The best way to make getting a flat worse is not being prepared to fix it. There are a number of mini pumps ans inflators out there designed to make the process as easy as possible, but a new company thinks they have a better idea. Named CrankPump, the company’s name is a bit misleading since instead of hiding a pump inside your bike’s bottom bracket, the gadget allows you to stash a co2 inflator.
CrankPump seems like a sure fire way to have access to inflation when you need it… Updated
Included in the CrankPump assembly is the co2 inflator itself, a threaded co2 cartridge, and two specially designed tire levers that are designed to “unzip” your tires from the rim with a patent pending method. More details on the levers should be available when the CrankPump goes live with a Kickstarter on the 16th.
Designed to only work with Shimano Hollowtech II cranksets, CrankPump actually replaces the plastic preload bolt that is included with the cranks. Ideally, you would adjust the bottom bracket as normal, tighten down the crank arm pinch bolts, then remove the preload bolt and replace with the CrankPump. Though in our experience you would at least need to loosen the outside pinch bolt to remove the preload bolt. The CrankPump also looks like it will require a special tool for installation and removal, so we’ve reached out to the company for more details.
CrankPump will ensure that you have at least a single co2 cartridge, inflator, and tire levers when you get a flat, but we can’t help but note that due to the design the CrankPump’s mass will be added to the rotational weight of the crankset. If you’re into the convenience of always having it on hand, and don’t mind having to unthread it from the bottom bracket to use or the extra weight, CrankPump could be very useful the next time you get a flat.
Update:
Damon from CrankPump got back to us with a few more details. The packaging of the CrankPump will double as a removal tool for the Hollowtech II preload bolt. You will have to loosen the pinch bolts to remove the Shimano bolt, but the CrankPump is designed with a smaller flange so you will be able to install and remove the inflator without tools. The cap is designed to use your fingers to turn in either direction, but it was designed to be easier to turn counter clockwise so it won’t get stuck.
Due to the design constraints of the axle, the CrankPump is limited to 12g co2 cartridges which typically inflate a standard road tire to 90 psi.
