Social
media’s
algorithms
know
that
I
ride
a
bike
almost
every
day.
My
quiver
includes
a
city
bike,
mountain
bike,
and
gravel
bike,
in
addition
to
one
or
two
e-bikes
I’m
always
in
the
process
of
reviewing.
I’m
also
the
family
mechanic,
which
makes
me
responsible
for
no
less
than
16
to
18
tires
that
I
must
keep
inflated.
So,
you’d
better
believe
I
took
notice
when
Instagram
served
me
several
ads
for
the Flextail
Tiny
Bike
Bump.
The
mini
rechargeable
pump
works
with
Presta
(the
thin
one)
or
Schrader
(the
old
fatty)
valves
and
promises
ultra-fast
inflation
that
maxes
out
at
100psi
(about
7
bars)
—
enough
for
any
bike
that
doesn’t
require
a
stretchy
wardrobe
coordinated
with
your
shoes
and
helmet.
The
origins
of
the
pump
are
suspect,
as
I
see
what
looks
to
be
the
exact
same
product
sold
with
branding
like Cyclami, Toptoper, Rrskit, and
Epoom
at
a
variety
of
price
points,
some
as
low
as
$25.
Flextail
sells
its
version
for
$85
and
lists
the
manufacturer
as
Huzhou
Jingwei
Outdoor
Products
on
the
box
and
device
itself.
The
first
pump
Flextail
sent
me
couldn’t
pump
a
tire
beyond
19psi
before
dying.
Flextail
sent
me
another
that
(mostly)
lives
up
to
the
claims.
The
thing
that’s
not
mentioned
in
the
ads
I’ve
seen
is
how
loud
the
tiny
pump
is:
76dB
at
arm’s
length,
in
my
testing,
which
is
akin
to
bending
over
to
inspect
a
running
vacuum
cleaner
or
garbage
disposal.
Using
it
while
stopped
alongside
forest
trails
generates
more
scowls
than
seeing
a
mountain
biker
in
Lycra.
The
Flextail
Tiny
Bike
Pump
does
work,
though.
It’s
much
faster
and
smaller
than
the
mini
hand
pumps
riders
usually
carry
in
case
of
trouble.
At
3.9
ounces
(111
grams),
it’s
also
just
a
bit
heavier
than
the
trusty
3.4-ounce
(96
grams)
Unich
pump
I
regularly
carry.
But
the
Flextail
pump
also
doesn’t
strain
your
air
valve
mounts
as
much
because
it
doesn’t
require
long
periods
of
vigorously
erratic
pumping.
The
Flextail
pump’s
biggest
disadvantage
is
that
it’s
only
good
for
a
few
zero-to-full
inflations
before
needing
a
recharge,
but
that
will
vary
by
tire
size
and
desired
pressure.
It’ll
last
much
longer
if
you’re
just
topping
up
tires.
Its
tiny
2.59Wh
battery
recharges
in
as
little
as
25
minutes.
1/4
The
Flextail
compared
to
two
mini
pumps,
my
trusty
Unich
pump
(top)
and
a
mini
standing
pump
from
Pro
Bike
Tool
(bottom).
In
my
testing,
on
a
city
bike
fitted
with
wide
700
x
40c
tires
and
Schrader
valve,
I
was
able
to
pump
one
tire
up
to
45psi
in
45
seconds.
Then,
moving
to
a
gravel
bike
fitted
with
wider
700
x
42c
tires
and
Presta
valves,
I
was
able
to
hit
50psi
in
90
seconds
before
the
pump
quit
in
need
of
a
recharge.
That’s
two
real-world
inflations
per
charge,
for
those
keeping
score.
The
Flextail
Tiny
Bike
Pump
is
so
small
and
lightweight
that
I
initially
thought
it
would
be
ideal
for
bikepacking
trips
or
even
long
day
rides.
But
with
only
two
inflations
in
the
tank,
I’d
still
want
to
carry
a
hand
pump
as
backup
alongside
my
patch
kit
and
spare
inner
tube(s).
But
there’s
no
way
my
gram-obsessed
brain
would
allow
me
to
carry
two
pumps.
If
your
rig
is
an
e-bike
with
a
built-in
USB
charging
port,
then
you’re
already
traveling
with
a
giant
power
bank
on
wheels.
That
makes
it
easy
to
recharge
the
Flextail
pump
after
depleting
it
because
your
side-of-the-road
flat
tire
repair
didn’t
go
as
planned
(it
happens!).
Just
don’t
forget
your
USB-C
cable...
and
maybe
a
carbohydrate
bar
to
snack
on
while
you
wait.
If
you’re
still
interested,
all
I
can
say
is
that
one
of
the
two
Flextail
Tiny
Bike
Pumps
I
tested
worked
as
advertised,
and
I
bet
you’ll
have
similar
success
from
other
brands
that
sell
what
looks
to
be
the
same
Huzhou
Jingwei
Outdoor
Products
battery-powered
pump
for
much
less.
For
everyone
else,
just
buy
a
mini
hand
pump
for
much
less
money.
They
never
need
charging,
are
too
big
to
lose,
and
will
likely
last
a
human
lifetime
—
or
two.
All
photography
by
Thomas
Ricker
/
The
Verge
Original author: Thomas Ricker
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