What to Consider When Buying a Bike Pump

The bike is the cheapest, most eco-friendly transportation option ever invented as it runs on renewable fuel – human muscles. Of course, there’s another set of “muscles” used in propelling the bike forward – the tyres. While there’s not much you can do if your own muscles give out, when the tires go flat, all you need to do is properly pump them and your bike will be ready for riding again.

Your bike’s tyres can deflate at any time, even when it has spent months in the garage collecting dust. For that reason, as a bicycle owner, you should always be prepared to pump a flat tyre or give it a small air boost to get the recommended pressure for optimal performance. To do so, you will need to buy bike pump for home and another for when you’re on the go.

Floor Pumps

If you’re looking for a pump to store in your garage or bike equipment closet, a floor pump is a great choice. Floor pumps have high-capacity air filling power and can handle high-pressure jobs that smaller pumps can’t. They often come with pressure gauges to let you know exactly how much air pressure is in your tyres which can be very convenient when pumping high-pressure tyres, such as the ones found in mountain bikes.

Floor pumps are also very easy to handle. All you need is to position the base of the pump beneath your feet, which balances the pump while you’re pumping with your arms. An average floor pump can offer around 300 cubic centimetres volume of air per stroke and deliver a maximum tyre pressure of 160 psi.

Portable Pumps

If you’re a passionate cyclist that enjoys long distance riding, you should come prepared for anything that might happen, including a flat tyre. Because there’s no way that a floor pump can fit in your backpack, you’ll need to get yourself a portable solution. Many portable pumps are so small and lightweight that you can simply attach them to the bike’s frame, or carry them in a saddle bag. Although they are also good for home use, they don’t provide the amount of air volume that floor pumps do. Normally, a standard portable pump is able to generate 90 psi of air pressure.

Is the Pump Compatible with Your Bike?

Before you buy bike pump, it’s important to check whether it’s compatible with the bike. The only way to do so is to check what kind of valve the pump uses and whether it’s able to fit the tyre tubes of your bike. Virtually, all tyre tubes are either Schrader or Presta. Schrader valves are similar to the ones found on car tyres and are generally used in lower-end bikes and hybrid bikes. On the other hand, most road and mountain bikes use Presta valves. Presta valves offer greater rim integrity because they require a smaller hole in the wheel rim. These valves are also less prone to damage from dirt or sand.