Compressor recommendation please

[Kez0013]

I've been mountain biking since the late 1980's so old school but new to the retro bike thang.

I'm really getting a kick out of getting to own and ride the bikes I wanted at the time but couldn't afford then plus I am rebuilding my beloved Heckler X astoowellalso considering the Proflex frame that is also in the loft.

Having now got a few bikes (old and new) keeping all the tyres inflated is fun!

So rather than slave over a track pump can you good folk please recommend a compressor to make the task easier, hopefully one that can do both valve types.

 

[focomat 1c]

Its good to hear from someone who has identified one of the major pleasures of bike ownership.
I always look forward to the weekend when I will have the opportunity to squeeze an assortment
of tyres and try to assess the amount of air pressure therein. The increasing availability of track
pumps seems to imply that many other people also share this hitherto unmentioned guilty pleasure !

Seriously, I had to check the date this was posted. How many bikes can you ride at once ?
How often do you have to pump up the tyres ? What type/quality of inner tubes are you using ?

If you must, look on a well known auction site to find 12v compressors from about £ 7

Must go now, I've got tyres to check ...........................................

 

[The History Man]

Just get a nicely made lezyne track pump with wooden handle etc. Increases the pleasure no end.

 

[scottproonly]

Re:

I got my track pump from decathlon for only £18 and I can't fault it!
If you are setting up tubeless tires however a compresser is a must. Ive heard of people making their own but if you must buy one just buy the best you can afford. Toolstation have some decent ones
Kes

 

[mattr]

I have a rennkompressor for day to day duties. Can get up to mtb pressures (30psi) with almost no effort and only a dozen ish strokes. Can hit track pressures (150psi) in a lot more strokes and a lot more effort. But still far easier than any other travel track pump I've used, owned or borrowed.

Tubeless and initial pumping/fitting. I use a compressor for.
It's a cheap one from the local equivalent of tool station. 12l, reservoir, 240v, 30-45 seconds to hit pressure (8 bar).
Cost about 90 quid.
Also use it for the car (tyres) and it just about has power to do a nut runner for car wheels.
Inflating bike tyres is one second for mtb, 3 seconds for road........

 

[dyna-ti]

Do you mean like an air compressor ? the motor driven affair :?
I think 2hp with a 50ltr tank you can pick up for about £100. and of course you can use it for other things.
What about something like this ? Through a mains adaptor and it takes no room.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/451717-12V-DC ... SwB4NWwE5l

 

[Kez0013]

I got a Stanley air compressor with accoutrements from Screwfix and then the Topeak Super Chuck so I'm all set.

Truth be told, I'm a bit OCD so like to keep tyres inflated and ready to go so I can just hop on and pedal off on whichever takes my fancy.

 

[jimo746]

Any chance of a photo of your setup? Sounds interesting, something that I may one day look into...

 

[Cavalier]

Re:

About two years ago I had a long discussion in the pub with a couple of friends, who own a bike shop here in Cambridge, who were sick and tired of their compressor sound like the opening salvos from the first day of the Somme. After months of investigating and trying various silent compressors they settled for a Bambi (made in Birmingham UK... YAY). I've got to say that it is fantastic. It recharges itself with about the same amount of sound as a fridge, it's unbelievable, and has comfortably withstood constant workshop use since they bought it. Being a standard compressor it takes standard compressor parts which mostly suit Schaeder valves (so they always used those brass presta/schaeder converters) but they're about to take delivery of a Park-tool trigger which is supposed to be great and will pump schaeder/presta with no probs. I suppose it really comes down to money. A Bambi with Park-tool trigger costs about £400-ish at the cheapest which is a pure luxury for the home mechanic. But it depends on what you'd want to spend money on?
If you don't want to go that far then Topeak are without doubt the best, the only thing that wrecked mine was when I left it out in the rain by mistake which killed the dial (the pump still worked though). SKS have a good reputation but their heads have always been traditionally dreadful rubber washer things and horrible to use. Lezyne seem to be lovely, but, the air exchange (the in/out valve) is weak and non-replaceable so shouldn't be considered. Silca are supposed to be fantastic, but, I've never owned one, so can't give an honest opinion on them.
Below is an online link to Bambi's (nothing to do with me - just the first search on Google) to give you an idea of costs.

http://www.graphicair.co.uk/categories/ ... mpressors/

 

[scottproonly]

Re:

My £18 decathlon purchase is an sks and the head works perfectly for both valve types
Kes