ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BICYCLE PUMPS

We have all experienced it: A flat tyre is annoying, but unfortunately part of being a cycling enthusiast. Whether your bike has been in winter storage for a while or you’ve got a flat tyre just before reaching your destination, it is important to have your bike pump to hand. It will save you and your bike in case of an emergency.

In this article we will tell you everything you need to know about bicycle pumps. What types of air pumps are there? Which valves are most common? How do you inflate your bike tyres correctly and what should you look out for when buying a new bike pump?

TYPES OF BICYCLE PUMPS

Es existiert eine Vielzahl an verschiedenen Fahrradpumpen und der Markt entwickelt sich stetig weiter. Wir stellen dir die bewährten und beliebten Dauerbrenner vor.

FLOOR PUMP

A floor pump is perfect for home use. It comes with all the features you could wish for, e. g. a pressure gauge, a stable base, dual head design, long hose and so on. Thanks to their size and sturdy design, bicycle tyres can be inflated very quickly and conveniently with floor pumps. The XLC MTB Floor Pump PU-S08, for example, has an extra-large and easy-to-read pressure gauge with a diameter of 10 cm, a multi-valve head for all common valve types and a large pump volume of approximately 605 cm³. The pump volume of this floor pump is up to 50% higher than others. This allows you to inflate large-volume MTB tyres with just a few pump strokes.

MINI PUMP

This small and handy companion is perfect for bike tours. Mini pumps hardly take up any space, are very light and there are also small models with plenty of power. However, pumping can take a little longer due to their small size and a resulting lower pump volume. The XLC PU-R03 mini pump is a super-slim road bike pump made of lightweight aluminium with a dual head and internal thread. The pump hose facilitates connecting the pump with the valve and it can be easily attached to your bike using the bracket supplied.

CO² PUMP

CO² pumps are also a minimalist option when on the road. They make inflating your bike tyres super easy and are perfect for road cyclists who put great emphasis on weight optimisation. The compressed CO² is released from the cartridge into your tyres. Please note that the cartridges can only be used once. Furthermore, they freeze on the outside when used which makes it extremely important to protect yourself. Always put the cartridge into the included neoprene before use. The disadvantage is that CO² diffuses faster through tubes and tyres. You should re-inflate the tyre with a normal mini or floor pump the next day at the latest. So, the CO² pump is a quick and comfortable solution if you have a flat tyre on your ride but does not replace a pump at home. The XLC PU-M03 CO² cartridge pump is a minimalist CO² pump with an aluminium multi-valve head. It has a holder for two additional interchangeable cartridges. There is space for up to 3 cartridges in total.

VALVES FOR BICYCLE TYRES

Bicycle inner tubes are usually offered with three different valve types. Not every valve type can be inflated with the same valve head. These are the most common valve types:

THE PRESTA VALVE (also known as Sclaverand Valve or French Valve)
This valve is best suited to sporty bikes such as racing bikes, as it can withstand the highest pressure among the three valve types. Before inflating or deflating, the valve must first be opened by fully unscrewing the knurled nut.

THE SCHRADER VALVE
As this valve is typically used for car tyres, it can – unlike the other two valves – be inflated at the petrol station. However, caution is also required with the Schrader Valve as bicycle inner tubes are much thinner than car tyres.

THE DUNLOP VALVE (also known as Bicycle Valve)
As the name suggests, this valve is a widely used valve for bicycle tyres. It is primarily used for city bikes. Most cyclists are familiar with this valve.

Please note that you cannot simply interchange valves or inner tubes. The Presta valve, for example, is much narrower than the other two types which means that other valves require a wider opening in the rim of your wheel.

USING THE BICYCLE PUMP CORRECTLY

You now know the advantages of different types of bike pumps and when to use which pump, as well as the differences between the three most common bicycle valves. Now let us move on to the practical part: Your tyre is flat, and you want to inflate it again. But what is the best way to do it?

1. THE CORRECT TYRE PRESSURE
The correct tyre pressure is crucial for supplying your tyres with exactly the right amount of air they need. The best way to do this is to take a look at your bike tyres. You will find a pressure range that you can use as a guideline for how much air you need to pump into your tyres.

As a Rule of Thumb:
- Road Bikes: 6-8 bar
- Trekking / City Bikes: 3-4 bar
- Mountain Bikes: 1.5-2.5 bar

However, the ideal pressure depends on different aspects such as the rider’s weight or the terrain you’re riding.

2. BEFORE PUMPING
Before you get to work with your bike pump, you must remove the valve cap. It protects the valve against dirt and moisture which could cause damage.
There is one special feature of the Presta valve: the knurled nut must be completely unscrewed before inflating and screwed on again after pumping.

3. PLACE THE PUMP HEAD ON THE VALVE
You have prepared your bike, now it is time to use your bicycle pump. Place the pump head on the valve. Do you have a double-head pump? Then make sure you choose the right opening: the large opening is intended for the Schrader valve; the small opening is used for the Presta and the Dunlop valve. You can usually secure the pump head with a lever so that you can completely concentrate on pumping.

4. PUMPING WITH YOUR BICYCLE PUMP
A bike pump with a pressure gauge comes in handy now as it shows you the current tyre air pressure. You can see how much air you can pump into your bike tyres by checking them. They have a pressure range printed on the outside. Please also note the maximum pressure of your pump.

5. AFTER PUMPING
Once you have reached the desired tyre pressure, you can remove the pump head of your bicycle pump from the valve head (be careful to loosen the fixing lever first). You must screw the Presta valve back shut, otherwise it will not be air-tight und you will lose the air again. You should also refit the valve cap to protect the inner tubes of your bicycle.

Caution: As already mentioned, the Dunlop valve can also be inflated using a compressor at the petrol station. However, you should be very cautious doing so as there is a higher risk of bursting your bike’ inner tubes. The compressors at petrol stations are designed for car tyres. These are much bigger than bicycle tyres.

BUYING A BICYCLE PUMP

Last but not least, the question arises: Which one is the right bike pump for you? You can answer this question for yourself by first thinking about the purpose for which you need your pump. Are you looking for a small companion for emergencies on the road or a reliable pump you can use at home? Would you like to pump by hand, or would you prefer something a little more convenient, i. e. a CO² pump?

Quality also plays a role in making your purchase decision. The material used inluences the bike pump’s price. But expensive does not always mean it’s a better pump. There are well-made and inexpensive bicycle pumps with attractive additional functions, such as a pressure gauge which shows you the current pressure in your tyres.

The third crucial aspect when choosing what to buy is: Which valve do you use on your bike? There are bicycle pumps with a so-called „double head” which provide the right opening for every type of valve, but if you choose to do without this luxury, you must choose the right pump head for your bicycle tyres.

Whatever you decide, at XLC you are guaranteed to find exactly the right bike pump for your needs and wishes. Use our Store Locator to find an XLC expert near you who can help you make the smartest decision to equip your ride.