Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

A product with 142 reviews and 4.5 stars (as of November 2011) must be good, or so I thought when I purchased this pump. The construction and quality seem fine, and the pump is capable of inflating a tire to sufficient air pressure -- good enough for high-pressure road tires. The major problem is using this pump with presta valves. The pump's valve seems to create so much pressure when closed that it forces the presta valve down in such a way and with such force as to prevent air from passing from the pump to the tube. I experience substantial difficultly getting the tube to begin to inflate. Successfully doing so requires a great deal of jiggling the valve, making attempts at different levels of tightness, and uttering several obscene words. Once the tube has some air, the pump inflates the tire with only occasional difficulty where air no longer passes from pump to tube. This of course requires more jiggling and cussing. I have used the pump probably seven or eight times and I experience the same problem each time. I have since noticed several other reviews that comment on the same problem that I found while looking for a solution to the problem. I've been a flat-fixing, tire-inflating cyclist for over twenty years, so I don't think I'm just being stupid on how to use a pump and presta valves. This is a fatal flaw for users with presta valves and so despite whatever other virtues the pump may have (quality of construction, top pressure, etc.), I have to give the pump the lowest possible rating. I would not purchase this pump again. And I'd only recommend it to my enemies. If any other users have some experience with this problem please let me know by commenting on my post.