Why do they still make pumps for 220++ PSI?

8 replies · 165 views

NoCoGreg
512 posts
#1Mar 30, 2024, 7:40 PM
I'm just looking for a well built durable pump for "modern" air pressures. Our skinny tire road bike run 60 to 70 ish psi. The gravel bikes will see 30 to 40 psi depending on the tire and ride/road conditions. Mountain bikes will be in the low 20's... and we won't discuss the fat (snow) bike.

So a pressure gauge that goes to 220 psi (Lezyne) or 330 psi (Specialized) isn't going to be much use as I'll be at 10% to 20% of full scale on the gauge. Besides being difficult to read, a 20% of full scale reading isn't going to be accurate.

What floor pumps do y'all like? We're a bicycle kinda family so pumps get lots of use. TIA!!!
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stu
646 posts
#2Mar 30, 2024, 10:14 PM
I use an ancient (ca. 1980) Silca floor pump. Still works great except the hose cracked and the 170 psi gauge lost its zero. I replaced the rubber hose with a braided polyurethane hose and installed a 60 psi McDaniel Controls Q3 gauge inline using a brass tee. The only tire I'd consider inflating to more than 60 psi is a 35 mm Schwalbe Insider trainer tire (rated for 55 to 95 psi) but I'm light enough and slow enough that 60 psi works. The gauge wasn't cheap but is rated 1% accurate and should outlive me by a good margin.
1
NoCoGreg
512 posts
#3Mar 30, 2024, 11:48 PM
I use an ancient (ca. 1980) Silca floor pump. Still works great except the hose cracked and the 170 psi gauge lost its zero. I replaced the rubber hose with a braided polyurethane hose and installed a 60 psi McDaniel Controls Q3 gauge inline using a brass tee. The only tire I'd consider inflating to more than 60 psi is a 35 mm Schwalbe Insider trainer tire (rated for 55 to 95 psi) but I'm light enough and slow enough that 60 psi works. The gauge wasn't cheap but is rated 1% accurate and should outlive me by a good margin.
Thanks for the idea Stu! I happen to have older Specialized Airtool Pro where the gauge failed and a replacement isn't available. This would bring it back to life!
0
3TX
55 posts
#4Mar 31, 2024, 12:25 PM
I'm just looking for a well built durable pump for "modern" air pressures. Our skinny tire road bike run 60 to 70 ish psi. The gravel bikes will see 30 to 40 psi depending on the tire and ride/road conditions. Mountain bikes will be in the low 20's... and we won't discuss the fat (snow) bike.

So a pressure gauge that goes to 220 psi (Lezyne) or 330 psi (Specialized) isn't going to be much use as I'll be at 10% to 20% of full scale on the gauge. Besides being difficult to read, a 20% of full scale reading isn't going to be accurate.

What floor pumps do y'all like? We're a bicycle kinda family so pumps get lots of use. TIA!!!
Good question. …especially as the clear max pressure for tubeless tyres is 72dpi. There is a lot of old fashioned stubbornness in the bike industry. Riding 23mm tubed tyres at 120psi is the equivalent today of Barney Rubble in his rock-wheeled car.
0
clarksonxc
358 posts
#5Apr 1, 2024, 11:49 AM
take a look at the Silca site, those pumps are fully rebuildable and they have plenty of options
1
Eisbaer
27 posts
#6Apr 2, 2024, 8:10 AMedited
I use a 25 years old SKS "Airkompressor 12.0" pump, a model with a metal tube and a really big big dial, range up to 175 PSI = 12 bar. It's nearly indestructible, easy to use and some spare parts are still available. Today, there is a similar pump named "Airkompressor 10.0", up to 145 PSI = 10 bar.

Outside of competition: I also tried a Topeak Transformer RX pump, which seems to be discontinued. It's a funny tool, if you like a low profile, but very fiddly, with a pressure range up to 160 PSI and a 1 inch dial...

I agree that a wide range is not necessary and counterproductive for accuracy. But, I remember a statement by a tire expert working for BORA-hansgrohe, who said that standard pumps have two weak points regardless of the pressure range: the physical measurement accurancy varies (1) along the range and (2) over time (= you get two different results, if you measure twice).

In other words: a small range and a big dial (or a digital display) may not be an advantage, if the pump lies.
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Jeb
113 posts
#7Apr 2, 2024, 1:03 PM
I bought one of these a couple of years ago and have been more than happy with it. The cost was about $65 via ebay and Home Depot has them for about the same price. I added the presta valve attachment from Prestacycle for $20.

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Jeb
113 posts
#8Apr 2, 2024, 1:04 PM
BTW the Ryobi has an accurate digital gauge built in.
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teddgram
5 posts
#9Apr 4, 2024, 6:25 AM
I'm just looking for a well built durable pump for "modern" air pressures. Our skinny tire road bike run 60 to 70 ish psi. The gravel bikes will see 30 to 40 psi depending on the tire and ride/road conditions. Mountain bikes will be in the low 20's... and we won't discuss the fat (snow) bike.

So a pressure gauge that goes to 220 psi (Lezyne) or 330 psi (Specialized) isn't going to be much use as I'll be at 10% to 20% of full scale on the gauge. Besides being difficult to read, a 20% of full scale reading isn't going to be accurate.

What floor pumps do y'all like? We're a bicycle kinda family so pumps get lots of use. TIA!!!
Those higher PSI pumps can double as an air shock pump.
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