The purpose of the bike pump is to force air out of the valve and into your tire to increase the pressure to the appropriate level. Bike pumps use different means to do this, including hand pumping, foot pumping and CO2 cartridges. The most common means is by manual hand pumping. Here we'll look at exactly how a floor pump works. The floor pump is basically just an air piston.
The long metal or plastic shaft that stands between the base and the handle serves to hold air. When you pull the handle upwards air is sucked in through an intake valve and the piston is full of air. When you push back down on the handle, the air is pushed out of the piston, into the hose and out of the fill valve. A pump is just a manually actuated piston. That pressure increases until it exceeds that inside the tyre.
At this point, a second one-way valve will allow air to flow from the pressurised pump chamber into the tyre. You extend the pump again, the check valve opens to refill the chamber with air and you repeat the process. To prevent the pressure in the tyre leaking back out, the second check valve at the base of the pump closes. The chuck is the part that attaches the pump to the valve and forms an airtight seal over the valve. One of two designs exist: threaded or push-on with a locking lever.
Most pumps nowadays are also adaptable to either Schrader or Presta valves. They will either feature two different attachment points or an adjustable chuck that can be changed to suit both types. For larger pumps and many mini-pumps too the chuck is often on a hose, preventing your pumping force from damaging the valve. The right tyre pressure is perhaps one of the most contentious subjects, but there are definitely a few guidelines that you can use.
Most tyres will have a minimum and maximum pressure rating printed on the side. For mountain bikes the problem is relatively easier, with the usual aim being to improve traction, cornering and shock absorption. As a general rule, riders try to run as low a pressure as possible without having it so soft that the tyre squirms under cornering load or deflects enough for damage to occur to the rim. For road bikes it becomes a little more complicated because along with traction and comfort, rolling resistance how efficiently a tyre rolls is a major consideration as well.
Contrary to what many assume, the new school of thought seems to suggest that harder is not necessarily faster. On all but the smoothest of surfaces, a hard tyre will not have as much suspension, and instead of the tyre being able to deflect and conform to irregularities — keeping the bike moving forward — you will get bounced around.
On all but the flattest of surfaces softer tyre pressures can provide more comfort and be more efficient. The most comprehensive research into this was underatken by Frank Berto, who put together a tyre pressure inflation chart.
This testing determined that a 20 per cent tyre drop the amount the tyre compresses when load is applied, measured by the height from the ground to the rim was the optimum balance. Incidentally, some manufacturers recommend a similar level of tyre drop, though the figure is open to some debate. This value does provide a good starting point to experiment with tyre pressures. The chart looks at individual wheel load — i. Usually, that just involves giving them a squeeze by hand to check the pressure.
If you start to get really nerdy about it, you may end up investing in a pressure gauge, which can read the pressures in your tyres very accurately. BikeRadar provides the world's best riding advice. We're here to help you get the most out of your time on the bike, whether you're a road rider, mountain biker, gravel rider, cycle commuter or anything in between. You can expect the latest news and features, in-depth reviews from our expert team of testers, impartial buying advice, how-to tips and plenty more.
Home Features How to pump up a bike tyre Everything you need to know about pumps, valves, pressure and more. When you buy through links on our site we may earn an affiliate commission, but this never influences our opinion. Related reading How to set the saddle height on your bike How to fix a puncture: video and easy step-by-step guide with tips Make sure your bike is safe to ride with the M check Best hybrid bikes find the perfect hybrid for you Best road bikes how to choose the right one for you Best mountain bike how to choose the right one for you.
The air inside acts as a spring, providing suspension for you and allowing the tyre to conform to the terrain providing better traction and grip. Inflating your tyres to the correct pressure is an essential part of bike maintenance.
An under-inflated tyre will rob your efficiency and leave you susceptible to annoying punctures. Latest deals on puncture repair kits. The Schrader valve is also used for car tyres. Presta valves such as this one are longer and narrower than the Schrader type valve. A tubeless valve can be difficult to distinguish from a regular Presta valve.
Latest deals on track pumps. Latest deals on mini pumps. Latest deals on CO2 inflators. That's why minis are so popular. The only downside with minis is that they often require more effort than frame pumps to reach proper tire pressures.
However, all our pumps will inflate tires sufficiently to allow finishing your ride. CO2 inflators photo provide a simple, efficient method to inflate your tires on rides.
These pumps utilize CO2 cartridges, which are filled with compressed CO2 gas. The advantages of these pumps is that they weigh very little, fit easily in a bike bag or pocket, and they provide almost instant inflation to optimal pressure, which saves you the inconvenience of spending several minutes pumping.
However, CO2 pumps only provide as many opportunities to fill your tires as you have CO2 cartridges. If there's a problem with the inner tube or the CO2 cartridge, you'll be out of luck. Also, if you choose one of these pumps, please recycle the used CO2 cylinders with other aluminum items.
We always stock a fine selection of pumps. Please come in soon to check them out! Indoor Cycling. Car Racks. Gift Cards. Frame Pumps. Some models fit on the frame without brackets.
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