Why did I buy a new pump?
- Was my old one broken? – No
- Did my old one pump up tyres? – Yes
- Am I glad I bought a new one? – Yes!
That’s my old pump (Topeak Joe Blow Max II) on the left, with the Joe Blow Sport II on the right. So what’s the difference between the two? Well, as you can see, the new one looks better! Look at that sexy gauge! Also the new one is heavier, by virtue of its larger metal base compared to the plastic of the Max II. That, and a more sturdy feel in general, lend an air of robustness to the Sport II.
Does it perform any better? Well, they can both inflate tyres to the correct pressure, but there is a different quality to the Sport II. It is certainly more stable as you apply pressure to the handle, and the air is forced into the tyre in a more forceful, positive way. I can’t really describe it any better than that. It just feels ‘better’!
Of course it won’t make a blind bit of difference to the feel of riding the bike, but it will help to make those maintenance tasks just a bit more pleasurable!
