Zefal HPX pump length?

Bruce W.1 said:

I want to get a full-size frame pump (schraeder valve). After
exhaustive research I've settled on the Zefal HPX or the Blackburn FP-1.
The Topeak Road Morph is a distant third.

None of my local bike shops sell these pumps so I'll have to order it.

I need to mount it under the top tube on my road bike. And ideally I'd
like to buy a pump peg to hold it, but nobody seems to sell them
anymore. You know the kind that wraps around the tube and has a little
metal 'L' shape piece sticking out, not one like this:
http://aebike.com/site/page.cfm?PageID=30&SKU=FS1002

A ziptie works well as a replacement for a pump peg. Secure it tightly
and cut off the excess length.

Quoted message said:

The thing that's confusing me is the pump length. Seven different
websites use two different set of spec's. for the length, 3 websites for
one spec. and four for the other. Good grief! This is an important
measurement.

*Spec. 1*
HPX 1 17" - 18.5"
HPX 2 19" - 20.5"
HPX 3 21" - 23"
HPX 4 23.5" - 25.5"

*Spec. 2*
HPX 1 14" - 16.75"
HPX 2 16" - 18.5"
HPX 3 18.75"- 20.5"
HPX 4 20.5" - 22.75"

I don't know what to believe. Can anyone shed light on this matter?

Or if anyone has one of these pumps be so kind as to measure it?

Holding my HPX-4 pump solidly against a wall alongside a yardstick gives
me the following measurements between the extreme ends of the pump:
fully relaxed spring: 22.6"
fully compressed spring: 20.0"
which is pretty close to your 'Spec. 2' numbers.
My guess is that 'Spec. 1' is an estimate of the appropriate C-T frame
size of the bicycle if the pump were mounted along the seat tube.

Quoted message said:

Thanks for your help.

How long is your top tube?

I get the same measurements as Peter for the HPX size 4. Note that it
would be more practical if you didn't have to /fully/ compress the spring.

For all but the very longest of frames, a cable tie around the head tube
is good: the head acts as a peg. A dusty old fashion bike shop might have
a metal clip-on peg otherwise. The plastic ones aren't up to coping with
the spring force.

~PB

Bruce W.1 said:

Quoted message said:

*Spec. 2*
HPX 1 14" - 16.75"
HPX 2 16" - 18.5"
HPX 3 18.75"- 20.5"
HPX 4 20.5" - 22.75"

My fairly new Zefal #2 and #4 seem to agree with Spec 2. A little shorter at
least on the non-compressed length. Can't find one of those old plastic
"adapters" for a pump peg? No, those weren't real strong but they worked for
the old plastic Silcas ok, especially with a velcro strap (wider than a zip
tie). --TP

On Tue, 13 Jul 2004 18:22:18 -0400, "Bruce W.1" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

The Blackburn FP-1 mounts with a velcro strap, which to me is pretty cheesy.

Huh??? I have an FP-1 and it doesn't use a velcro strap. Now, I *have*
attached a velcro strap in the middle as insurance. This habit
*started* with a Zefal HPX pump that tended to rattle a bit in the
middle. A strap stopped the rattling.

The reason I went from the Zefal to the Blackburn is probably just a
strange aspect of my anatomy and pedalling style and clothing, but
I'll point it out. The Zefal has the pump head and lever at the seat
end if you put it on the top tube. Turns out that lever would rub on
the inside of my pants if I was wearing jeans or some other non-biking
short when I commuted. The rubbing drove me nuts. The Blackburn (and
the Topeak) have the lever at the headtube end and I have no problems
with rubbing under the seat.

The Topeak is a fine pump. I picked one up used and have it on another
bike.

Having used all three, I'd recommend the Zefal for actual pumping.
Just seems to go smoother with it than the other two, which are about
equal to each other.

Quoted message said:

A Silca pump would be alright but they all seem to be made for presta
valves.

So the Zefal HPX is the winner. Lacking a pump peg I'll have to improvise.

Cable tie on the headtube.

Peter said:

A ziptie works well as a replacement for a pump peg. Secure it tightly
and cut off the excess length.

Holding my HPX-4 pump solidly against a wall alongside a yardstick gives
me the following measurements between the extreme ends of the pump:
fully relaxed spring: 22.6"
fully compressed spring: 20.0"
which is pretty close to your 'Spec. 2' numbers.
My guess is that 'Spec. 1' is an estimate of the appropriate C-T frame
size of the bicycle if the pump were mounted along the seat tube.

========================================================

That's what I needed. Thanks.

How would you characterize the spring tension? Does it need to be fully
compressed to stay securely in its mount, or would 1/2" of compression
be adequate?

Dan Daniel said:

Huh??? I have an FP-1 and it doesn't use a velcro strap. Now, I *have*
attached a velcro strap in the middle as insurance. This habit
*started* with a Zefal HPX pump that tended to rattle a bit in the
middle. A strap stopped the rattling.

The reason I went from the Zefal to the Blackburn is probably just a
strange aspect of my anatomy and pedalling style and clothing, but
I'll point it out. The Zefal has the pump head and lever at the seat
end if you put it on the top tube. Turns out that lever would rub on
the inside of my pants if I was wearing jeans or some other non-biking
short when I commuted. The rubbing drove me nuts. The Blackburn (and
the Topeak) have the lever at the headtube end and I have no problems
with rubbing under the seat.

The Topeak is a fine pump. I picked one up used and have it on another
bike.

Having used all three, I'd recommend the Zefal for actual pumping.
Just seems to go smoother with it than the other two, which are about
equal to each other.

Cable tie on the headtube.

==========================================================

You FP-1 doesn't use a velcro strap? How does it mount?

The Zefal pump head width problem crossed my mind, but I figured that
it's more narrow than a water bottle so it shouldn't be a problem. But
I know what you're saying, I've had similar annoying problems.

On Wed, 14 Jul 2004 09:17:28 -0400, "Bruce W.1" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

You FP-1 doesn't use a velcro strap? How does it mount?

Like the HPX. Compress it and slips on the underside of the top tube.
I hope that we are talking about the same pump. This is the Blackburn
frame pump (hence FP, I assume) near the bottom-

http://www.blackburndesign.com/2004/pumps_04.htm#

Not any of the others. Exact same attachment method as the Zefal HPX.

Bruce W.1 said:

How would you characterize the spring tension? Does it need to be
fully compressed to stay securely in its mount

No, in fact the spring is so strong that it's awkward to fully compress
it. 50% compression is fine.

~PB

Dan Daniel said:

On Wed, 14 Jul 2004 09:17:28 -0400, "Bruce W.1" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

You FP-1 doesn't use a velcro strap? How does it mount?

Like the HPX. Compress it and slips on the underside of the top tube.
I hope that we are talking about the same pump. This is the Blackburn
frame pump (hence FP, I assume) near the bottom-

http://www.blackburndesign.com/2004/pumps_04.htm#

Not any of the others. Exact same attachment method as the Zefal HPX.

====================================================

Okay, I didn't realize they came in different lengths. Performance has
them on sale for $15 so I ordered one.
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=12859&subcategory_ID=4361

Your link looks slightly different, must be the new model.

Thanks.

On Wed, 14 Jul 2004 13:53:10 -0400, "Bruce W.1" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

====================================================

Okay, I didn't realize they came in different lengths. Performance has
them on sale for $15 so I ordered one.
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=12859&subcategory_ID=4361

Your link looks slightly different, must be the new model.

Thanks.

Well, the Blackburn web page link looks different than *my* model,
also. Mine is like the Performance web page. I've had to use the
Blackburn twice 'in the field' and it works well; I hope that it works
out for you.

To correct something that I said earlier- the Blackburn pump head and
lever *are* at the seat tube end, not the head tube end. Only the
Topeak has the pump head/lever at the head tube end. But the Blackburn
is thinner than the Zefal and I have never had the rubbing problem
that I had constantly with the Zefal.

It comes with a velcro strap- helpful to stop rattling and as a safety
when I carry the bike or hit major holes.

On Wed, 14 Jul 2004 13:53:10 -0400, "Bruce W.1" <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

====================================================

Okay, I didn't realize they came in different lengths. Performance has
them on sale for $15 so I ordered one.
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=12859&subcategory_ID=4361

Your link looks slightly different, must be the new model.

Thanks.

Well, the Blackburn web page link looks different than *my* model,
also. Mine is like the Performance web page. I've had to use the
Blackburn twice 'in the field' and it works well; I hope that it works
out for you.

To correct something that I said earlier- the Blackburn pump head and
lever *are* at the seat tube end, not the head tube end. Only the
Topeak has the pump head/lever at the head tube end. But the Blackburn
is thinner than the Zefal and I have never had the rubbing problem
that I had constantly with the Zefal.

It comes with a velcro strap- helpful to stop rattling and as a safety
when I carry the bike or hit major holes.

Bruce W.1 said:

I want to get a full-size frame pump (schraeder valve). After
exhaustive research I've settled on the Zefal HPX or the Blackburn FP-1.
The Topeak Road Morph is a distant third.

None of my local bike shops sell these pumps so I'll have to order it.

I need to mount it under the top tube on my road bike. And ideally I'd
like to buy a pump peg to hold it, but nobody seems to sell them
anymore. You know the kind that wraps around the tube and has a little
metal 'L' shape piece sticking out, not one like this:
http://aebike.com/site/page.cfm?PageID=30&SKU=FS1002

The Blackburn FP-1 mounts with a velcro strap, which to me is pretty
cheesy.

A Silca pump would be alright but they all seem to be made for presta
valves.

So the Zefal HPX is the winner. Lacking a pump peg I'll have to improvise.

The thing that's confusing me is the pump length. Seven different
websites use two different set of spec's. for the length, 3 websites for
one spec. and four for the other. Good grief! This is an important
measurement.

*Spec. 1*
HPX 1 17" - 18.5"
HPX 2 19" - 20.5"
HPX 3 21" - 23"
HPX 4 23.5" - 25.5"

*Spec. 2*
HPX 1 14" - 16.75"
HPX 2 16" - 18.5"
HPX 3 18.75"- 20.5"
HPX 4 20.5" - 22.75"

I don't know what to believe. Can anyone shed light on this matter?

Or if anyone has one of these pumps be so kind as to measure it?

On a medium sized road frame (22"😉 I bet it's a 4 you need. I have a 2
which fits in a pannier and a 3 which goes down the seatstay of my
tourer (it fouls the pannier in this position so I have the shorter one
as an alternative).

However, if the other poster's 4 measurement is not to your liking I'll
measure my 3.