Birzman Maha Apogee III track pump review
The Birzman Maha Apogee III is a quality track pump with some clever features
A host of clever features make this an outstandingly useable pump
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Snap-on connector is easy to use
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Long hose
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Stable base
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Birzman has a knack for taking bog standard bicycle accessories and adding a few design twists which really make a difference to usability. It’s successfully applied this design approach to the Maha Apogee pump, which has a couple of clever features.
First is the snap-on connector. Pull back the gold collar, push the connector over the valve and pull the collar back up and the pump is securely attached to a presta valve. If you have a mountain bike it works with Schrader valves and shocks too.
Although not such a problem with a track pump as with a minipump, the ability to attach and detach the pump from the valve quickly and easily is a real boon. There’s a bleed button on the head if you overinflate your tyre.
>>> The best track pumps: a buyer’s guide
The aluminium pump barrel is tilted at five degrees to the base, which leads to a more natural pumping motion. Although for someone of average height it is still quite difficult to use the whole stroke of the pump, this does help.
>>> Buyer’s guide: the best cycle mini pumps
The pump’s base is wide and stable and the pump does not wobble around even if held down with only one foot and the wooden handle is a nice touch even if it does not add much to comfort in use. It took 23 strokes to reach 100psi and the pump’s gauge was accurate, with a reading of 100psi equating to 101psi when measured with a dedicated pressure gauge. It’s calibrated up to 220psi if you like a firm ride.
At 126cm the pump’s hose is long enough to reach the valve when a bike is held in a stand and it is secured for transport with a single hook at the base.
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