Topeak JoeBlow Ace DX review

The Topeak JoeBlow Ace DX was double the price of the next most expensive pump in the August 2 issue of Cycling Weekly magazine's track pump grouptest, the SKS Rennkompressor. Is it worth it?

Well, you get double the number of barrels to make pumping to various pressures as efficient as possible, it’s almost double the weight and it stands 10cm taller than most others at 74cm. Its gauge is a positively Big Ben-like 11cm in diameter, over twice the size of the Rennkompresssor's.

What's more, the Topeak JoeBlow Ace DX has a dial on top of the handle to select your approximate target pressure, determining which combination of barrels is to be engaged – the equivalent of selecting an appropriate gear for the gradient.

In its ‘60’ setting the Ace DX inflated our test 700x25c tubeless tyre to 100psi in a 11 monster strokes giving it both barrels – but as expected it took a lot of leaning on to get that much air in in one stroke once it got beyond 60psi.

The ‘120’ setting got 100psi in 18 strokes using just the large barrel – more controlled, easier pumping than in '60' – while the small barrel takes it up to 260psi, which we didn't test since there's no road bike component that requires that much pressure – it's for shocks.

The pleasingly heavy all-metal SmartHead DX1 chuck fits Presta and Schrader valves without swapping parts and there’s a bleed valve that lets air out of the tyre rather than just the hose, unlike the Lezyne Macro’s – useful for getting pressure spot on.

The base, like the barrels, is made from aluminium and has rubber grips that hold the Topeak JoeBlow Ace DX solid when you're pumping. The handle, a heavyweight plastic, has plenty of heft even if it doesn't feel or look as nice as those of some considerably cheaper pumps that use wood. But it does match the Ace DX's workshop aesthetic.

This is an unashamedly massive pump with a massive performance and a correspondingly bigger price tag.