Jim’s Tech Talk
By Jim Langley
Today’s new product isn’t available yet and I haven’t even had a chance to try a prototype. But I want to tell you about it because I bet you’ve experienced the problem the pump is designed to solve. I sure have.
The problem occurs when attaching a floor pump equipped with a thumblock type head to a Presta valve to inflate a tire. Typically these thumblock heads have a lever that’s pushed down or pulled up to lock onto the valve. With some of these heads it’s not easy to put the head on and close the valve and it can take two hands to attach it to the valve.
Because you’re using force to close the lever and pushing down to hold the head on the valve, you can end up letting more air out of the valve or even most of the air. Which is annoying if you were trying to top off your tire pressure.
Even worse, whether the thumblock lever is pulled or pushed, enough force is required to attach and successfully close the lever that it’s possible to bend the valve or valve tip if you’re unlucky. And if you don’t get it just right, the head can pop off the Presta valve – meaning having to try again. These issues are why other pumps use simple press- or screw-on heads and avoid thumblock levers altogether.
Enter Radian and their Zilch Pump
Radian, the company that makes this new pump called the Zilch, has an entirely new head design. Instead of a small head closed with a lever above the valve, the Zilch has an oversized head that operates with a handle. To put the head on the Presta valve, you use your entire hand and simply squeeze the handle closed to lock the head on the valve. Squeeze again to release the head.
Along with the oversized head and handle, the closing and sealing mechanism inside the Zilch head contributes to the ease of use. When open, there’s clearance to ensure no interference with the valve tip or valve as you put the head on, so there are no worries about bending anything. And when you close the handle, jaws inside the head firmly close on the valve for an airtight connection. The Zilch head holds more of the Presta valve too so it’s not likely to come off until the handle is released.
While Radian’s Zilch pump is designed for Presta valves, it includes Schrader-to-Presta valve adapters for those with Schrader valve equipped bikes. Once the adapters are in place, the Zilch pump will work just like it does on Presta equipped bikes.
Again, I haven’t tried the Zilch pump or Zilch pump head yet so I can’t speak from the experience of having used it. What I can tell you is that the people behind it are the inventors and designers who brought out the Chainlift back in 2020, which I still think is an ingenious product. Also, Zilch recently won the 2025 Design & Innovation Award.
How It Works
The features and benefits of the Zilch pump and pump head are demonstrated in these two videos.
Availability and Cost
Zilch launched on March 4 on the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter to help raise the rest of the capital expenditure for the remainder of tooling and initial inventory. The campaign runs for 30 days and will end on April 3rd. Radian only has that 30 day window to raise the funds through pre-orders. Zilch will not be available anywhere else until after the Kickstarter campaign ends.
The first 250 backers will get $45 off the MSRP (approximately $75) of the Zilch equipped floor pump. Other backers will also get a discount. And all backers will be the first to receive their orders. Here is the link:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/radianusa/zilch-the-easy-to-use-bike-pump-for-everyone
After April 3rd, readers can pre-order on the website here: https://radian-usa.com/pages/zilch.
Jim Langley is RBR’s Technical Editor. A pro mechanic & cycling writer for more than 40 years, he’s the author of Your Home Bicycle Workshop in the RBR eBookstore. Tune in to Jim’s popular YouTube channel for wheel building & bike repair how-to’s. Jim’s also known for his cycling streak that ended in February 2022 with a total of 10,269 consecutive daily rides (28 years, 1 month and 11 days of never missing a ride). Click to read Jim’s full bio.
Looks like a great improvement. Now if they can create a version of it for frame pumps.
nah
usually the new ideas fail early
this one has a lot of plasticky looking parts
wle
HI Larry. My name is Fernando from Radian, the maker of the Zilch pump. Here is some info on the materials we use.
Zilch Head
The current Zilch pump head is comprised of mainly injection molded components using several different types engineered resins (plastic). Some with near zero friction properties. Together with all stainless steel fasteners, springs, and a few other internal metal components.
RF-S Floor pump
Handle – Injection molded using high strength engineered resin
Barrel/Body – Aluminum
Rod – Aluminum
Base – Injection molded using high strength engineered resin
Here is some supporting information.
1. All materials were chosen purely on producing the best performance and reliability. Cost was secondary. Like most raw materials, quality varies greatly and relies on sourcing from the best established reputable brands like BASF, Convestro, Dow (Delrin), GE (Sabic). Our engineering team has 30+ years in high quality volume manufacturing using the best materials for a specific product.
1. The same proven resins used in the harsh environments of all modern automobile engine components and throughout the remainder of a vehicle (close to 50% of a car by weight).
2. We preform stress inducing lifecycle testing on all stressed components to find any cyclic fatigue failures.
3. Metal gives no benefit to most of the components in the head or pump but raises cost significantly. Metal is used only where we deem necessary for best performance and reliability.
Unfortunately many products made of plastic components are not designed or manufactured properly which may give the use of plastic a negative reputation to some.
Hope this helps!
Cheers!
I like it but What do I do with my other three floor pumps?
limited life due to plastic internals.
Radian’s history would suggest otherwise, Larry. Any company that issues a lifetime warranty for its product is worthy of consideration. It’s not a newbie. Check out its website.
It’s a clever design Jim. Simple and elegant. I question: What’s the minimum length of the exposed valve necessary for proper engagement?
Thanks for the question about minimum length of the exposed valve needed Seth. I don’t have an exact answer, but if you look at the second video, you can see the animation of how much of the valve is inserted. Also, I see that Fernando at Radian has been answering some of these questions. Maybe he’ll see yours and weigh in.
Thanks Seth!
Jim
One question comes to mind: What took so long for someone to come up with this idea?
The concept is brilliant, but execution will be the key. Time will tell.
I’d also prefer to buy just a head for an existing pump.
Jim, you mention that it has a Schrader adapter, but I see no mention of an adapter on their website. Are you sure one is included with the basic offering?
The worst pump I’ve had was the Silca, which DOESN’T have a thumb lever. (Some tubes it was impossible to get air in. The only Kickstarer’s I’ve been in were the Risinten (sp?) seat suspension, which arrived 3 YEARS after the original estimated date, and now the SMART Tire Company flat proof alloy bicycle tire, which is 9 months past it’s date, and, apparently nowhere’s near ready. So, don’t hold your breath!
It looks very interesting. I also participate with my local bike club in annual bike builds, where we assemble and check bikes to be given out to children. These usually have Schraeder valves, and some of them have 12″ diameter wheels. These Zilch heads don’t look like they’d fit on those wheels.
Hi Stephen. My name is Fernando from Radian. We make the Zilch pump. Thanks for your comment regarding Schrader valves.
The Zilch pump includes a pair of Schrader to Presta converters that screw on and STAY on each bike tire. You screw it on once by hand on each tire and leave it. This brings all the benefits and ease of use of the Zilch head to all bikes. Now even kids can fill their tires easily!
AND we listened to many parent’s struggle to fill the tires of their smaller kids bikes. There is not enough room for attaching bike pumps to smaller wheels. There is simply not enough space between the spokes and axle to fit a person’s hand. For these small wheel bikes we have an ANGLED Schrader to Presta converter. It stays on each bike wheel and will come in all the popular bling colors. Zilch just slides on/off with one hand.
Cheers!
Hmmm, do we really need to re-invent something as simple as a floor pump? My Leyzne aluminum floor pump with its bleed button solves the “problem” of lost air. I’ve had mine for over 16 years with absolutely no problems. I ride well love 5k miles a year, so it is used almost daily. Do we need re-engineer the wheel too?