You're ready to set out on your early morning bike ride, but something is preventing from hitting the trail. Upon further inspection of your bicycle, you notice the tires are almost flat. With no bike pump around, you will have to walk or drive to the closest gas station, with change in hand, to use their air pump machine. Not only did this cost you money, it also cuts into your riding time. Prevent this from happening again by purchasing a bike pump. These handy devices are portable, lightweight, and will always keep your tires firm and ready to go.
Pump It Up
Whether you're going on a day-long ride, biking around town, or just running a few errands, a flat bicycle tire will not only ruin your day, you also run the risk of being stranded! Not all bike pumps are large; in fact, some are compact so the rider can use it anywhere. Before you invest in a bike pump, you should know there is a wide variety of pumps because not all tire valves are the same.
* '''Convertible Pumps:''' Not sure what's your tire valve type? No worries. Convertible pumps have different nozzles, so you won't have to buy more than one to find a match.
* '''Foot Pump:''' Using your hands to pump air is tiring, but with a foot pump you will only need to step on a spring-loaded device. These pumps are inexpensive, but don't offer them same durability as floor pumps.
* '''Floor Pump:''' This is the most common type of pump in which the user stands on the base and moves a handle up and down. These pumps may include a pressure gauge for accuracy.
* '''Mini-Pump:''' These compact pumps are the lightest and smallest version of bike pumps. While they can fit into bags, they don't produce a lot of air.
* '''Frame Pump:''' Although frame pumps are heavy, they're portable and are actually very effective when it comes to filling tires with air. However, they are slower to use than foot or floor pumps.
* '''CO2 Pump:''' If manual pumping is troublesome, CO2 pumps use cartridges to quickly fill tires. You will be able to control the flow of air into the tire with some CO2 pumps while others release all of the air. If you're using a CO2 pump, always keep extra cartridges around.
* '''Dual-Action Pump:''' When the handle on this pump is pulled up, air fills a chamber and is then released into the tire on the downward motion.
