How To Use Bike Pump?
Jane Tu - November 16, 2022Before every ride, it’s a good idea to get in the habit of checking your tire pressure. To operate at their best, tires need the proper pressure of air, which can be tricky to achieve. So how to use a bike pump? In this article, we will offer a guide for you to use a bike pump smoothly.
Why Do You Need to Pump Up Bike Tires?
To combat the bone-jarring “ride-quality” of solid wheels, pneumatic tires were developed.
Your suspension is provided by the air inside, which also uses a bike pump to enable the tires to adapt to the surface for better traction and grip.
It takes only a few minutes to pump up your tires, which can greatly increase how much fun you have while riding. Running the incorrect tire pressure will have a negative impact on how your bike rides and may increase your risk of punctures.
What Valve Valve Does Your Bicycle Have?
Before inflating your tire, you must first determine the type of tire that is installed.
The valve is a crucial component that not only keeps air in the tire but also allows for inflation or deflation. You have to pay attention when using a bike pump.
Schrader Valve
Lower-end bicycles and, in the past, mountain bikes are more likely to have Schrader valves. Car tires utilize the same valves.
The valve assembly consists of a hollow tube with an automatic closing sprung valve that screws into the outer body. The end of the outer tube is typically flush with a pin that rises from the valve. To let the air out, push this pin down.
If a Schrader valve isn’t completely air-tight, the dust cap is a crucial component of the design that can aid in sealing the valve completely. Basically, it acts as a secondary backup seal.
It’s crucial to safeguard the valve as well because how the sprung design makes it slightly more prone to contamination from grit or dirt.
Presta Valve
Presta valves are unique to bicycles only.
They were first used on road bikes where a smaller valve hole—typically the weakest component of a rim—was necessary for narrow road wheels due to the Schrader’s wider valve (6mm vs. 8mm).
These days, they can be seen riding both road bikes and mountain bikes. The valve is held shut by a nut rather than a spring, but the valve itself is sealed “automatically” when the pressure inside the tire pushes it shut.
With a Schrader valve, you can release air by simply pressing the pin; however, with a Presta valve, you must first unscrew the tiny locknut. The threads on the valve body have been peened to prevent the nut from coming off the end.
Presta valves are supposedly better at handling high pressures, but this is doubtful given that Schrader valves can withstand hundreds of pounds per square inch (psi), which is far more than you’ll ever need in your tire.
In contrast to Schrader valves, Presta valves are unquestionably a little more delicate. The threaded internal valve body is quite vulnerable to being knocked, which makes it more likely to bend or break. But with common tools, valve cores can be quickly replaced.
On Schrader valves, however, this needs a special tool.
In some cases, lockrings for Presta valves are included to hold the valve body against the rim. They may be a little simpler to inflate as a result. Although it’s not necessary for it to be sealed, the dust cap keeps the valve clean.
Dunlop/Woods Valve
The only other valve type you might encounter is a Dunlop valve (also known as a Woods valve). This can be inflated using the same pump fitting as a Presta valve and has a base diameter that is comparable to a Schrader valve.
In Europe and other parts of the world, these are very common on upright/town bikes, but it’s extremely unlikely that you’ll see one in the United Kingdom or the United States.
Tubeless Valve
Instead of being a part of an inner tube, valves for tubeless setups are affixed directly to the rim.
Presta-type ones predominate, but Schrader ones are also available.
How to Pump Up a Bike Tire?
Pick the Right Bike Pump
There are two popular tube valves: While Presta valves are smaller and have a locking nut at the top that can be loosened to add or release air, Schrader valves are wider and have flat ends. The Presta valve is simple to remember because you press it to release air.
Mcleod says that a common mistake many new (and even experienced) riders make when pumping their bike tires are trying to use a Schrader bike pump with a Presta valve, which just won’t work If you’re unsure which pump to buy, check out our list of tested and reviewed bike pumps, or ask for recommendations at your local bike shop. You almost always get what you pay for when it comes to bike pumps. An improved bike pump, a more reliable psi gauge, and even simpler inflation can all be had for a small additional cost.
Tubeless Considerations
It is worth taking a few extra precautions to prevent gunking up your bike pump if you have a tubeless setup or tube setup with sealant inside.
Turn the wheels so the valves are at the bottom, then wait a few minutes to let any remaining sealant drain.
Make sure your tires are inflated and turn your wheels so the valves are at the top. In order to stop goop from spraying everywhere, the same applies when deflating tires.
- Best tubeless sealant
- Best tubeless pumps and inflators
Do you grasp how to use a bike pump? Every bike trip will be fun if you pump your bike before going out.
FAQ
How Does My Tire Hold Air?
If you’ve never repaired a puncture before, you might not have considered how your tires hold air inside.
The vast majority of bikes will use an inner tube. The airtight tube has a doughnut shape and is located inside the tire. It has an outside-visible pumping valve.
The tire’s ability to grip the ground and resist punctures depends on how much air is inflated into it by the tube.
You may have heard of tubeless tires, which forgo a tube and use a special rim and tire to seal air without the need for a tube. Typically, tubeless sealant, a liquid that seals off any air leaks, is needed inside of these.
Tubeless tires are more commonly found in mountain biking, but the technology is migrating to road bikes.
Since there is no tube, there is a much lower risk of pinch flats, which happen when your inner tube is pinched by the rim and punctures. The tubeless sealant also plugs punctures. In order to increase comfort, speed, and traction, tubeless tires can be operated at lower pressures than those equipped with inner tubes.
Additionally, tubular tires are available at the very top end. This is essentially a tire with the tube sewn into it, but they are rarely seen or used outside of professional racing.
What is Tyre Pressure?
Too high or too low a tire pressure can potentially be dangerous and have an adverse effect on how your bike handles.
The ideal pressure will be discussed later, but for now, let’s consider some potential issues.
Too little air pressure can cause your tires to wear out too soon. The casing may crack as a result of excessive sidewall flexing, making the tire brittle. This might ultimately result in a blowout.
The pressure inside your tires is what keeps them attached to the rim, so having excessively low pressures makes you more vulnerable to punctures and could even cause your tires to literally roll off the rim if you corner quickly.
A tire that deflects all the way down to the rim may also sustain damage. This may cause dents or cracking, endangering your wheel and necessitating an expensive replacement.
On the other hand, operating at too high a pressure could cause your tire to blow off the rim, which would have explosive effects. That pressure may also squeeze the wheel because a high enough pressure may have an excessively high compressive force on the wheel.
Low pressure can compromise handling by causing the tire to squirm while under load. You’ll experience your bike as slow, sluggish, and difficult to control.
On the other hand, excessive pressure can cause a harsh ride, reduced grip, and fatigue, which can affect handling.
Why are Your Tyres Flat?
Your tyres are probably flat for one of two reasons. Either you have a puncture, or your tire simply lost air over time.
While traditional kits are a flexible choice when you have a little more time, glueless patches are great for a quick fix.
The tubes in all tire systems won’t be completely airtight, so air will slowly leak out. For instance, lightweight latex tubes leak relatively more quickly than standard butyl tubes, which hold air reasonably well. Even tubeless arrangements gradually leak air.
If your tubes haven’t been replaced in a while, it might be worth taking a closer look at them since older tubes leak more air than new ones do. The valve might no longer be properly sealed, which is a less likely but still possible scenario (especially with older tubes).
Trying to pump up the tire is the best way to figure out what’s going on. You probably don’t need to do anything else if it can hold air. It’s possible that you have a puncture if it doesn’t.
If it slowly leaks air overnight, you either have a slow puncture or an outdated tube that needs to be replaced.
Categories
Tag
10 speed bike 26 inch bike for what size person adjusting bike brakes average bike speed best mini bike bicycle Bike Bike Brakes Bike Chain Bike Cost Bike Frame Bike Pump Biker Shorts Bike Seat Bike Tire Bike Tire Pressure bike tire valves bike tricks Bike Wheel Camelbak cycling dirt bike dutch bikes how fast can a bike go how to ship a bike How To Take Off Bike Pedals how to tighten bike brakes how to use bike pump Kid Mountain Bike Paint A Bike Peloton Bike pit bike Pump A Bike Tire Remove Bike Pedals slope bike Sticky Piston tesla bike truing a bike wheel tubeless bike tires types of bike brakes walking bike what muscles does a bike work winter bike youth dirt bike helmets