I’ve been utilizing the Cycplus AS2 PRO mini tire inflator on my bike tires for a couple of weeks now, and located it’s compact measurement, portability, and ease of use make it price having alongside on my rides, and a pleasant enchancment over the previous operated by hand mini-pump I used to hold. Right here’s a better look.
Click on Play to see my video evaluation of the Cycplus AS2 Professional Mini Tire Pump
It was summer season of 2023 after I noticed my first electrical mini-pump on a experience in Italy – as a part of a British chap’s on-bike restore package. I knew instantly I wanted one for myself. I attempted contacting the model he was carrying, however after a couple of weeks of no response, I acquired an e mail from Cycplus with a request to take a look at their model.
From entrance to again: the AS2, AS2 Professional, and AS2 Professional Max mini pumps.
Every of the Cycplus AS2 mini inflators comes with every little thing you see right here: usb charging cable, versatile nozzle hose for small rims, valve tip converter for Schrader & sports activities gear, and the precise charger itself.
I prefer it when actual persons are behind a product, and a short while later my check unit arrived within the mail from China.
Spot the body pump – on bike inflation has come a great distance, kinda like plenty of different areas of biking tech. Pic c. 1983
The Downside With Mini-Pumps
I’ve been carrying a tire pump of some type on my bike since I began using again within the 1980’s. My first was a Zéfal body pump that tucked in properly behind the seatpost on my Ritchey Montare mtb. It weighed lots, however I used to be by no means unsure of getting full inflation after I’d catch a flat tire.
Expertise advanced and pumps acquired smaller, ultimately clipping alongside the bottle cage on the down or seat tube (one thing I averted as a result of unpleasant aesthetic.)
The issue with the smaller hand-pumps was the limitation of PSI ceilings resulting from operator energy. I used to be by no means one to be mistaken for a body-builder, and never surprisingly, I may by no means actually get a tire inflated over 60psi with one of many small mini-pumps (which was properly under my 95psi goal on the 23 – 25mm tires I used to run).
Then got here the CO2 cartridges, which changed my previous mini-pump and have saved my butt a couple of instances over time. I like that they match properly into my saddle bag, tucked out of the way in which. The one drawback is that I solely carry one – which limits what number of instances I can inflate on a single experience (fortunately I’ve by no means had a number of flats on a experience). And travelling with CO2 cartridges is an airline no-no – in order that’s an issue if you arrive in a overseas land for what’ll be the hilight rides of your season.
Who Is Cycplus?
Cycplus is a comparatively new model primarily based in China, based in 2014 (close to as I can inform from their web site), who design, manufacture and distribute biking merchandise like sensible trainers, tire inflator, computer systems, and different equipment like laptop mounts. They reached out to me initially, I assume as a part of a plan to garner publicity for the model from the world’s biking media.
The Resolution
The concept of carrying a small, straightforward to stash inflation system that can be utilized a number of instances is fairly interesting – so its straightforward to see why this system has potential for a everlasting spot in my saddle bag.
First off – this electrical mini-pump is simple to make use of.
It expenses up shortly off a usb port, and it holds a cost lengthy sufficient that I acquired six useable inflations (as much as 50psi) from one cost – though I’m aware to juice it up often after a couple of rides.
The usb charging port doubles because the air consumption port as properly.
Operation is easy.
Begin by charging it with the usb port for a few hours outta the field – (much less time as soon as it’s been absolutely charged).
Subsequent – on the AS2 PRO and AS2 PRO MAX, you set your required tire strain utilizing the buttons on the facet. Each fashions will allow you to program as much as 120PSI.
Then to show it on – push down twice on the button on the highest (assume ‘double-tap’) – then you definitely’ll hear the pump begin up – appears like a really small gasoline generator – chuggachuggachuggachugga…
Push and maintain the ability button for a few seconds till it turns blue, then get able to inflate because it whirs into life.
Do that earlier than you connect the AS2 to the valve stem – and wait a pair seconds for it to wind as much as what appears like full pace. THEN you connect it to the valve stem – and maintain it in place whereas the pump delivers a stream of air to the tube.
The AS2 comes setup with a inbuilt Presta valve – simply press this over the valve stem in your tire and maintain it in place whereas inflating.
From right here it’s a matter of ready for the tire to inflate.
My very own use has proven that the AS2 takes about 30-40 seconds to inflate a totally flat tire to about 40psi. That point is quicker and the pressures increased with the AS2 PRO and AS2 PRO Max.
Battery Life
Clearly battery life right here is gonna be an essential issue – which isn’t one thing I ever thought of with a previous model “analog” pump.
The truth is, I did have a problem with the primary check mannequin they despatched me… the battery conked out after a couple of makes use of. That first mannequin was known as the “Dice” and has been discontinued. I’m advised the AS2 is an upgraded model with higher battery life.
I’m comfortable to report they despatched me a brand new pump instantly – and I’ve had no points with this alternative. It’s essential to say this as a result of I’ve had experiences with different battery corporations I’ve discovered as “social media manufacturers”m who’ve despatched me crap product – so I used to be eager to see how Cycplus would deal with this. They did it proper.
Ongoing Use
To date I’ve discovered that I can at the least 6 full tire inflations from a single battery cost – and I’m nonetheless going, though my instincts inform me it’s time to recharge it earlier than my subsequent experience. Given the small measurement of this pump, and our basic concern about measurement and weight when selecting what gear to convey with us on a experience, and given present battery expertise – cramming plenty of juice right into a small rechargeable battery might be a problem for the designers.
So long as I can rely on the pump giving me at the least a few inflations per experience, I’m good with the thought of recharging it pretty typically, which I’m used on this age of cell telephones and so many different rechargeable gadgets.
I can see that this could’t completely exchange the nice ‘ol body pump, but it surely’s compact measurement, portability, and ease of use make it price having alongside on my rides. Of observe is that I nonetheless experience with one CO2 cartridge – simply in case.
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