Bike Pumps – Fresh Air for the Tires and Your Performance

These exciting topics await you:

• The Bike Pump – A Must Have for All Cyclists
• Bicycle Pumps for Your Workshop at Home
  • Floor Pumps – The Classics Among Bike Pumps
  • Tubeless Pumps – The New Generation of Floor Pumps
  • Foot Pumps – The Convenient Alternative to a Floor Pump
  • Shock Pumps – The Special Case Among Bike Pumps
• Bike Pumps for Punctures on the Road
  • Mini Air Pump – Practical and Always With You
  • CO2 Cartridge Pumps – It Doesn't Get Any Smaller Than This
• Bicycle Pumps – All Model Variants at a Glance
• Buying a Bike Pump – Which Bike Tire Inflator Is Right for Me?
  • The Right Pump for Every Valve – These Valves Are Available on Bikes
  • The Right Pump for the Right Air Pressure – What Is Bar and PsI
• Bicycle Air Pump – Practical Accessories for Your Air Pump
• Buying a Bike pump – Category Overview

A loud hiss – and from one moment to the next you're on the side of the road. There are probably few noises that upset cyclists as much as the sound of a suddenly deflating tire. Thanks to more robust bicycle tires and better inner tubes, punctures are becoming increasingly rare these days. Nevertheless, it is a certainty that everyone who regularly rides a bike will find themselves without air at the side of the road at some point. In addition to a spare inner tube and puncture repair kit, a bicylce pump is the main remedy in such a situation. It is not without reason that this bicycle accessory is part of the standard equipment of every home bicycle workshop.

The operating principle of most bike tire pumps is self-explanatory: a piston is pressed into a housing, which sucks in O2 and directs it into a tube or chamber. In the case of bicycle tires with inner tubes, the air collected in this way is passed directly into the hose via the valve. In the case of tubular tires, it enters the tire directly via the valve chamber. A bicycle air pump therefore works on the same principle as any other air pump – just in a smaller version.

But not all air pumps are the same. Over the years, a wide variety of bike pumps have been developed for a wide range of purposes – from the classic floor pump with a gauge to display the air pressure to the ultra-compact CO2 cartridge pump that completely inflates your road tires within seconds. There are also high-pressure pumps for tubeless tires and special pumps for air springs as found on modern suspension forks. Below we present the different types of bike tire pumps and their purposes in detail.

As the previous list already showed, you really are spoiled for choice when it comes to bike pumps. In principle, the range of pumps is divided into pumps for use at home and pumps for on the road. The former are robust and stable and are used in the bike workshop or garage at home. The latter are lightweight and easy to transport, so you can easily take them with you on a tour.

If there is a classic among bike tire pumps, then it is the floor pump. It usually consists of a robust base that ensures the pump stands securely. There is also an elongated pump cylinder, a pump handle, a hose with a valve attachment and clamping device as well as a gauge that clearly indicates the air pressure in bar or psi. Its design is the great advantage of the floor pump: it has a high pumping capacity and allows even large-volume mountain bike tires to be inflated relatively quickly. They are also very easy to operate.

There are also model differences within the floor pumps: For a 29 inch mountain bike, for example, you should choose a floor pump with a thicker tube and a large volume per stroke. For a road bike with narrow tires, the tube should be thinner and allow for smooth pumping at high pressure. Another essential feature of the floor pump is a valve head that is suitable for all valve types. In addition, at least the pump tube should be made of metal. This is a sign that the pump can also cope with high air pressures.

An increasingly popular version of the classic floor pump is the tubeless pump. The special setting process of tubeless tires requires a strong air flow when inflating, which deflates very suddenly into the tire. The reason for this is that the bead of the tubeless tire must be pressed quickly into the rim so that the transition from the tire to the rim is sealed. Tubeless pumps therefore have a high-pressure cylinder that is first filled with O2 before the collected air is passed with high-pressure into the tires via the valve. Tubeless pumps thus combine the classic floor pump and the high-pressure cylinder. As you can also use this type of pump as a standard pump with normal inner tubes, a tubeless pump can be even more useful for your workshop at home than a floor pump.

When pumping with a floor pump, you mainly have to work with your arms. However, there are also pumps that work with your feet. So-called foot pumps do not have a handle, but a foot bar that you operate with your own body weight. The advantage is obvious: Instead of having to bend over the pump, you can pump comfortably while standing. This is why the foot pump is usually a good choice for people with less muscle strength. The disadvantage of these models is that inflating tires is often not quite as quick as with floor pumps. Like its upright counterpart, the foot pump also has a gauge for reading the air pressure and a valve head for several valve types.

When we talk about bike pumps for home use, the shock pump should not be left out. However, it has a special role to play. This is because the shock pump has nothing to do with the typical bicycle tire pumps. The reason: In contrast to tires, you use a shock pump to inflate air springs as found on suspension forks or rear shocks. This is why shock pumps are often referred to as suspension fork pumps. They are needed to refill the O2 that escapes from the corresponding suspension elements over time. The high-pressure pumps equipped with gauges allow the desired air pressure to be set precisely. This allows the suspension elements of the mountain bike to be adjusted to the rider's body weight and riding style.

While pumps for use in the workshop at home are too bulky to take with you on a bike ride due to their design, there are also pumps that are designed precisely for this purpose. There are also different designs of bike pumps for on-the-go repairs, which in turn appeal to different riders. Mini pumps in particular, but also CO2 cartridge pumps are very popular these days. We present these three pump types in detail below.

Small but powerful. That's how you could describe mini pumps for short. These are particularly small hand pumps that have a solid pumping capacity despite their narrow dimensions. Due to their compact size and light weight, this type of pump is particularly popular with cyclists. At the same time, these puncture tools are also ideal for touring adventures or city bike rides. They fit in any jersey pocket or bag, and many models can also be easily transported on the bike itself using a mount. Mini pumps are usually made of plastic or aluminum. The features are varied: they are available with an ergonomic T-handle, with a telescopic function or with an extendable hose. A tip: Pumps with a two-chamber pump system, which collects the O2 during both the pressure and the stroke, ensure a higher pumping capacity.

You think mini pumps are the smallest thing on the market? No, in fact they can be even smaller. So-called CO2 cartridge pumps fill the tires with CO2 from a gas cartridge. This is lightning fast and takes just a few seconds. No force is required. The pressure can be regulated using a rotary knob on the side. The disadvantage: If the cartridge is empty, you need another one. You must therefore always take spare cartridges with you to be prepared for several plates. CO2 bike tire inflators are therefore particularly popular with road cyclists who are looking for a quick puncture repairer during a marathon. In addition to competition use, CO2 pumps are also very suitable for setting tubeless tires.

• Floor pump: The classic that belongs in every garage
• Tubeless pump: Floor pump with high-pressure cylinder for inflating tubeless tires
• Foot pump: For convenient pumping when stationary
• Shock pump: For filling suspension forks and co
• Mini pump: Small, yet powerful. Perfect for on the go
• CO2 cartridge pump: Lightning-fast inflation of tires using a CO2 cartridge

Now you know the different types of bike pumps. But which air pump is right for you? The answer to this question depends entirely on the intended use of your future flat repair kit. If you are looking for a powerful pump for use at home, then a floor pump or a tubeless floor pump is probably the right choice. If you want a comfortable pump for the workshop at home, then a foot pump is probably the best choice. If, on the other hand, you need a bike tire inflator for on the go, then you should take a closer look at mini pumps or CO2 cartridge pumps.

The good news is that we offer all types of air pumps in many different model variants. In the respective product descriptions of the different pumps, you will also find detailed information about the intended use of each pump and its technical data.

When deciding which pump to buy, it is also important that it fits the valves on your bike. In principle, there are three different types of valves on bikes: the French valve, the car valve and the Dunlop valve. The French valve is also known as the Sclaverand or Presta valve. It has the narrowest dimensions of all valve types. At the same time, however, it can withstand the highest air pressure. It is therefore the first choice on road bikes, which are often ridden with air pressures of around 8 bar. French valves are also used on most mountain bikes today.

The car valve is also known as the Schrader valve. As the name suggests, it originally comes from the automotive sector. Its great advantage is that you can also fill it up at a petrol station. This can be very helpful, especially during a bike ride. Last mentioned, the bicycle valve is also known as a Dunlop or Wood valve. This type of valve is mainly found on city bikes. However, we are offering a big range of bike pumps for Dunlop valves.

But we have some good news for you again: most bike tire pumps are suitable for different valve types. In our product descriptions, we always indicate which valves a bike pump is suitable for.

In addition to the intended use and the valve type, another decisive factor is the pressure that a bicycle pump can provide. Road bike enthusiasts, for example, need pressures of up to 8 or even more bar, while city riders can get by with 3 or 4 bar. For this reason, we always specify in our product descriptions the air pressure up to which a pump can inflate tires.

At this point, we would like to clarify a question that often arises when buying an air pump (but also when buying an inner tube or bicycle tire): the difference between bar and psi. Every bike pump with pressure gauge indicates the pressure in bar or psi. In Germany and other central Europe countries, the unit bar is mainly used, whereas pressure in Anglo-Saxon countries is often given in psi. To convert from bar to psi, simply multiply the bar value by 14.504. To convert psi to bar, multiply the psi value by 0.069.

You already have an air pump but are looking for suitable accessories? We also offer a large selection here. You'll find spare pump heads, replacement valves as well as valve adapters, valve caps and valve extenders. CO2 cartridges are also a popular accessory for cartridge pumps. These are available in various sizes and designs. Larger packs are also available so that you always have the right amount of CO2 bike tire cartridges in stock.

From CO2 cartridge pumps to tubeless floor pumps – now you know everything there is to know about bike pumps. We have summarized the most important facts for you below:

• Bike tire pumps are available in different versions, both for use at home and for use on the road.
• In the home workshop, floor pumps, tubeless floor pumps and foot pumps are the most widely used models.
• We recommend mini pumps or CO2 pumps for taking on your ride or on the daily commute to work.
• Other models are available depending on the intended use. Road cyclists or mountain riders who need high air pressures and want to save time when pumping are well advised to use a CO2 pump. A mini pump is usually sufficient for commuters. All cyclists should have a floor pump in their home workshop to make it easier to inflate the bike.
• Shock pumps are a special case. They are not used to inflate the inner tube or tires, but to inflate air spring elements of your suspension – especially on the suspension fork.