Inflating your tire is a task that you’ll undertake countless times in your journey cycling. It’s therefore important to know the different types of bike pumps so that you’re able to use the right one depending on your needs.
This is especially important if you’re new to cycling. In addition to knowing the bike pump types, learn how to use bicycle pumps, to make your work easier and quicker.
In this article, we’ll discuss the bike pump types, their suitability and also recommend products that have come in handy for us.Â
Contents
Floor or Stand Bike Pumps
Stand pumps are also referred to as floor, shop or track pumps. They are standalone and are operated when planted on the ground on firm bases.
Stand pumps are capable of providing high pressure air at a speedy rate with minimal effort. They outperform majority of the smaller bike pumps. These pumps are recommended for home or shop use as they are not very convenient to carry around when cycling.
They are pumps you’d normally use before leaving the house or shop to ensure that the tire pressure is adequate.
Mini Bike Pumps
Mini pumps are popular since they come in handy during emergencies when cycling. They are usually smaller and light and thus portable without a struggle. You’re able to fit the mini bike pumps on your backpack or attach on the frame of your bicycle.
Although they are reliable, they require much more effort to inflate a tire and the volume of air flow is lower. When buying a mini pump, check on the PSI and also go for models with a built-in hose for a better experience.
Frame Bicycle Pumps
These pumps feature the characteristics of mini and floor pumps. Frame pumps are longer than mini pumps, they work much faster and have a large capacity to accommodate road bikes.
You are able to carry the frame pump with you, although they are heavier compared to mini pumps. Before getting one, measure your frame size to establish the right fit since frame pumps come in different sizes.Â
CO2 Inflators
CO2 inflators are not your typical bike pumps. They use CO2 that is compressed in cartridges to inflate your tires. They are a quick and temporary method of inflation.
The advantage of CO2 inflator is they’re lightweight and great for cyclists in a hurry. The downside, the cartridges are single use and short-lived. You’ll need to keep inflating or replace the CO2 with air using the other bike pump types.
Electric Bike Pumps
Electric pumps are heavy and more sophisticated of all the pumps. They don’t require manual pumping thus saving you time and energy. They can be used to inflate a wide range of items such as cars, mattresses etc and fitted with gauges for reading the pressure levels.
The downside is that they are not portable, may require routine checks for functionality and are more expensive.
Conclusion
There are 5 main types of bike pumps- stand, electric, CO2 inflator, mini and frame pumps. Stand and electric pumps are suitable for home use since they are heavy.
On the other hand, frame, CO2 inflator, and mini pumps are portable and provide a quick way to inflate your bike tires.
