|
What’s the most common bike breakdown? A flat tire. And what’s the most important
thing you need to fix a flat? No, it’s not a bike mechanic, (though it would sure
be handy if you could somehow arrange to only get flats near shops). It’s a good
bike pump. But don’t just go out and buy any pump. You need the right one for your
bike and how you ride. Here’s our advice on how to select a carry-along bicycle
pump. (In a future article, we’ll discuss pumps built for home and shop
use).
Mini or Maxi
Carry-along bicycle pumps come in two general types named after the size of the
pump: mini and full size. Mini pumps became popular because many mountain bikes,
especially those with dual suspension, have unusual frame designs on which it’s
difficult to attach a long pump. Minis (and some full-size pumps) attach to a
bracket that comes with the pump and is installed next to the water bottle cage
(using the same, or sometimes longer, frame screws).
Another important reason minis are the pump of choice for dirt heads is that, while
fat mountain bike tires require more air than road tires, they don’t require as
much pressure, meaning a small pump can handle the job. Depending on the model,
performance (stroke count to reach proper pressure and amount of effort it takes
to inflate the tire) can vary drastically. But any good pump can handle inflating
mountain-bike treads. Because there’s a lot of air in fat tires, usually a lot of
pumping is required to inflate them. Fortunately, punctures are less common with
off-road tires, so you’re usually not fixing flats all that often.
Interestingly, as minis have become the most popular pumps, they’ve gathered a
following among road riders, as well, for touring and racing bikes. Part of the
attraction is the minimalism and the way they attach, which ensures they won’t
fall off. (Some full-size pumps may fall off under certain circumstances.) The
popularity of minis has forced manufacturers to try to improve them, so they’ll
work as well for road and off-road rubber. And some work wonderfully both ways.
In fact, some feature two modes, one for high-pressure and another for low-pressure
pumping. The dual modes allow these pumps to work both on mountain and road
tires.
Still, the pump of choice for rapidly inflating a road tire to 100-psi-plus pressure
in my opinion is a full-size airstick. It’ll do the job with fewer strokes and
effort and on most road frames, it’ll fit via the frame-fit feature for a clean
appearance (unless your model is designed to be held by a bracket). To install
a frame fit, you compress the pump and place it beneath the frame’s top tube or
(if you’re using only one water bottle) in front of the seat tube. When you
release the handle, the pump extends slightly, affixing it to the frame.
Some cyclists like to add a Velcro pump strap around the pump and frame for
insurance against dropping it, but it’s not necessary if the pump fits. If you
have several same-sized bikes, a frame fit has the advantage of being transferable
to each bike whereas for a mini, you’d have to install the bracket each time you
switch bikes.
How to Pick a Pump
Think about which bike(s) the pump is for, and read the guidelines and product
suggestions below. A good way to find out how pumps inflate is to try a bunch
or to ask friends which pumps they recommend. Shops also have good selections
and should be able to recommend a pump suited to your ride.
Pumps continue to improve, and some designers are adding ingenious features
such as models that have built-in tire levers, so it’s worth looking closely
at different models and comparing what they offer. I do not recommend CO2-type
inflators. These tiny pumps use a small cartridge charged with CO2 to rapidly
inflate tires, so some racers like them. Their shortcoming: constantly having
to replace the cartridges (good for only a couple of uses usually). Mechanical
pumps are always ready to go.
Get Back
Here are some tricks to make it home if you get out there, get a flat and discover
that you forgot your patch kit or spare tube (doh!).
- On a mountain bike, try stuffing the tire with grass or hay or whatever’s
handy (avoid the poison oak!) to get you home.
- If you’re only a short distance from home, try riding on the flat tire.
Be careful! The tire may squirm and make it difficult to control the bike.
Sometimes though, it’ll ride okay and you can carefully creep home, which is
much faster than walking (don’t hit holes or ruts because impacts can damage the
rim when the tire is flat).
- Wait for another cyclist to come along and beg/buy a patch or tube off her.
- For slow leaks: inflate the tire, ride until it gets soft, stop and inflate
it again and so on until you get home.
|
