Post by Jack
When I first started cycling in London, it was all about the money. Not only was I broke and saving for a wedding, but I resented the fact that I was spending well over £100 of my hard-earned cash to get to work each month. After all, I go to work to earn money, not to spend it.
With this in mind, aside from a helmet, lights and a lock, I went as long as possible without spending a penny on my bike. I rode every day, twice a day without pumping up my tyres (not recommended – the punctures will happen!) and, when I finally realised a pump was a necessity, I spent just under a fiver on the cheapest hand pump I could get: the kind I used to pump up my football with as a kid. To be fair to the pump, it did its job – but boy, did you have to work for it! Think of the toughest hill you know, and pumping up two tyres, from flat, was a much harder job.
So when I eventually had some spare cash, I splashed out on a floor pump – the Beto Alloy Track Pump (£13.99, Amazon).
What’s to like?
Most of the features of this pump are, I imagine, universal across all floor pumps. Sturdiness, a clear gauge and a double connector, meaning the pump can be used with both Presta and Schraeder valves.
By far the best bit however, especially after using a hand-pump for so long, is the lack of effort needed to get your tyres to their optimum level. I was sick of hearing people telling me of the importance of keeping my tyres inflated to the right psi. But now, with it taking a maximum of ten ‘repetitions’ of the pump to fully inflate my tyres, I always keep my tyres at the right level and you really do feel the benefits when riding.
What’s not to like?
There is only one noticeable flaw with the Beto Alloy Track Pump, and that is that the valve connector can be a bit fidgety. It can take a good minute or two to get the pump properly connected, and there is a constant worry that you are damaging your valve throughout. I’ve been assured this is not the case, but you do need to make sure you take care (as you should with any pump).
See also: Topeak Joe Blow Sport Review
Overall review of the Beto pump
When you walk into any bike shop, you’ll see a fairly wide array of floor pumps, ranging from around £20 to – hold your breath – £100.
This pump is at the bottom of the price range, and for the price you pay it is hard to criticise it. Looking online on Amazon the pump is available for £13.99 which is obviously cheaper than the £20 I paid (but always worth checking seller’s feedback first), and there’s no doubt that for a first floor pump it’s a great buy. The amount of time saved – not to mention energy – when pumping tyres speaks for itself, and I am now firmly in the ‘floor pumps are brilliant’ camp.
Overall score – 3/5 – Very good for the price!
Great review, I know a few people who have one and all agree with the above. Can’t knock it for the price.
Looks good. A standing pump is definitely the way to go. I got mine even cheaper than that from Aldi in one of their regular, but one not permanent, cycle specials.
I’ve just received one of these via Amazon. I have to agree with what you say. I don’t think I’ve ever got my tyres correctly inflated before! Well worth it.
Had one of these for over a year – mostly occasional use – fixed few flats, ‘topped up’ pressure time at a time. Very satisfied for the price / quality.
Looks good, might just make this my new pump!
Please buy from a UK company that pays its taxes though, for instance: http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Beto-Alloy-Track-Pump-With-Gauge_46410.htm
Honestly what Amazon, Apple, Starbucks etc. did is 100% legal, and I couldn’t care less about it. Partly because of that incentive, they built offices here, created jobs, and lowered prices in the market.
Honestly get off your pedestal, and find a true immorality to be upset about.
Track pumps are definitely the way forward. I have a Halfords metal track pump which currently costs £24 and is also all you’d ever need from a pump.. well made, easy to use.
Absolutely Alan – I grimaced at the thought of the price originally, thinking “it’s just a pump” – but would definitely say it’s my best investment yet (other than the bike itself!)
I had one of these and it was good value, but I could never get my road bikes tyres to a high enough psi. In the end I bought a Joe Blow pump and they are amazing, but I think it was about £35.
I have a Joe Blow which I bought after a cheaper floor pump. Cheap one cost £10 Joe Blow about £30.
My philosophy is buy the Joe Blow if you can as it’s aluminium mechanism is fully repairable providing you with a quality pump for a very long time.
I bought the Joe from my LBS Roy Pinks in Newport Pagnell, and they offered to repair it free of charge whenever it broke (I do go in there a lot). That’s the key thing for me, supporting the LBS and being a part of the cycle community that will help you out in return. So the pricer pump more than pays for itself very quickly!
I bought a joe blow and inflate the tyres to the recommended pressure- started inflating them like this after talking to the guys at lunar cycles while my bike was being serviced-the tyres are very hard and i haven’t had a puncture for about 6 months.
Loving my “Revolution Air Track Pump Pro”, solid, fits in a second to presta and schrader without any faffing or worrying about breaking, pumps up the wheels fast, long hose, gauge is easy to read, perfect.
I have two—-an old Zefal floor-pump (more commonly called a track-pump), which was a big improvement on my standard frame-fit one (which was so tough it was giving me tennis elbow!), but the best of the lot is my Morph Road-G Masterblaster—–light enough, folds down to 34 cms, very portable in the bonk-bag, and very efficient.
No, I don’t work for the company.
P.R.
A hand portable bike pump will be convenient for long time riding.