Those clever Brits have invented the world’s fastest portable bike pump. It’s called the Cyclaire, and it uses an ingenious zip cord — sort of like a lawn mower. You can watch a viddy of it in action here. (Flat tyre? Stiff upper lip, mate!)

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Not sure if this dingus will be available in bike shops here. But with the advances made in handpumps in terms of size-to-volume ratio, it’s possible to finally give up those tetchy CO2 cartridges. Those things are heavy, and they have always seemed extravagantly un-green. And if you use them in the winter, there’s a good chance you’ll shatter your tube in low ambient temperatures.

Besides, if you try to take them on an airplane, you can pretty much count on a cavity search.