accessories (because they work)

I don’t see many around these parts, but probably the best accessories on my two road bikes are full frame pumps.

Why?

Punctures are like death and taxes, baby! You can’t escape either. When it comes time to fill a tube, wouldn’t you rather finish up with fewer strokes and get back to riding? Full frame pumps typically fit right under your top tube (use Velcro band to hold in place, or ask for a pump peg on your next custom steel or titanium build). No more frozen presta valves snapping off from crazy CO2 cartridges, no relying on a device the size of a bubble gum cigar and turning your arm into a cramped claw. No carrying around a “mini” pump in your jersey pocket, taking up valuable “supplies” space. Nope. Full frame. That’s my recommendation. Taught to me by former team racers who’ve changed a few flats alone in their training days.

Since you don’t have a team car following you on training rides or that commute to the office, you may as well get the right tool for the right job. Do you use a floor pump in your garage to simply top off tires? Or do you use one of those tiny folding jobs? OK, I rest my case.

See the bike behind Andy Hampsten? Full frame pump. I’ll dig out other examples and add here. If you have one, please send along to bikecrave(at)gmail.com. Enjoy!