 repainted, I had them file off the frame pump peg, lest my descendants show poor judgement when they inherit the beast (in the far distant future when the rules will have taken an “Animal Farm” turn…)
In as far as Dombrowski’s stead, good freakin lord, no wonder they didn’t renew his contract.
Re: Dombrowski’s bike – I can’t believe anybody strapped a pump on a bike like that. Hurts to look at it.
@Ccos
>>> When I had my 1986 steel Trek 770 repainted, I had them file off the frame pump peg, <<< 'Cause the last thing this world needs is a Trek 770 rolling down the road with a frame pump attached to it ! This thread cracks me up. I remember thinking when it comes to frame pumps, I'm just not worthy, and now the thinking, with the latest, is who in the world, excepting some very specific circumstances, would want a pump attached to their bike? I'm as clueless today as I was so many moons ago I guess. But I know a cool looking bike when I see one and the Hampsten, with a frame pump attached on the seat stay, is very cool. The Butler? Cool, indeed. And the Pinarello???? Uhh... that's a big wtf. And no, not, wtf, "well that's fantastic". But a true, wtf. This (photo below) isn't a cool 770 ??? Pump peg? Who needs a pump peg? Any bike with a USA on it is flat out cool. Even if it's pink and pump peg is ignored and it still has a pump.
@wilburrox
does “some very special circumstances” warrant linking to the “fending off dogs” thread from some time ago? Frame pumps win out there unless you try a Jaws with a CO2 cylinder.
@teocalli 10-4 to that! I’m all for frame pumps. On classic steel frame bikes I think they look cool. I’d google searched images from the interwebs and a wonderful snapshot of a lugged frame pink Trek 770 with a frame pump along the seat tube in add’n to a superfluous pump peg on the head tube popped up. I’d thought I’d posted it? It was a beauty of a bike. Anyways, I can appreciate the pump having some extra uses. When I was a kiddo riding my bike everywhere I always wished I’d had a frame pump. And it’s only now do I know that a frame pump, if employed, has to be done so in just the right manner. That should be no surprise I guess. Cheers
@wilburrox
Truth be told, I fended off many a brute canine with my frame pump in my early days. I probably used it as a weapon at least an order of magnitude more than its intended purpose. It was bad enough that one of my friends carried a starter pistol (marketed to cyclists and runners at the time).
Come to think of it, I haven’t been chased by a dog in well over a decade or so. They’re probably getting to be just as lazy as their owners (or them electrical fence thingies really work).