frame pumps

I've noticed that a few people have trouble inflating their tires on the road. I don't mind letting you use my pump, but one day you'll be riding by yourself or with somebody with an unusable pump, and you'll get stranded. It's a good idea to try to inflate your tires with your frame pump at home, and make sure that it works. If it doesn't, most likely there is a problem with one of the rubber pieces inside the head of the pump. You can try to replace the piece, or buy a decent frame pump.

Many of those little frame pumps that people use are very cute and light, but completely ineffective at actually pumping air into your tires. I'd recommend that you buy a pump from the Topeak Morph series. This one for example. A feature I always look for in a frame pump is a hose, so that you won't bend the valve stem when you're pumping hard. (To minimize that risk, you should also use tubes with threaded valve stems.) Another handy feature is a fold-out foot pad that you can step on, so that you can use your frame pump exactly as if it was a floor pump. Some of these Topeak Morph come with a gauge. The model I link to in this post, and which I own, can inflate your tires up to 140+ psi (it takes me time and patience, but I can get there).

I don't know where you can find these pumps for the lowest price, but even if you spend 30 bucks on one, it's money well spent.

Does anyone know where I can buy a sleeve for my frame pump? I want to protect it from water and dirt, so I'm using an umbrella sleeve. But my cranks rub on it and already made some holes, so I need to find something better. (Plus, it looks awful.)