How to Choose the Best Bicycle Tire Pump
Hand Pump vs Frame Pump vs Mini Pump vs Floor Pump vs CO2 Pump
Aug 27, 2009
Cyclists, even casual weekend cyclists, need a way to inflate their tires. Whether topping-up a tire to full pressure or re-inflating a flat, sooner or later all cyclists will need a pump.
Tire Inflation Basics
Air pressure is measured in psi (pounds per square inch). Optimum tire pressure varies depending on:
- Weight on the tire.
- Width of the tire.
- Terrain (surface roughness).
Pressures of between 50 to 100 psi are common.
The higher the air pressure, the more difficult it will be to pump. Pumping a tire from 40 to 50 psi is easier than pumping from 50 to 60 psi. Much more force and many more strokes of the pump are needed.
For re-inflating flat tires when on the road, only enough pressure to get the bike home is needed. Some punctures are small, slow leaks. They are difficult to detect and repair on the road. Constant re-inflation is necessary to get home.
Some pumps have built-in pressure gauges. A separate pressure gauge can also be used or the sides of the tire can be squeezed to guess the approximate pressure.
There are two main types of bicycle tire valves:
- Schrader (AKA American).
- Presta (AKA French).
The pump needs to match the valve on the bicycle. Some pumps can support both types of valves.
Floor Pumps
Floor pumps can generate a lot of pumping power. The cyclist's body weight is used to push down on the pump, with both hands on the handle. A long pump cylinder compresses a large amount of air with each stroke.
Lighter individuals might find it helpful to put on a heavy backpack to generate more pumping force.
Advantages
- Powerful and efficient, especially for heavier individuals.
- Can fully inflate tires to recommended pressure.
Disadvantage
- Large and heavy. Not portable, for home use only.
Hand, Frame and Mini Air Pumps
Frame pumps are the longer hand pumps (about 20 inches) that can be mounted to the frame of the bicycle. Lighter and shorter hand pumps (about 10 inches) are called mini pumps.
Hand pumps are light but less efficient. The pump cylinder is shorter and narrower than a floor pump's so less air is compressed with each stroke.
One hand is used to hold the pump and the other to push the plunger. This means that only half the force of a floor pump can be generated, as two hands are used to push in the same direction with a floor pump. Some hand pumps are designed as mini floor pumps and can be used vertically, with one end pushed against the floor. To keep the pump small the handle only fits one hand, so power is still limited.
Hand pumps can be rated to 90 or 120 psi, but maximum achievable pressure might be 40 to 60 psi depending on the strength of the individual. Even if it is possible to reach higher pressures, it can take many minutes of hard pumping.
Advantage
- Small and light, often 1/4 to 1/2 pound. Can be carried at all times.
Disadvantages
- Slow and requires more effort. Full tire pressure might not be achievable.
- Unless a flexible hose is used, the pump is fixed directly to the tire valve. If the pump is not held steady when pumping, it is possible to damage the valve stem with too much movement.
Compressed Air CO2 Cartridges
Single-use compressed air CO2 (carbon dioxide) cartridge pumps can quickly inflate tires. Different sizes of cartridges are available, with most cartridge pumps being able to use more than one size.
Depending on the following, one or two cartridges may be needed to fully inflate a completely flat tire:
- Size of the tire.
- Size of the cartridge.
- Recommended tire pressure.
To save on cartridges, a hand pump can be used for the easy initial inflation. Cartridges are then used to top up the pressure, when hand-pumping becomes too difficult.
Advantages
- Light. Can be carried everywhere.
- Little effort involved. Good for weaker individuals. Can fully inflate tires to recommended pressure.
- Quick, only seconds. Good for inflating tires when cycling in a group, to reduce disruption to other riders.
Disadvantages
- Limited capacity. Need to carry a few cartridges. Possible to run out of cartridges if more than one flat occurs.
- Can freeze up during use in cold weather. Using the cartridge decompresses the contents, causing the air temperature to drop.
- Replacing cartridges can be expensive in the long run.
The Best Bicycle Pump
A hand pump is the bare minimum for any cyclist. It is small and light enough to be carried in a repair kit as a "get me home" pump. For stronger individuals and lower tire pressures, no other pump is needed.
Serious cyclists will want to get more than one type of pump, to cover different situations as effectively as possible.
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