Birzman Velocity RG Mini Pump

The Birzman Velocity RG minipump can get your tyres to three-figures pressures easily, and has a handy built-in gauge to tell you when to stop.

Thanks to the advancement in tyre technology the puncture fairy doesn't get quite so many gigs as she used to, but if you are unfortunate enough to have a flat on a ride a decent mini pump is a must. The Birzman Velocity range has pumps for both road (Presta) and MTB's (Schraeder) valves with pretty impressive claims of 160/90psi maximum pressures.

In exchange for your thirty quid the quality is certainly there. That's noticeable as soon you remove it from the packaging; the highly polished aluminium body looks good and feels sturdy.

There are rubber grips on the pump body and handle for a bit of purchase. It takes 287 strokes to reach 100psi on a 700x23c tyre so you want somewhere comfortable to put your hands.

This model is the Velocity RG. The R stands for road, so there's a presta valve fitting and the G denotes the fact that there is an inline gauge on the flexible hose. It's a neat little addition and whether or not you deem a pressure gauge necessary on a mini pump or not I, found it useful to make sure there was enough air in the tyre to avoid pinch punctures.

Another smart touch is the Snap-It valve attachment. Slide the alloy cap back before pushing the end of the hose over the valve and once in position slide the cap back over and two threaded clamps keep the hose in position. It works really well and didn't blow off even at really high pressure.

Once you've finished inflating, the hose and gauge slide back inside the shaft and it's all sealed with a rubber top cap.

In terms of performance I've got no reason to think that the claimed 160psi maximum isn't achievable as I reached the recommended upper limit of 140psi on my tyres with relative ease. It took a while, but the pump didn't struggle.

A weight of 116g and at 220mm long the Velocity is barely noticed whether you decide to carry it on the bike via its included bracket or in a jersey pocket.

Trying to find issues with it has proved tricky and I can literally only find the fact the rubber grip at the hose end tends to slip down while you're using it, a very minor niggle but one all the same.

Overall the Velocity RG is one of the best mini pumps I've used and now lives in my commuting rucksack. Great build quality and the ability to get your tyres up to their max pressure at the roadside means the Birzman Velocity RG minipump is worth the money.

Verdict

Sturdy, well built mini pump that'll easily reach the pressures required for road tyres.