Air Compressor or Floor Pump

AndrewJames
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Air Compressor or Floor Pump

Postby AndrewJames » Tue Sep 02, 2014 2:14 am

Hi

What would be better? a relatively cheap air compressor from a motor parts store? 2hp? or a floor pump, i see good reviews of the Lezyne Steel Floor Drive pump.

rkelsen
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Re: Air Compressor or Floor Pump

Postby rkelsen » Tue Sep 02, 2014 6:34 am

Buy a track pump. The Lezyne one would be an excellent choice.

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bychosis
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Re: Air Compressor or Floor Pump

Postby bychosis » Tue Sep 02, 2014 6:47 am

I have both, and it is easier, quieter and more portable to use the floor pump. However if I have fired up the compressor then all bikes get a top up not just the one I am going to ride.
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Aushiker
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Re: Air Compressor or Floor Pump

Postby Aushiker » Tue Sep 02, 2014 12:22 pm

Floor pump for me; simple, healthy and environmentally friendly :)

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RonK
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Re: Air Compressor or Floor Pump

Postby RonK » Tue Sep 02, 2014 3:56 pm

A compressor has other uses, so worthwhile having one, but likely a floor pump will be more convenient most of the time.
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Duck!
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Re: Air Compressor or Floor Pump

Postby Duck! » Tue Sep 02, 2014 8:46 pm

Floor (AKA track) pump.
I had a thought, but it got run over as it crossed my mind.

lard
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Re: Air Compressor or Floor Pump

Postby lard » Tue Sep 02, 2014 9:16 pm

99% of the time a track pump is plenty. A compressor is handy for seating tubeless mtb tyres tho.

Dr_Mutley
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Re: Air Compressor or Floor Pump

Postby Dr_Mutley » Wed Sep 03, 2014 12:33 pm

The majority of compressors won't do the pressures required for road tired if u want to run pressures of 100psi+

rkelsen
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Re: Air Compressor or Floor Pump

Postby rkelsen » Wed Sep 03, 2014 2:36 pm

^ A 2hp unit (as mentioned by the OP) will do it easily.

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TonyMax
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Re: Air Compressor or Floor Pump

Postby TonyMax » Wed Sep 03, 2014 3:01 pm

My compressor doesn't go to the 110psi that I put in my bike tyres, however the floor pump that I have does it easily.

Easy for me to comment as I have both.

As stated, compressors have other uses, and floor pumps often have both Presta/Schraeder valve attachments as standard.

Swings and roundabouts.

You don't have to spend a fortune on a floor pump, the one I have carries the brand of the bike shop where I bought my bike.
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Xplora
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Re: Air Compressor or Floor Pump

Postby Xplora » Wed Sep 03, 2014 6:06 pm

My LBS won't use a compressor for tyres, just can't get the pressure up for road tyres. The pressure in the air tank isn't the same as what is the max pressure it can inflate a tyre :idea:

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Xplora
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Re: Air Compressor or Floor Pump

Postby Xplora » Wed Sep 03, 2014 8:04 pm

And never pump up your tyres the night before the ride... we're coming into the months where it is 10 degrees at night and 25 by 9am. A mate blew a tube after pumping to 120psi and it just got too hot the day after.

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Jean
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Re: Air Compressor or Floor Pump

Postby Jean » Thu Sep 04, 2014 11:11 am

Xplora wrote:And never pump up your tyres the night before the ride... we're coming into the months where it is 10 degrees at night and 25 by 9am. A mate blew a tube after pumping to 120psi and it just got too hot the day after.
120psi is a bit keen anyway. Something in the 90-100psi range is quite adequate and unlikely to expand to the point of explosion on a hot day.

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RonK
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Re: Air Compressor or Floor Pump

Postby RonK » Thu Sep 04, 2014 11:14 am

Poppycock - I have inflated my tyres (and raced on them) up to 160 PSI without failure. It's quite common practice to do this in time trials.
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RonK
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Re: Air Compressor or Floor Pump

Postby RonK » Thu Sep 04, 2014 12:18 pm

Oxford wrote:
RonK wrote:Poppycock - I have inflated my tyres (and raced on them) up to 160 PSI without failure. It's quite common practice to do this in time trials.
Tubs or clinchers, clinchers will blow more easily than tubs, tubs are designed for very high pressures. Clinchers have many potential points of failure.
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Xplora
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Re: Air Compressor or Floor Pump

Postby Xplora » Thu Sep 04, 2014 1:25 pm

Some tyres aren't supposed to go that high. It's more of a policy, rather than prescription. I prefer to stay down around 105-110, at 75kgs my bum is sick of feeling the road chips :lol:

Dr_Mutley
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Air Compressor or Floor Pump

Postby Dr_Mutley » Thu Sep 04, 2014 2:19 pm

Bit off topic aren't we guys?...

OP: grab yourself a midrange floor pump... It takes less than a minute to inflate a road tyre with one, so compressors are a bit OTT really...,

eeksll
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Re: Air Compressor or Floor Pump

Postby eeksll » Thu Sep 04, 2014 10:38 pm

the main reason why i ditched the idea of the air compressor is they are damn loud and I figure that unless its already on it will be just as fiddly as the track pump.

I initially looked into it because I wanted to get one for the car, I am really bad with that, its always "ahhh another time".

with the commuter bike I do sometimes push it out to a month for the same reason as above (it has fat-ish tyres). The road bike no chance, latex tubes mean every ride.

with the roadie and group rides, I do pump it up the night before than set to the right pressure with a electronic gauge in the morning. One less thing to do before i can head out.

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Xplora
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Re: Air Compressor or Floor Pump

Postby Xplora » Fri Sep 05, 2014 9:04 am

Topeak have just demo'd a track pump that doubles as a bike stand. I cannot believe this wasn't an idea that stayed with us forever 40 years ago. I hate looking for a good place to stand my bike.

That said, I have Topeak to be a bit gimmicky so I am undecided about the reality of such a device ;)

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Re: Air Compressor or Floor Pump

Postby BaldPatch » Mon Sep 08, 2014 8:17 pm

I think the modern floor pumps are pretty good.
I have a Serfas that was more than adequate to convert my MTB to Tubeless, most recommendations are to use a compressor or C02 for that job.

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