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Submitted by
Randy Schmuck
a Weekend Warrior
from Orlando, FL, USA
Date Reviewed: February 9, 2008 | | Favorite Trail: | West Orange Trail | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Purchased At: | Orange Cycle | | Strengths: | It has none. Might be more useful if it converted into a kick stand. | | Weaknesses: | Um the fact that it is useless. | | Similar Products Used: | Old school floor pump. I am on my way to Target to buy one right after I post this. | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Crossroads....You know the one that bike snobs often refer to as "the comfort bike" | | Bottom Line: | Here is the deal, I am just a regular dude who rides on the West Orange Trail about once a month with some friends. I consider myself to be fairly intelligent. So when I bought my new bike three years ago, I said it might be a good idea to have an little air pump to get me out of trouble if I ever had a flat. So Orange Cycle sold me this Airstik. I bought it, strapped it to the frame of my bike and off I went. I admit that I did not ask too many questions, after all it's a bicycle pump how complicated could it be? Well let me tell you, I finally needed it, and it was useless. I could not figure the gosh darn thing out! Yes it pumps great both ways and the handle is comfortable and it looks cool, but heck I could not figure out how to attach the gosh darn thing to the tire hole thingy. (Yes I said Tire hole thingy...you got a problem with that?)
So if your are one of those hard core bikers then go ahead and buy it. But if you are just a regular person then RUN RUN AWAY FROM THIS PRODUCT! (You'll have to run cause your tires will be flat) | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Doug
a
from St. Charles, IL
Date Reviewed: September 25, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | no trails just roads | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | 20.00 | | Strengths: | Pumps air, no sticking of piston like other reviews stated | | Weaknesses: | Pump handle not pinned on to piston, only screwed on. Eventually worked itself loose and fell off on a ride rendering it virtually useless. | | Similar Products Used: | Zefal | | Bike Setup: | Road | | Bottom Line: | Blackburn replaced it for free under there lifetime guarantee with just a couple of e-mail communications explaining the problem. Blackburn customer service was excellent. It appears that the handle on the new one is pinned on to the piston now. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
dirtdigler2
a Downhiller
from sydney australia
Date Reviewed: April 7, 2007 | | Favorite Trail: | anything | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Purchased At: | a bike shop | | Strengths: | salesman said it was really good | | Weaknesses: | salesman lied | | Bike Setup: | cannondale gemini | | Bottom Line: | sat in my backpak for ages used it maybe twice , when i really needed it guess what it sh@t itself piston sticks dosn't pump air a complete waist of money | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
S Barkdull
a Cross Country Rider
from Orlando, FL, USA
Date Reviewed: November 11, 2006 | | Favorite Trail: | anywhere | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | Orange Cycle | | Strengths: | Looks good, it's small. | | Weaknesses: | Pumps are supposed to move air. This one utterly fails after 6-9 months of non-use, just from being strapped to a bike frame. | | Bike Setup: | Specialized FSR Stumpjumper. | | Bottom Line: | Total and utter piece of crap. When I bought it new, it actually moved air. Six months later when I was 10 miles out and got a flat, it completely failed. I had to phone home for a pick up.
I returned it to Orange Cycle and they gave me a new one. The new one has worked fine for the first 9 months. Now, it fails to move air on the up-stroke. It is going back for a cash return.
I will never buy another non-floor Blackburn pump again. (I've had a floor pump by Blackburn for several years and it still works fine). | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Juli
a Weekend Warrior
from Palmer, AK USA
Date Reviewed: July 30, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | REI | | Strengths: | None. | | Weaknesses: | Big disappointment. Been carrying it on my bike for a year just for emergencies - the first time I really needed it, it broke. Didn't pump enough air to replace what it was allowing to leak out. Had to hoof it until someone came along with a real pump. | | Similar Products Used: | Mountain Morph | | Bike Setup: | Specialized Sequoia | | Bottom Line: | Don't buy it. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
John Boy
a Cross Country Rider
from Australia
Date Reviewed: March 25, 2006 | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Strengths: | None does not work | | Weaknesses: | Seized on first use. | | Similar Products Used: | Used the similar older model for several years bought a new one when older model started leaking and had trouble getting over 30psi | | Bike Setup: | customised Rocky Mountain etsx | | Bottom Line: | Dismal failure of a product. Poorly lubricated to begin with and seized on trail on first use. when pulled apart to lube valving fell apart. Valving configuration is not straight forward and does not come with a service manual nor is one available on the web very poor effort Blackburn. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Chris McKensingtonson
a Cross Country Rider
from Bettendorf, IA
Date Reviewed: December 19, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | everything | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | On Two Wheels | | Strengths: | Good pump for the price. I think the guys that gave the previous reviews mustve crashed in to too many trees. LOL | | Weaknesses: | As far as the dual action - It seems on the "reverse action" (for lack of a better term) doesnt have enough pressure to put air in the tire as the tire becomes increasingly firm. | | Similar Products Used: | Wrench Force - they used to make good pumps | | Bike Setup: | 6500 Trek XC | | Bottom Line: | Again dont know what the previous reviews were all about - they must've read the instruction manual (it doesnt come with one - most of us dont need it its just a freakin pump). Alright its not top of the line but it's good for a couple years use. BUT the thing is for a pump of this price - it takes about a hundered pumps to inflate a tire (of 26" anyway) from totally flat to almost rock hard - maybe even more than a hundered. But so far works absolutley fine. Unlike the previous "reviewers" I DID get it to work more than once or twice - I guess you need opposable thumbs. hahaha | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Stan Wood
a Weekend Warrior
from Charleston
Date Reviewed: August 27, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Canaan Valley | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$15.00 | | Purchased At: | Charleston Cycle Center | | Strengths: | Absolutely none. | | Weaknesses: | Cheap plastic crap, worked 2 times and on third time would not air up a schraeder valve. This pump was only used for emergency use on trail. What a let down. I would never buy another Blackburn product. | | Similar Products Used: | Topeak | | Bike Setup: | Trek 4900 | | Bottom Line: | Save your money and dont buy this POS. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Alex Jones
a Cross Country Rider
from Liverpool
Date Reviewed: May 6, 2005 | | Favorite Trail: | Mach 3 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Price Paid: |
$30.00 | | Purchased At: | Pembroke cycles | | Strengths: | None absolute rubbish quality | | Weaknesses: | Badly designed, very fiddly, hard to take appart. Very poor quality parts | | Similar Products Used: | Specialised great product | | Bike Setup: | Precialised hardrock | | Bottom Line: | Never buy a Blackburn product, cjheap nasty and badly designed, guarenteed to let you down when you need it most. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David Gow
a Cross Country Rider
from Moraga CA
Date Reviewed: October 31, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Briones to Mt Diablo | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | ? | | Strengths: | I own 2 of these. Both worked well the first few uses, letting me get 100+ psi. | | Weaknesses: | The newer one, as others have commented releases air as tire pressure increases, so that 100+psi is no longer possible. So I switched to the older one, which on first use blew the handle end barrel cap into pieces at about 60 psi. I bought the Performance version of the innovations road pump for $13, it is cheaper and lighter and as claimed, it gives 100 psi easily. Now to be fair Blackburn says that if I mail them the pumps the will send me replacements, including the broken keeper strap on the mounting.But I commute by bike and really didn't want to wait for the replacements | | Similar Products Used: | An Italian pump (Barbieri?)that was super until it was "borrowed" permanantly. I've never been able to find antoher. | | Bike Setup: | Trek 5500 and Cannodale F700 | | Bottom Line: | If the Performance/Innovations road pump works I will stick with it, and not go back to Blackburn. Them pump choices for Trek carbon frames are limited, but unless you like to carry the bike, I would avoid the Air Stick | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
stuart eades
a Weekend Warrior
from Adelaide, SA, Australia
Date Reviewed: October 26, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Adelaide Hills | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Bike Express | | Strengths: | This pump is well constructed and light. | | Weaknesses: | Low volume and I agree that the dual action does not function as I expected it might | | Similar Products Used: | Zefal, frame pumps | | Bike Setup: | Road bike, campag hubs, suntour running gear, older steel frame | | Bottom Line: | I have used this pump for over a year just to top up tires while away from home. It has not had a lot of use. It has performed well until yesterday when it jambed totally while I was trying to fix the first puncture I have had in a long time - bugger. Turns out one of the O rings had shredded itself. Bottom line is that mini pumps are designed to get you out of trouble and cannot be relied on a main pump. At least the AS-1 has a full range of spares so I will continue with this pump, but I will always be suspicious of it. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Jeff
a Weekend Warrior
from Snoqualmie, WA
Date Reviewed: September 23, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Tiger Mountain | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$20.00 | | Purchased At: | Gregg's Greenlake Cyles | | Strengths: | Light, compact, double action | | Weaknesses: | Head popped off! Left me with less air than I started with! | | Similar Products Used: | Zefal frame pump | | Bike Setup: | Cross county mountain bikes | | Bottom Line: | I really liked this little pump. It served me well for about 10 years up until last weekend at Whistler. The plastic head stripped out of the aluminum body while I was pumping up my tire! I looked on dumbfounded while the head let about half the air out of my tire before I managed to get it off! It made for a slow ride back. I do agree with the other reviews in that you need to tear the thing apart and relube it quite often to get good performance out of it. As for the lifetime warranty, I didn't have time to wait for customer service to get me another one. I went out and just bought another one, but I'm keeping the old one for spare parts just in case! | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Karl E
a Racer
from San Jose, CA, USA
Date Reviewed: August 21, 2003 | | Favorite Trail: | Not tellin' | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$24.00 | | Purchased At: | LBS | | Strengths: | small, out of the way, look sleek, easy mounting | | Weaknesses: | leaks air, does not pump any air on the outstroke, only instroke | | Similar Products Used: | other Blackburn, Zefal | | Bottom Line: | do NOT buy, this thing just plain doesn't work, I concur with the other posts. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Kinny
a Cross Country Rider
from Bow Lake, Canadian Rockies
Date Reviewed: July 11, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 3 months | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Strengths: | - Works well initially
- Does pump a large MTB tyre to a fairly high pressure | | Weaknesses: | - Doesn't work after less than 10 uses
Need I say more??? | | Similar Products Used: | Zefal HPX, Cannondale pump (don't ever buy that one, either) | | Bike Setup: | Does it matter??? But tyres are 2 inch wide slicks on a Trek MTB | | Bottom Line: | The thing worked well initially, getting the tyre up to around 75-80psi, even the 2-inch front tyre. After 10 uses or so it stopped working. The downstroke didn't work and the upstroke wasn't anywhere near working. And it didn't lock on (actually, when it did lock on the thing leaked air!!!
It's the only pump I've ever used that leaks air whilst you pump!!!!!!!!!!
I feel that I was misled by the bike shop I purchased this from who insisted that Blackburn products are bulletproof and that they've never had trouble with this one (I'd been sceptical about Blackburn products through previous bad experiences - but thought I'd give it a try). After reading the reviews, I'm not so sure. I certainly won't be visiting that bike shop, either.
I wonder where I can still get a trusty Zefal HPX, which works every time, even if it's heavy and low-tech.
And don't ever buy this pump. Save your money and buy something that actually works longer than 8 uses. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a Cross Country Rider
from Pasadena, CA
Date Reviewed: May 15, 2003 | | Duration Product Used: | 6 months | | Strengths: | Strong construction, small profile, high pumping pressures. | | Weaknesses: | Dual-action. Above 75-85 psi, the out-stroke does not get to high enough pressure to add air to tire. | | Bike Setup: | '98 Stumpjumper frame - everything else has worn out at least once... | | Bottom Line: | This pump compares favorably with other low-volume, small aspect mini-pumps at low psi. Metal barrel construction, a fold-out handle, and good valve-clamping show good design.
The dual action cylinder does provide for a faster filling time at LOW pressures. At high pressures (above 75 or so psi), the dual action stops working. On the out stroke, the pump doesn't pressurize enough to fill the tire - and this decreases the efficiency on the in-stroke (the cylinder rebounds slightly from the out-stroke). I'll continue to use this until it wears out, but I certainly wouldn't consider buying another. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Sting
a Cross Country Rider
from Box Hill, VIC, Australia
Date Reviewed: October 13, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Merri Creek | | Duration Product Used: | More than 3 years | | Price Paid: |
$25.00 | | Purchased At: | Bicycle Workshop, Ringwood | | Strengths: | Good looks, light weight, solid body and main shaft. | | Weaknesses: | Plastic internals break, leaving you stranded. Dual piston mechanism can clog up. Low volume uses only. | | Similar Products Used: | Zefal & SKS mini pumps | | Bike Setup: | GT LTS1 with full XTR upgrade. | | Bottom Line: | Pump performed will initially, then the twin pistons started to clog up with the silicon (?) grease used to lubricate the internals. This required a rebuild. Next the plastic piston broke, allowing the lower O-ring to stretch and jam.
Probably suitable for ocassional usage only, but not for hardcore riders who need to pump a a tyre up fast.
Lots of problems, changed to SKS. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Lucas
a Racer
from Vejle, Denmark, Europe
Date Reviewed: August 23, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Highway 101 and 1 along Pacific Coast | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Price Paid: |
$24.00 | | Purchased At: | Globetrotter, Germany | | Strengths: | Very solid design, small, lightweigt, comes with a plastic bracket so that you can mount the thing between your bottle cage and frame. | | Weaknesses: | See below. | | Similar Products Used: | Cheap Walmart-a-like pumps | | Bike Setup: | Handbuilt german touring bike (Reynolds 531ST), Magura HS66, Mavic X517, Schwalbe Marathon XR, Campagnolo crank, Rohloff SLT99 chain, Sachs Quarz hubs, Sram Powerglide cog, Sachs Quarz derailleur, Edco bottom bracket, etc etc etc | | Bottom Line: | At the beginning I was very happy about this pump - it just worked perfectly. But on my last trip across USA something happend to the pump: At low pressures it worked fine, but when pressure was built up (more than 2 bars) the pump blocked halfway down. If I'd turn the handle a few degrees I could continue until it blocked again. After 360 degrees its not funny anymore. I took it to a bike shop and they told me to lube the piston and so I did, but it didn't help at all. I guess that I've inflated MAXIMUM 20 tubes before this problem occured. I think thats too bad and I won't buy that pump again - maybe not the same brand at all. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
cachehiker
a
from Logan, UT
Date Reviewed: July 27, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | a hiking trail | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | It's a small, lightweight, versatile pump. | | Weaknesses: | Volume! Volume! Volume! | | Similar Products Used: | Cheap Zefals, Blackburn Frame Pumps and a Blackburn Mammoth | | Bike Setup: | One 2000 Trek 1000 with Axial Carbons, one 1999 GT Backwoods with Velociraptors, and one Bianchi Hybrid with Avocet Cross/K's. | | Bottom Line: | Getting the pressure up on the road bike requires some work, but it will get the job done. I now use a frame pump on the road bike which makes it a little easier.
Pumping up the mountain bike tires takes a while, but it will likewise get the job done. Switching to the Mammoth reduced this to a little over one minute.
I have used this pump on every bike I own at one time or another. The pump is currently mounted on a hybrid with 700x35 85psi tires where it does the best.
If you want to carry one pump for two or three bikes, this is the best pump I've ever had. If you're primarily a roadie or own only a mountain bike, you can find better.
| | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Eric
a Weekend Warrior
from Holland, MI
Date Reviewed: June 22, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 2 Years | | Strengths: | Small | | Weaknesses: | A real pain to actually use. Double action works against you at high pressures. | | Similar Products Used: | Frame Pump | | Bike Setup: | Bianchi road bike | | Bottom Line: | I've actually had to use this pump in an emergency once. It was one real pain to use. Forget about 160 psi, you will have trouble making 100. At medium pressure, the double action pumping starts working against you and wastes effort. You may feel resistance on the out stroke but the compressed air doesn't go into the tire. It goes Pffft and escapes during the down stroke. I wish there was a way to disable the second stage of the pump.
If this is your primary pump and your far from home, get a frame pump! If your cycling closer to home or supplement it with a CO2 inflator it should serve you somewhat decently. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
David Marsh
a Cross Country Rider
from Lancs England
Date Reviewed: June 20, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | Anywhere | | Duration Product Used: | Less than 1 month | | Price Paid: |
$40.00 | | Purchased At: | Local UK Store | | Strengths: | Quite well made | | Weaknesses: | A bit sticky in action | | Similar Products Used: | Topeak | | Bike Setup: | Scott Strike 30 | | Bottom Line: | I looked at quite a few pumps before buying this and it is better made than most topeak ones. It has a lifetime guarantee. Better than those silly mini pumps and fits in a small backpack easy. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Rich
a
from Virginia
Date Reviewed: May 12, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Strengths: | Small, tough, bulletproof. | | Weaknesses: | None | | Similar Products Used: | Zefals, other blackburn pumps | | Bike Setup: | Jamis Dakar full suspension | | Bottom Line: | Everything about this pump is GREAT. Great folding handle, slim and compact, very tough, pumps air on both stroke directions. The ability of the pump to go high psi means it is stronger than most of the mtn bike only pumps out there. I've used A LOT of pumps, and this one FAR outclasses and outlasts any Zefal I've used, and I actually prefer this road pump over the blackburn mtn pumps that are weaker and bulky. Besides, you never know when you may need to inflate a road tire.
Just because it sells as a "road bike pump" doesn't mean it can't be used on a mtn bike! I recommend this pump to anyone with a mtn or road bike. | Value Rating: Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Aaron
a Weekend Warrior
from Austin
Date Reviewed: February 8, 2002 | | Duration Product Used: | 1 Year | | Price Paid: |
$14.00 | | Purchased At: | Sporting goods store | | Strengths: | Very well built, small, light, nice looking. | | Weaknesses: | low volume pump | | Similar Products Used: | Blackburn Mammoth Mountain | | Bike Setup: | 2001 Raleigh M60 with all stock components | | Bottom Line: | I dont know why you people are bashing this thing. It does not fill a mountain bike tire very well at all, but thats not what it was designed for. It is made for road bikes with those skinny tires. I got a good deal on mine and I wanted it for emergencies. If Im stuck out in the middle of nowhere then Im gonna pump on a tire for an hour and be done with it. I like this pump because it mounts to the down tube on my bike and sits out of the way very well due to its small size. | | Value Rating:Overall Rating: |
Submitted by
Darren
a Cross Country Rider
from England
Date Reviewed: January 8, 2002 | | Favorite Trail: | |
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$ 24.99
