Cliff Currie was frustrated with the currently available bicycle pump heads. Very few heads could be manipulated with one hand. One handed options needed adapter nozzles that were separate from the head, and would either get lost or crack soon after purchase. Currie and his team of frustrated engineer cyclists developed Rapido, the pro pump head for bicycles.
Rapido is running a Kickstarter campaign until March 25 to raise $34,000 for production tooling, material and assembly equipment. The main reward for backing this campaign is the Pro Pump system, that includes the floor pump and the Rapido pro pump head. Five colors are available for this first round of components.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1087940162/the-rapido-pro-pump-head-for-bicycles
The campaign video includes demonstrations of the Rapido head, along with a presentation of the prototyping process. 3d printed heads were built and tested under high pressures and loads. The pump heads shown in the video are machined before the funding allows for high volume tooling.
Rapido's design is simple and elegant. Dominant muscle groups are used to actuate the pump head for ease of use and one handed operation. The pump is usable with Schrader and Presta tire valves, hitting the manufacturers that the team felt had the most market share and were most likely to be used on the highest performance bikes.
This is yet another example of engineers who felt a product was needed but not available. Tired of bruising knuckles, cutting fingers, and starting for long trips without truly knowing how well their tires were inflated the process started. Using readily available tools the team worked to solve their problem and create a product that will improve the quality of life for a very specific, very passionate cross section of people.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1087940162/the-rapido-pro-pump-head-for-bicycles