Whether you ride a mountain bike or a road bike, a good bicycle pump is essential. Tires lose air every day, so it's important to keep them properly inflated and pump them before each ride. This will ensure your safety, comfort and performance. It's also important to have a pump that fits the type of riding you do and is easy to use. Fortunately, choosing the right bicycle pump is fairly simple, once you know what to look for.
Types
Basically, there are three types. A floor pump is the largest and most stable pump. It works quickly and easily when inflating a tire. These are best to keep in your garage for use before a ride. The frame-fit pump is smaller and attaches directly to the bike frame. They are somewhat heavy, yet portable, and can be used at home or on the road. The mini-pump is the smallest and lightest. It is also portable but requires additional hardware to be mounted on your bike. Mini-pumps are designed to take with you on the road and are usually not meant for at-home use because they take longer to inflate a tire.
Considerations
Consider the kind of riding you do. No matter what your level you are or where you ride, you will most likely want an all-purpose pump to keep at home. If you do easy touring around town, you shouldn't need a second pump. For road riding, you will also want a lightweight mini-pump to take with you in case of a flat. Look for the smallest and lightest one possible, and be sure to mount it out of the way on your bike frame. For mountain biking, you will also want a pump to take with you. Look for a heavier, sturdier one that can handle off-road terrain, bumps, roots and branches.
Features
There are several features to choose from when evaluating bicycle pumps. Most important, choose a pump that fits your tire. Whether you have Presta or Schrader valves makes a difference, because while some pumps fit both types of valves, others do not. Also, make sure the pump comes with an easy-to-read gauge that displays pounds per square inch (PSI). This is important to make sure you are not over- or under-inflating your tires. In addition to home pumps, many portable pumps now include a PSI gauge.
Fit
If you are purchasing a portable pump to carry on your bike, be sure to get the right size. Think about where you will mount the pump on your frame so it doesn't interfere with water-bottle cages or other parts of the bike. Make sure the mounting hardware fits your frame and can be easily accessed in case of a flat.
Ease of Use
Test the pump for ease of use. According to REI.com, there are three ways to measure a pump's performance: "You can measure the amount of work it takes to operate the pump, the amount of air the pump pushes out and the maximum amount of pressure the pump can create in a tire." To get the best pump, test it on your own tire to make sure it fits properly and you feel comfortable operating it.
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