What kind of "on the bike" pump do you ladies use?

[kaian]

A while ago, I purchased a "mini" bike pump to mount on my road bike in case of flats. I think it's the Topeak Master Blaster DX. The other day I tried using it to put some air in my tires (just to see how it worked). I could not get air into the tires! Now, I consider myself strong and in shape and I couldn't believe this! So...I'm considering getting something else. I have considered a CO2 system, but am not sure. Any recommendations? Something small and mountable would be good and something with a guage would be great, too. Thanks!

[DeniseGoldberg]

I use a Topeak Road Morph. It carries like a frame pump, but it pumps like a floor pump - so there's no problem getting your tires up to the desired pressure. It's definitely bigger than your mini-pump, but I think the size is far outweighed by the function.

--- Denise

[newfsmith]

I also use a Road Morph, one of the nicest birthday presents I ever got. It is almost as fast as my floor pump. Topeak also makes a Mountain Morph, and this year they are bringing out a smaller Morph that might fit a small frame better.

[Fuji Girl]

I'm not sure if the MB Dx has a "Smarthead", which adapts to both a Presta valvle (long and skinny) and a Schraeder valve (short and cylindical, like a valve on a car tire). Depending on what kind of tires you use, you may have to switch the little mechanism inside the pump head.

Or maybe you just don't like it.

A while ago, I purchased a "mini" bike pump to mount on my road bike in case of flats. I think it's the Topeak Master Blaster DX. The other day I tried using it to put some air in my tires (just to see how it worked). I could not get air into the tires! Now, I consider myself strong and in shape and I couldn't believe this! So...I'm considering getting something else. I have considered a CO2 system, but am not sure. Any recommendations? Something small and mountable would be good and something with a guage would be great, too. Thanks!

[Triskeliongirl]

Currently I use C02. I did use a topeak road morph, which works great when it works, but after having 2 fail on me switched over to C02.

[madisongrrl]

CO2 on my road bike...I'm impatient. Tubeless on my mt. bike

[Starfish]

Can't remember the brand/model off hand, but carry a larger pump that still is frame mount, but has the foot peg and flexible hose to work like a floor pump. It is big and looks dorky (I have a small, compact frame, so the pump is actually on *top* of my top tube), but it really fills the tire up. I still carry a cartridge, because it is so fast & easy, and the pump is the backup.

But, I used to have a sexy little mini-pump and carried a cartridge. Then, one day about 30 miles from home without any services and spotty cell coverage on the direct route home, I had a blowout. For some reason (the first & only time since) my cartridge malfunctioned (or I screwed it up) and I could only get my tire up to mushy with my sexy little frame-pump (and it took forever). With a mushy, booted, cut tire, after a 30 mile trip out, and a tire change in the sun, it was a long ride home. After that I got the dorky, but effective, pump. I also mounted a 3rd bottle cage on the bottom of the down tube, where the sexy little pump used to be. I feel much more prepared now.

[KnottedYet]

$7 used Zefal from Recycled Cycles that is so big it won't fit on my frame. (it has the little socket for the old-style brazed-on frame pump peg) I carry it in my pannier.

[Trek420]

Torelli Mini-pump (it actually works!), followed by Planet Bike CO2 thingie, and if both of those fail there's the Fredwina Athena team car with spare bikes and wheels and a mechanic following me.

[kiwi girl]

Topeak Road Moprh - the only on the bike pump I have ever managed to get my road tyres up to any sort of decent pressure with

[KnottedYet]

Does the Fredwina Athena team car carry hot, no foam, whole milk, double split-shot lattes, too?

Cuz, y'know, anything less just wouldn't do.....

Oh, and I need the team car to have a pedicurist and a leg-waxer. Those are two jobs I just can't seem to keep up with, and I'm sure my aerodynamics suffer because of it.

Eyebrow wax, too.

Back on topic (while still dreaming up Team Fredwina Athena): I have big ol' cyclocross tires, which I'm sure have saved me a few punctures on my commute to work. I'm one of those folks who sees glittering broken glass on the road and does the magpie routine; "ooooh, shiney things, ride over them with BOTH tires!"

[maryellen]

ano vote for road morph. And i've learned the hard way that it is a good idea to test your frame pump occasionally.

[tattiefritter]

Just changed from a mini pump to a frame pump myself, same reason couldn't for the life of me get the tyre up to any decent pressure and ended up bending the valve before limping home slowly. I have used mini pumps on my mtb tyres with no problems but for the road bike, no chance, pumping away like a madwoman and got nowhere (why does it always happen in the dodgy areas where you really don't want to be hanging around?) . I went for a Zefal HPX which fits, just, in my 44cm compact frame. Which reminds me, I need to test it.....

[kaian]

Thanks for all the suggestions. What kind of mount does the Topeak Road Morph come with? Is it something that can fit on water bottle mounts or does it have it's own system that I would have to strap elsewhere? I have a 47cm WSD frame, so I don't want anything too huge or something that is difficult to mount.

Anyone know if the smaller version mentioned by newfsmith is available and if so, what it's called?

I usually ride with a friend (who has a CO2 pump) or with a group. I always carry a patch kit, tire levers and a pump, but I have never had to use the pump. Good think I checked it out at home and not out on the road!

[Blueberry]

My road morph (which is on my 52cm cannondale) came with a mount that will wrap around any tube. I've seen people put them all sorts of creative places - mine lives under the top tube. Just have to make sure that you don't interfere with the cable routing.