»The RENNKOMPRESSOR went with me to all over the world, from Guadaloupe to Norway«, Jan Harings, former NL National Champion in Cycle Cross in 1979, says. »The pump survived all of that and will also survive me.«
Even if the 16-years-old Geert Metsrom from Maastricht does not believe that Sinterklaas is real, this holy man made him happy in 1981 with a present, which Geert honors until today: a RENNKOMPRESSOR. Since that day they are inseparable. The pump was by his side in road bike as well as in his MTB races for the MTB team Rijwielshop Bahnhof Heerlen and it always has worked well. Since 1987 the floor pump is regularly used in Geerts workshop. When the upper bolting was broken, it wasn´t the Sinterklaas himself, but the SKS Germany-sales rep for the Netherlands, Christon Geurten, who brought the replacement. »An awesome service by SKS Germany«, Geert Mestrom says happily. The picture was taken in the retro style corner in Bike shop Courtens Maastricht.
»Such a Pump is still missing in my Rennkompressor collection!«
This enthusiastic scream came from SKS Germany-sales rep Christon Geurten as he saw the shining pink-yellow styled Rennkompressor in the bike shop of Jarno Bakker in Liessel/NL. However, the owner doesn´t think about selling this beautiful pump to Christon at all. »You won’t get this one«, Jarno Bakker smirks and tells why: »When I was riding for the Empella MTB-Team, I used this pump to inflate the 1.8 tubes of the tire manufacture Wolber. In 1995 this Rennkompressor brought me the second place in the junior category of the Netherlands. The pump helped me so much over the years, so that she easily deserves something better«, Jarno explains with a wink.
Between the workshop and the salesroom of the bike shop „Radlager“ in Cologne-Nippes hangs a RENNKOMPRESSOR, so costumers and workers can use it all time when it´s needed. One day an unknown “Luftikus” garnished the background with a picture. To see on the picture: A man who tries to inflate a tire of a digger with a floor pump. If the picture is intended to be a motivation for everybody inflating a tire or if the unknown person by himself inflated the tire of the digger is unknown until today. But one thing is sure: With the RENNKOMPRESSOR the tire of the digger would have gotten back in shape, at least a bit.
He pumps and pumps and pumps. Since 1978 the RENNKOMPRESSOR performs good services in the workshop of the Dutsch company Verton in Burgh-Haamstede. Hans and Mark Verton, meanwhile the forth generation, will still work a long time with this pump. The reason: The pump is still as a new one.
Alex van Oeveren from Stein moved from Utrecht to Limburg 25 years ago. His first purchase for his bicycle store was the Rennkommpressor. A good choice – since then the pump supports him at his work day by day and is available to him anytime as a loyal ally and partner.
On the question »What is your best memory of your first RENNKOMPRESSOR?« Jean Habets from the Netherlands answers without hesitating: »It was the day I bought the pump.« It was in 1978. Jean has picked cherries on the Mescherheide for the whole season to earn the money to buy the pump by himself. Finally, he bought the good piece from Jantje Willems, and so he was also a proud owner of a RENNKOMPRESSOR. He put the pump in his shirt, fixed it with a tube on his back and drove back home by bike. At this moment he was the happiest person on earth.
The pump brought luck to him. Jean became a bicycle professional for the Skilteam and was the right hand of Sean Kelly. His biggest victory was the Grand Prix de Fourmies in France. Today Jean Habets is an owner of a bicycle store. And there, in the middle of the store, the first RENNKOMPRESSOR stands nobly as a memory of a happy time.
Some years ago I got the rests of a bicycle workshop into my fingers. I could use a large part of the tools and only one old floor pump I have not used all time. The reason is the defect valve head which I actually wanted to repair long ago. But I already have a working pump. Some weeks ago I got a with information about the 50th anniversary of the RENNKOMPRESSOR from SKS GERMANY. I noticed the similarity between my old pump and the old Rennkompressor and recognized that my old floor pump is an old Rennkompressor. I estimate my Rennkompressor must be between 25 and 30 years old. After I had exchanged the defective head with a new multi-valve-head, I tested the pump immediately – and I was angry I have not done it earlier. I was surprised how fast and easy the tire was inflated. With the next attempt, I inflated the front tire of my Koga bike – to approx. 4.5bar with only one hand. Only then I had to use bothd both hands – it did not go that well with my other floor pump. I also do not have to work with an adapter anymore as the multi-valve heads fits perfectly. That’s where you can see once more the difference between a cheap product and the quality of the RENNKOMPRESSOR. Another advantage RENNKOMPRESSOR is that you can get every part as a spare part which makes you able to use the pump for a very long time.
Daniel Westphal from Hagen (Germany) sent us probably the craziest RENNKOMPRESSOR-story:
»Also I own a RENNKOMPRESSOR which is already more than 30 years old. During its life, it has experienced and survived four mountain and three racing bikes. Now, however, the rubber of the pump head has fallen victim to the natural wear after a pumping performance, which felt like 6,000,000 m³. Therefore, I went to a sports department store in Dortmund which also have your products in the assortment – but, unfortunately, not this special rubber. So I spontaneously bought a spare part for the current RENNKOMPRESSOR. At home, I had to cut the hose to mount the modern adaptor. And suddenly it happened: When I attached the sharp cutter´s knife to the hose to cut it off, the pump started to cry heartbreakingly! I thought, I didn’t hear properly, but she really cried! A cold shower ran down my back, combined with an very bad conscience and so immediately I stopped the underpinning. I do not know what possessed me to do such a cruel thing… You should not just cut the aorta of this golden piece! The pump has earned a fair treatment. So I searched for a fitting rubber on the SKS GERMANY-website. That’s when I found out that the RENNKOMPRESSOR turns 50 (it is just three years younger than me) and you are looking for nice stories to this occassion. Maybe mine is one. I would be so glad if you could tell me where I can get this special rubber! I need to two pieces for the next 30 years, so that I can pass on the pump to my children, as I probably will not do cycling at the age 80 years, will I? Maybe I will…you never know! But one thing is sure as eggs is eggs: If I have started the way of the transient for a long time now, the RENNKOMPRESSOR still works.«
»My name is Marcel Calborn and I have own my RENNKOMPRESSOR since the early 70s. In spite of the everyday use, I only had to change the hose once and the head three times during the last 46 years. This purchase was definetly worth the money.«
»In your collection the REAL RennRADkompressor should not be missing«, writes Andreas Zipprich from Munich and sends us aerial greetings. Even on the pit stop, Andreas Zipprich is as a cyclist completely in his element. »I “drive” the RennRADkompressor for 25 years now«, he writes,»So it celebrates his personal anniversary with me.« There only remains for us to say: Congratulations!
from Thorsten Firlus
“It was the last day in the old apartment, the bed, the cupboards, everything was already loaded and on the way to the new house. My RENNKOMPRESSOR with the always cool cylinder stood downstairs in the stairway. It has been standing there for years, ready for hand, to do his services up to 8 bars. It was not an heirloom, I have bought him by myself. But it should have become one as soon as my children were older. Then suddenly it was gone. In a moment of carelessness, it probably got a new owner. For some years I’ve mourned it, sometimes filling in air with a normal hand pump, sometimes I breathing new life into flat tires at a filling station. However, it have not been perfect all the time. Then a plastic compressor came into the house. Oh well. It goes anyhow, if none gets stuck in the valve head. And then SKS Germany turned 75 years and it returned, the good old Rennkompressor! As a jubilee model!!! Since there it is there when I bring the pressure to 8 bar in the change zone of an Ironman in the morning and accompanies me despite his heavy foot on vacation in which it is has to get a whole fleet of vehicles on the road. It would be advisable to have the new anniversary model as a safety in the cupboard if I move once again. So I can bequeath a copy to BOTH of my children in any case.
»Us legendary 66s become 50!« writes Hanspeter Klankermaier from Riemerling in Bavaria. »The RENNKOMPRESSOR and me are here since 1966 and please the world. Not always, as sometimes, the air is out and the pump cannot help if there is a hole in the tire. My relation to the RENNKOMPRESSOR started in 1981. I got 15 years old, it was a present of my parents. The pump still had the brass head and was »Made in Western-Germany«. Many beautiful memories are based on this time: I remember it like it was yesterday when Eddy Merckx himself has presented his racing bikes in my native village. Meanwhile the »RENNKOMPRESSOR Numero uno« has turned into a »Trio«. Sometime, a new pump had to be purchased although the first one still worked well. Today, a third copy renders his service. Without air nothing works.”
We from SKS Germany are completely on his opinion!
Mountain-bike adventurer Harald Philipp would have missed much if there was no Rennkompressor: Tours to the most unusual regions of Europe. Challenges on dangerous mountain and climbing paths. Expeditions to the wilderness. WE also have missed something if there was no Rennkompressor: Harald Philipp’s amazing film screenings which put his passion for mountainbiking into words. A Live-Show with goose bumps feeling.But, fortunately, the Rennkompressor takes care that Harald Philipp can go on adventures day by day and shares his knowledge with us: without Blow no Flow.
If you hear Texas, you think of cowboys, horses and west romanticism for sure but not necessarily of cycling. The fact that the Texaner also ride bikes is proven by the email of Alan Ellisor. »I bought the pump in 1972 or 73 when I went to the college in Austin/Texas and I also have worked at Freewheeling Bicycles«, he wrote and sent us this photo. You can see a SKS GERMANY RENNKOMPRESSOR of the first generation in american style – brand: Wild Wild West.
Rinus Spoor from Cycle Works in Utrecht has not bought his RENNKOMPRESSOR in a shop. He pulled one out of the garbage. The step iron was loose at the pump’s foot. Probably that is the reason why someone has disposed it.. „Too good to be thrown away”, Rinus Spoor thought and repaired the iron with a cable binder. Since then the RENNKOMPRESSOR has found a new place to stay at Cycle Works and has done a perfect job until now.
»Of course I own a new RENNKOMPRESSOR – but why?« That’s a question Wilem van Melzen from the Netherlands asks himself quite often as he still uses his old RENNKOMPRESSOR.» From time to time I change the rubber and then the old pump works again«, he tells about his 35-years-old RENNKOMPRESSOR. The pump of SKS GERMANY has already travelled thousands of kilometres in his car – wherever his bicycle went, the pump went along. Wilem van Melzen used to participate races several times a week. Even today, after more than 35 years, the pump still seems to be new. »Now I am nearly 60 years old and I think this pump will survive me«, he grins. »Even if I become 105.«
And what about the new RENNKOMPRESSOR? It stands unused in a corner and waits vainly for being used. »My grandchildren or great-grandchildren will probably use it«, he smiles. »Unless they discover the old state pump. It will probably still work then!«
What does a RENNKOMPRESSOR experience during his long life? Geert Polak from Bergen op Zoom (Netherlands) should know that. He worked as mechanic at Televiser, at Goudsmit-Hoff and for the women’s national team. “Every mechanican used to have is own high pressure pump those days. The RENNKOMPRESSOR did a great job! Let’s tell it him on his own..”
“After the training camp 1966 I had to do my best in Paris-Nizza. It was my first journey abroad and it followed a lot. In Paris-Roubaix the pressure of the tyres was very important. That was completly different from the track cycling races – due to the tension my whole body got warm! In that and also in the year after I made my contribution to many victories – as well as in 1971 and 1972. But then the team leader gave up his job and Geert the mechanic also did so I went on holiday. In 1985 we got active angain. We helped the women’s national team in Colorado-Springs at the world cup.
After that I finally retired. Many road bikes, which tyres I’ve pumped up once, aren’t alive anymore. I also have done my last breath in the meantime. Nevertheless, I believe in reincarnation. So I think that I will come back in a second life as a small KOMPRESSOR.”
I have a once new bought rennkompressor about 31 years now. She used to have a smooth white paint on her body. But after all those years of friendly abuse her paint is in an awfull state, she looks like a real bitch now. But she never – and I mean really never – let me down for a single moment. The strangest thing happened about a month ago, I watched her standing quietly in the corner of my garage, a glint of sunlight at her feet. I picked her up and slid my hand softly along her rusty skin, and instantly something happened. I felt I got attached to her, more then I could imagine to happen 31 years ago. So since I can’t speak in words to her about the gratitude I feel, I decided to give her a paintjob soon. Because she’s so damn worth it.
Find the mistake! Which object does not fit into the picture? No, we do not mean the bike parts, which were used as horns in the corner of the top right site. Even if this wall decoration is quite stylish. The answer to this problem is the fire extinguisher, which fits in the range of RENNKOMPRESSORs harmonically. Unfortunately, Martin Strotmeier, who has sent us the picture, did not write if he has ever confuses it with the pumps…
The RENNKOMPRESSOR is a part of the inventory at Kai Bartz’s bike shops for 25 years now. »I bought it in January 1992 from the company Hollmann in Dortmund (Germany)« he writes. Since then it has been used nearly every day. »The SKS Germany sales rep has supplied us with spare parts regularly so that the pump has worked at many races.« In addition, stickers of every kind on the steel tube make the RENNKOMPRESSOR very special – a personal design piece.
»The RENNKOMPRESSOR even cannot be broken after 50 years«, Harry from Bikestore Houten in the Netherlands writes. »My granddauther Liz may be the only person who could make that easily,« he smirks. The snapshot he has sent to SKS Germany proves vividly how easy the handling of RENNKOMPRESSOR is – and especially it is fun!
Tobias Rudolph writes on his website:
»Some products are very close to technical perfection – just like the RENNKOMPRESSOR of SKS GERMANY. It is a reference for floor pumps. Nevertheless, its shining orange tube, the plastic coated manometer, and the black grip still have room for aesthetic improvement. So it happened with this example – the pump was prepared to match with the handle bar. Inside SKS Germany, outside nature bike – a perfect combination.«
Tobias Rudolph · NaturRad · BLO-Ateliers · Kaskelstr. 55 · 10317 Berlin
0 177 61 0 51 41 · info@naturrad.com
»In the former DDR we relied on good material, which partly was from our own production or was imported,« Olaf Ludwig, former GERMAN cyclist and Olympic champion of 1988, tells. Besides the Colnago-Bicycles, equipped with Campagnolo products, he remembers the SKS GERMANY foot-operated pumps. »We always were satisfied with it. Our chief mechanic protected the pumps quite well and not anybody was allowed to use it – that’s an indicator for good quality,« underlines Ludwig. The cyclist has won three stages of Tour de France and the sprint of the green tricot. »Now, after 26 years, the RENNKOMPRESSOR of SKS GERMANY still attends me and it is still as reliable as it was in the past. Congratulations on your 50-years-anniversary!«
»The RENNKOMPRESSOR is the longest-serving staff member in our workshop. From time immemorial he is always ready to use and easy-care,« Thomas Rambacher from Bikestore in Würzburg told us about his RENNKOMPRESSOR.
We would not like to keep back the following story of Helmut Mauer (bike shop owner from Germany) from our RENNKOMPRESSOR-Fans:
“I am 25 years old, slim, Bordeaux and ventilate road bike tyres up to 8 bar every day. On tube tyres I even can do more bars if needed. Lately, I even was abused for the tyres of a fatbike! In doing so, I became quite warm…. I had to go to hospital twice to renew my rubber seals and the upper end cap. But after that I were completely under pressure again. If I am treat that well furthermore, I will become 100 years!”
“Before I got a ‘real’ road bike, I have already had a RENNKOMPRESSOR” Raimund Sudhof remembers, who does cycling since 1972, “I still have it and in the meantime more pumps of SKS Germany have been added to my garage.” The passionate cyclist from Germany has already tried other products, but none of it survived.
“By now, five pumps stand in my garage and one in every car,” he tells. “Of course, I’ve also given one to my son, who also does cycling. Which actually means that he just took it. He even has more pumps than I do” Raimund smirks, “I’m sure you the situation: If you need a pump, none is available. That’s why we have so many.”
There is only one thing left to say for us: He does it right! You can never have enough pumps!
On a bike-event in 2015 SKS Germany employee Christon Geurten presented his historically RENNKOMPRESSOR-collection. Cor Stroop came to the SKS Germany truck and saw the historically pumps. He drove home to get his old RENNKOMPRESSOR immediately. A true fan!
At his first visit at the bikeshop Walenkamp-Fietsen in Leiderdorp/ NL Christon Geurten, SKS Germany sales rep, discovered a defect, purple version of the RENNKOMPRESSOR in the warehouse the. The 58-years-old manager Marcel Walenkamp had taken over the pump in 2010 from his deceased brother Ton. Christon sent the RENNKOMPRESSOR to Sundern where the technical department repaired it. Now it pumps again!
Henk Zuidema from the Netherland owns his RENNKOMPRESSOR since 1985. After the hose broke from the pipe, he brought it to his bicycle dealer Top Bikes in Den Haag and they fixed it. When the quality of the lacquer decreased he chromed the pipe of the pump. Henk tried a lot of pumps, but he never found a better one.