Today’s QT – a 2-pack of related tips – comes to us from RBR contributor Stan Purdum, who writes:
The first tip is to carry an adapter nozzle that can be screwed onto a presta valve stem to allow the tube to be inflated using a pump with a Schrader head. These adapters are available in most bike shops, cost very little and weigh almost nothing. I’ve had one tucked away in a zippered pocket in my under-the-seat pouch for a long time, but twice it has saved my ride. The most recent time was earlier this month. I flatted while far from home. No problem, I thought, and got ready to install my spare tube. That’s when I discovered that at some point, the plunger of my bike-mounted pump had fallen out, rendering the pump useless. I went to a nearby house where a man was working in the yard, and he brought out a floor pump with, of course, a Schrader head. But with my adapter nozzle, I was able to inflate the tube and be on my way.
The second tip grows out of that, and it is to secure the parts of the pump. With a previous pump, I once found that the screw-in part of the nozzle had rattled off somewhere on the road (creating the other situation where the adapter nozzle saved the day). So with subsequent pumps, I have put a piece of black electrical tape around the nozzle, which not only keeps the small parts in place but also keeps road dirt out of nozzle. Perhaps tape should also be applied to the plunger. And I’ve now learned the hard way to inspect the pump each time I check the bike.
If you have an idea for a QT, fire away. We’re always looking for good info we can share with fellow roadies. We would love to hear from you with any suggestions you have. Contact us by clicking Quick Tips Ideas.
—John Marsh & The RBR Team
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