AYR Cycling Electric Pump: The CO₂ & Hand Pump Killer

Up until three years ago, I never gave much thought to my tire pressures or pump choice. I honestly rarely flatted. I've always run tubeless, with robust tires that could probably be described as slightly over-inflated. Over a five-year period, I probably only had one or two flats.

Since then, I've become more obsessed with bike performance. I started riding more supple tires at lower pressures, which I found delivers increased speed and comfort. I even interviewed Jan Heine, owner of Rene Herse, about the performance benefits.

While I will swear by the benefits of my tire choices, it has come with some consequences. I've flatted more in the past few seasons than ever before. Several back-to-back flats had me adjust from a Rene Herse extralight casing to their standard casings. It still wasn't enough, and I eventually DNF'd the Traka Adventure race when I ran out of ways to repair torn sidewalls.

On my mountain bike, I've largely avoided flats but have dialled in my go-to tire pressure from 30 PSI to 24 PSI. The change is wild: increased traction that doesn't sacrifice speed. The only downside is that it requires some precision, as I risk a rim strike if my pressure drops more than a few PSI.

Enter the AYR Cycling Electric Pump. I was hopeful this little device could replace both the hand pump I carry on gravel rides and the CO2 inflator I carry on my mountain bike and at races.

About AYR Cycling

Evan Walker left his career as a corporate banker to focus on cycling and adventure. When he moved to Squamish, he did it with intent. He wanted to build his own business. His idea was simple. The tools we use should work better, pack smaller, and look sharper, just like modern bikes.

While the electric pump is its first product, it surely won't be the last for the budding Canadian company, AYR Cycling. For now, Walker runs the entire business himself, from marketing, customer service, and web design to accounting and finance. He's also a passionate cyclist and is looking forward to the upcoming Cowichan Valley Nightmare race this October!

Size & Weight

The AYR Cycling Electric Pump ships with the pump unit, hose connector, interchangeable Presta and Schrader valve fittings, ball needle, charger cable, wrist strap and a small drawstring bag that holds everything for $114.99 CND.

On the bike, it's only necessary to carry the pump, hose, and whichever valve fitting you require. This places its trail-ready weight at just 137.2g. On my Chapter 2 Kaha Gravel Bike, it doesn't fit in the internal frame where I store tire plugs and a TPU tube. Instead, I've been keeping it in the half-frame bag. On my mountain bike, it fits in the Tailfin Rear Top Tube Bag that has become my go-to.

Straight out of the box, it also compares positively to my two other pump options. Because I rarely flat my MTB and most rides are close enough to home that I can walk out if disaster strikes, I typically carry a CO2 inflater. Its trail weight is only 106.8g, but it comes with a compromise. Not only can I only fix a single flat, but I am also missing the precise PSI control available on the AYR.

On my gravel bike, or during bikepacking trips, I used to carry Lezyne's Micro Floor Drive Digital HVG. I had an earlier version of this pump for 10 years before I replaced it with the current model with the built-in digital pressure gauge. With a weight of 242.3g, it isn't nearly as light as the AYR, but it isn't limited by a battery.

Design & Construction

The AYR Cycling Electric Pump ships in a tight package more aligned with quality electronics than bike gear. This isn't a hand pump that is simply zip-tied to a piece of cardboard.

Once out of the box, the electric pump is surprisingly small. It's only just larger than a standard mirrorless camera battery or a 2.4A USB-C wall charger. Maybe it's because I'm about to open a mobile coffee trailer, but I couldn't help but notice that it's roughly the size of a standard espresso cup.

It's intuitive to operate, too, with clearly marked buttons for raising and lowering the PSI settings and starting the pump. I like how easy it is to attach the charger, too, as the port isn't hidden behind a rubber port protector.

The inflator hose works easily. It's simply a matter of screwing it into the pump and then holding it firmly against the valve. After years of using a CO2 that gets ice cold when deployed, I did notice that the HOT warning label on the hose was warranted. The pump produces a lot of heat.

Usage & Performance

I recently enjoyed the opportunity to travel to the Yukon and Northwest Territories to scout bike routes for an upcoming guidebook. With my time split between mountain biking and road riding, I opted to rent bikes rather than pack my own. I carried essentials like a repair kit, AYR pump, and a tube in a couple of different bikepacking bags. On longer rides, I carried my Apidura Racing Hydration Vest, and on short rides, I opted for the San Util Roly Poly Handlebar Bag.

Because rental shops are more interested in protecting their bikes than perfecting your ride, all three bikes I rode were handed to me with over-inflated suspension and tires. While I had to use a separate shock pump for the suspension, dialling my tire pressures for each bike was the perfect opportunity to test the AYR Electric Pump.

As soon as I was away from the shop, I would start dialling in my setup. For tires that are 2.2 inches (55mm) or less, I always use the Rene Herse Tire Pressure Calculator that gives a soft and firm recommendation. Nearly without exception, I choose the soft option. For wider tires, I turn to the Wolf Tooth calculator. This one provides a front and rear tire recommendation, which I tend to average out and make both tires equal.

Using the AYR Pump to fine-tune the tire pressures was easy. From putting 21 PSI in a set of 2.6-inch MTB tires to hitting 72 PSI on a set of 28mm road tires, it worked fast and flawlessly.

The highlight of the trip was, without question, Mountain Hero. Located in Carcross, Yukon, this trail is the only International Mountain Bike Association 'epic' in Canada that's NOT in British Columbia. Built in collaboration with the Carcross/Tagish First Nation, the trail is part of a larger network on Montana Mountain created through the Singletrack to Success program. This initiative has a mandate to develop a world-class network of trails on Montana Mountain, a sacred site of the Carcross/Tagish First Nation, while providing local youth with summer jobs.

The ride itself is stunning. It is almost entirely above the treeline, totalling 47 km with 1600 m of climbing. Admittedly, it was a daunting ride to do solo, but thankfully, my rental Giant Reign came with a canister of bear spray that added some security to a day in grizzly territory.

Somewhere along the rocky climbing, I burped my rear tire and lost some air. While I ignored it for the remainder of the climb, I knew I had to top it up before the downhill. This is where the AYR is brilliant, as I was able to bring it back up to exactly 23 PSI. If I were carrying CO2, I wouldn't have risked topping it up at all, because I need the entire cartridge to repair a flat. With a pump, I could have had the same result, but I would have been carrying even more weight along with my camera, water, and food required for a 47km ride.

Back at home, I've tested it out on a couple of fully flat tires. It's fast and still has battery left after doing two full 700c 45mm gravel tires that felt like a good test balance between volume and pressure.

Conclusion

It almost feels unfair to start the conclusion with two negatives, but it's because I want to finish with praise.

The one downside, experienced at home and on the trail, is its sound volume. For such a little device, it is unbelievably noisy. From the beginning, I have also questioned why the hose was so long. It's nearly twice as long as the pump and makes it a bit more challenging to pack. While it might help dissipate some heat, I would rather have a more compact hose that matches the length of the pump. It is possible to attach the presta adaptor directly to the pump, skipping the hose all together, so this issue can be avoided.

Overall, don't let those two points stop you. The AYR Cycling Electric Pump seems like an ideal replacement for both the CO2 inflator and Lezyne pump I've favoured lately. It's nearly the same weight as the former, yet it can inflate multiple tires like the latter. One piece of gear can rarely outperform two, but that is exactly what this has done.

The battery isn't a concern on bikepacking trips, either, as it holds its charge when not in use. The battery is also small enough to recharge with a battery pack if you find yourself in a pinch with multiple issues.

The only time I wouldn't carry this pump is in a competitive race when the speed of a CO2 supersedes any other performance metric. Outside of that specific case, the AYR Cycling Electric Pump will be my new go-to every ride.

It's a bonus knowing that I can help a small Canadian one-person company grow a little more. Evan plans to have a full product line and brand in the future, so every purchase of this incredible pump helps him towards that goal.