A bicycle pump is an attribute of cycling equipment that must be carried with you while riding, so that if necessary, you can pump up your tires at any time. For a portable option, choose a compact and lightweight pump that fits in a small bag or mounts on a bike frame.
The simplest option is a compact hand pump without a pressure gauge with a standard automotive nipple. However, these pumps are not very convenient for bicycles with large wheels, as the inflation of the tires will not be very fast.
A pneumatic pump is the best option for athletes who participate in cycling and various competitions, where there is a need for ultra-fast wheel inflation. Replaceable cartridges are inserted into the pneumatic pump, in which there is air under high pressure. One spray can, on average, is enough for one full pumping of a wheel. Pneumatic pumps are not cheap, which is why they are most often used by cyclists, who counts every second.
A floor bicycle pump is a stationary device that is used to quickly inflate wheels to a pressure of 12 atmospheres and above. Such pumps are reliable and practical, but they are expensive and take up a lot of space in the apartment. Floor pumps are automatic and mechanical. Of the mechanical models, the foot ones are the most comfortable.
Bicycle pumps with pressure gauge
All professional pump models are equipped with a pressure gauge. Using such pumps, you do not pump the wheels over the allowable pressure. Some cheap and compact pumps are also equipped with pressure gauges, but the accuracy of pressure measurement in cheap pumps has a significant error.
Based on the readings of the pressure gauge, it should be borne in mind that the wheels are inflated to the maximum allowable pressure if you plan to drive on asphalt and flat city roads. For rough terrain, sand and mud, it is best to inflate the wheels to the lower pressure limit.
High pressure bicycle pumps
Pumps of this type are not used to inflate the wheels, but to pump air into the air suspension fork on the front wheel. Therefore, these pumps are designed for mountain bikes with air springs. It is quite difficult to inflate the shock absorber with a conventional hand pump, since the air in the fork can be under a pressure of about 14 atmospheres.
Universal portable pumps
There are pump models that are suitable for both wheel inflation and suspension forks. They are equipped with a set of replaceable nipples, a pressure gauge, an air chamber and valves for inflating air shock absorbers. The main disadvantage of such pumps is their high price.
