Cycling has been around as a way to exercise ever since the turn of the century. Cycling in the past decade has become such a preferable way to exercise that we now have indoor cycling classes and spin classes that are popular among working millennials.
Even with the existence of these closed, temperature-controlled environments, there’s nothing that quite beats the adrenaline rush of biking in nature. You get to witness beautiful sights, be among people, and have interactions you otherwise could not all while exercising.
Biking is also a great way to get around the city without spending money on fuel or contributing to climate change. Furthermore, biking improves strength, balance, and coordination. It is a great exercise for patients with osteoarthritis as it is a low-impact exercise.
However, along with investing in a bike, you also need to invest in equipment that helps in maintaining your bike, such as a bike tire pump. We discuss the importance of properly maintaining your bike and how you can routinely ensure your bike doesn’t give out on you.
What Is a Bike Tire Pump?
A bike tire pump often called a bicycle pump is a type of equipment that positively displaces air to inflate bicycle tires. In its simplest form, a bike tire pump uses pistons to draw and release air into the tire. It is available in many types, the floor pump with gauge being one. Other types of bike tire pumps are as follows:
- Frame-mounted
- Compact or mini
- Foot-operated
- Double-action
- Blast or tubeless
You must have a bike tire pump lying around if you own a bicycle because you don’t want to go to a bicycle mechanic every time your bike’s tires are low on air.
Read How to Clean A Rusty Bike Chain?
Importance of Bike Tire Pumps
The importance of bicycle pumps is tied to how important it is to have properly inflated tires. Properly inflated tires mean that you need to have the correct amount of air pressure in these tires, and it comes with its benefits.
1. It Ensures Smooth Travel
Properly inflated tires achieved using bike tire pumps allow you to ride smoothly and quickly while avoiding flats. Smooth travel means that the rider is likely to have a lot more confidence riding a bike and will likely feel better about themselves.
2. It Ensures Less Resistance
Tires that are properly inflated flex less and have less contact surface which enables the rider to glide more easily down any path.
3. It Absorbs Shock
When tires are properly inflated, they are more likely to conform to bumps and absorb shocks, making them safer for riders to use in rough terrain.
To have properly inflated a bike tire pump is necessary, and having a gauge attached to these pumps is a great way of inflating tires correctly.
How to Pick the Correct Bike Tire Pump?
We recommend keeping two bike tire pumps with you: one in travel-size for when you’re riding, and another which is a regular size for your routine maintenance. The question remains, “how do you know what bike tire pump to pick for your bike?”
There are a few aspects you could look into, but the one thing you have to know about is your bike’s valve type.
The two main types of valves are Schrader and Presta.
Shrader valves are similar to valves found on cars. However, you can always find these valves on hybrid bikes or children’s bikes. Presta valves are found on most road bikes and have a thinner structure. There is also a valve named Dunlop used in other parts of the world but not found in the US very often.
Your bicycle pump should match the valves you have; otherwise, you won’t be able to use it. Generally, though, most pumps have nozzles that come with both valves so this isn’t too great a worry.
Categories of Bike Tire Pumps
You can divide bike tire pumps into two major categories: Regular bike tire pumps and electric bike tire pumps.
Regular Bike Tire Pumps
Regular bike tire pumps are all manual. They are available in many different types, and we’re going to tell you them later. They don’t have any electrical components and generally come with an analog fuel gauge so you know the air pressure in tires and how much more you need to fill to have an ideal pressure.
5 Best Regular Bike Tire Pumps
If you’re looking for bike tire pumps where you’re mostly in control, there are several great options. We are listing some of our choices below:
1. BV Bicycle Ergonomic Bike Floor Pump with Gauge & Smart Valve Head, 160 psi, Automatically Reversible Presta and Schrader
ASIN Number: B0085OUN1O
Features:
- It is affordable
- It comes with interchangeable valves
- It has a large and easy to read gauge
This pump is a great tool to have in your bike maintenance kit. It is stable and has an easy-to-read gauge that will help you monitor your air pressure and fill your tires easily. Its structure also makes it easy for you to pump air into the tires.
2. Topeak Road Morph G Mini Pump
ASIN Number: B07C3TJ8MZ
Features:
- It is affordable
- It is portable
- It can work on different types of valves
- It has an in-line gauge
This pump is a great option to have in spare for when you’re traveling on the bike. It is easy to carry and is cost-friendly so you won’t break the bank with it. You can use it for any of your bikes, and it does the work efficiently.
3. PRO BIKE TOOL CO2 Inflator
ASIN Number: B07W1PC257
Features:
- It is affordable
- It needs additional CO2 cartridges
- It is compact
- It is portable
- It is compatible with both Presta and Schrader valves
- Only provides enough air to get rider home
This Co2 pump is a great pump to have in spare when you’re riding your bike with a group as anything can go wrong. This pump, along with a few CO2 cartridges, could be your saving grace in rocky mountains miles away from a bike repair shop.
4. Schwinn Air Base Plus Bike Foot Pump Black
ASIN Number: B085FQPVG3
Features:
- It is affordable
- Pumps up to 120 psi
- It fits both Schrader and Presta Valves
- It has a sports ball inflator needle
- It has an easy-to-read gauge
This versatile, easy-to-use foot pump makes filling air in tires easy. This pump has an indicator to inform you when it’s ready to fill the air. The gauge perfectly conveys how much air is already in those tires and how much more you need.
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5. Schwinn Air Center Plus Floor Bike Pump
ASIN Number: B0771LDTXS
- It is affordable
- It is easy-to-use
- It has an air gauge
- It is compatible with both types of valves.
This floor pump makes pumping air easy. It has a stable base you can stand on as you leverage the handlebars to fill the tires. It has an indicator that removes the guesswork and informs you when the bike can pump air and when it can’t.
Electric Bike Tire Pumps
Electric bike tire pumps are portable and rechargeable, all you need to do is attach them to your bike tire, and they will do all the work. They are automatic and come with an LCD screen and buttons that you can use to set the pressure you want the bike tire to be at, and it will fill it to that pressure. These factors mean you can save both time and effort when filling bike tires.
5 Best Electric Bike Tire Pumps
If you would rather relax and let the machine do all the work for you, you should invest in electric bike tire pumps. Fortunately, we have a list for you to choose from:
1. Bike Pump Electric Bicycle Inflator
ASIN Number: B07B65GN6W
Features:
- It is affordable
- It is versatile
- It is battery-powered
- It can be mounted on a bike
- It is portable
This pump has an LCD screen so you know exactly how much air you’re pumping in and what the current air pressure is. It is portable, which means you can easily carry it on your bike. It can fill the tires for not just your bike but also your cars. It can even inflate any basketball or volleyball.
2. Baseus Tire Inflator Portable Air Compressor
ASIN Number: B08NVWKCDT
Features:
- It is affordable
- It is portable
- It is rechargeable
- It is multi-purpose
- It is compact
This pump has an LCD that shows you the pressure in the bike tires. It is compact and easy to carry. It is cordless and inflates tires quite quickly, saving you time and effort. It has three different sets of nozzles for use with cars, bikes, and balls.
3. ViWAA 150 PSI Portable Tire Pump Electric Cordless Tire Inflator
ASIN Number: B08S3K3MF5
Features:
- It is portable
- It is easy-to-use
- It is rechargeable
- It is compatible with Presta and Schrader valves
This product promises high-efficiency inflation so you can sit back and relax while it does the job. The pump has four smart modes from which you can choose. It has a lithium battery that allows it to be used anywhere without any electrical connection. You can use this pump for car tires, bike tires, balls, and even inflatable pools. It comes with nozzles for each of these applications.
4. VEEAPE Portable Tire Inflator Air Pump Cordless
ASIN Number: B08CS77TGH
Features:
- It is affordable
- It is portable
- It is compatible with both kinds of valves
- It is easy-to-use
This pump comes in two modes, automatic and manual. The automatic mode is the electric mode where you don’t have to do any additional work. If this mode fails, there’s also an extra manual mode with a hand pump which you can use to inflate your tires.
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5. CYCPLUS Portable Air Compressor
ASIN Number: B08TW6G7H9
Features:
- It is portable
- It has a unique appearance
- It has an LCD gauge
- It is rechargeable
This electric pump is multi-purpose, and you can use it for bikes, cars, and inflatables. It is also compact, making it easy to carry around. It uses smart technology to stop inflation as soon it gets to the ideal pressure.
Read Tubeless Tires Advantages And Disadvantages
Types of Regular Bike Tire Pumps
There are many types of bike tire pumps available for you to buy. Read on as we list a few that you can choose from:
Floor Pumps
Floor pumps are a great option for a bike tire pump you wish to leave at home. It is convenient and easy to use. It has a high air-filling capacity and power. Using a floor pump means you’re less likely to wear out your frame pump as quickly.
This pump is extremely efficient and quick and can take care of high-pressure jobs that other pumps can’t. Most floor pumps have nozzles that can fit any valve and so it is equally versatile.
Frame-Fit Pumps
These portable pumps are great for road cyclists and snap directly onto your bike. So, you don’t have to carry them around on your bike. They don’t need any extra equipment to stay on the bike and are very convenient.
They are heavy but work better and more quickly than most mini-pumps. They have a very large capacity; thus, cyclists can use these to fill high-pressure tires found on most road bikes.
Frame-fit pumps come in many sizes, and you should pick one depending on the size of your frame. Make sure it is properly fit onto the frame before you start riding; otherwise, an improper fit can lead to accidents.
Mini Pumps
These pumps are small and light-weighted, making them very portable and ideal for fixing any flats you may have encountered while riding on a road. These require special tools to be attached to your bike but are small enough to fit comfortably in various places on the bike frame.
Before you buy these bike tire pumps, make sure you’re aware of their capacity since they come in different capacities.
CO2Inflators
These devices are great as a quick-fix, super portable option. They’re not pumps technically; they just have a nozzle and a cartridge. These inflators are popular because of their portability and how they can simply fit in anyone’s pocket, making them amazing options for cyclists who want to travel light.
These inflators aren’t a permanent fix; however, they can fill enough CO2 into your bikes to get you to your destination after which this CO2 will probably leak out.
How Do You Pump Your Bike Tires?
Now that you know how important it is to have properly inflated tires and what to look for in a bike tire pump, we can dive into understanding how you can pump your bike tires. Here are the following steps you can take:
1. Pick the Right Pump
The right pump is necessary to ensure you’re filling the tires correctly. If you have the wrong pump, there’s no way you’re going to get any air into the tires.
2. Prepare the Valve
The valve is generally covered with a plastic cap of some kind. To prepare the valve, you must remove this cap. Then, you can unscrew the little metal screw so that you can fill the air.
3. Check the Tire Pressure
Before pumping, make sure you know the tire pressure pre-pump and the pressure you want to reach. The gauge on your pump will help you with this operation.
4. Attach the Pump Correctly
Ensure that you’re attaching the pump to the valve correctly so that no air leaks as you inflate the tire. You also need to secure the pump nozzle using the switch that flips down so it stays in place as you inflate the tire.
5. Pump to the Pressure You Require
Use the gauge attached to the pump to know exactly how much air you need to pump into the tire. Make sure you don’t overinflate the tire and keep the air pressure in an optimum range.
6. Ride Your Bike
Now that you’ve inflated the tires properly you can take your bike out for a test drive around the block. If something goes wrong, you’ll know what mistake you might have made.
You may like the following bike articles:
- How To Clean a Bike Chain with Household Products
- How much air pressure in bike tires
- How to Clean an Electric Bike – An Ultimate Guide
- How Do Tubeless Bike Tires Work and Should You Switch to Them?
- Can Mountain Bikes Get Wet?
Final Thoughts
Bike tire pumps are necessary for proper routine maintenance in all kinds of bikes, whether they’re road bikes, mountain bikes, or electric bikes. However, you need to select this equipment according to your bike’s specifications and ensure you’re aware of the benefits and drawbacks of each. Bike tire pumps are essential to have around as you can’t ride your bike without inflated tires.
I am Michael, an avid rider and bike expert. I am here to provide, biking tips and expert advice on in-depth bike reviews covering features, capabilities, price range, and much more. Specially on electric bikes, mountain bikes, road bikes, etc. I will provide honest product reviews, along with expert advice on purchasing, training, and maintenance. Check out my complete profile.