A low or flat tire on a bicycle can ruin a good ride. Fortunately, small bicycle pumps, known as mini pumps, can help. These small pumps fit easily and conveniently into travel bags or attach unobtrusively to the bicycle frame. While mini pumps come in many different styles and designs, they all function in the same basic manner.
Step 1
Unscrew the valve cover from the valve stem on the tire. Examine the valve to determine if the tire has a Presta or Schrader valve.
Step 2
Unscrew the valve head on the pump. Remove the valve adapter. Identify which direction to insert the adapter into the valve head to accommodate the type of valve on the tire, if necessary. Insert the valve adapter in the proper direction into the valve head. Replace the valve head.
Step 3
Loosen the valve lock nut on the Presta valve, if the tire has a Presta valve, and press the nut down to open the valve. If the pump does not fit a Presta valve, attach a Schrader valve adapter to the Presta valve. There is no need for an adapter with a Schrader valve.
Step 4
Open the locking lever on the pump's valve head if there is one. Press the valve head, firmly, onto the valve stem of the tire. Close the locking lever or simply hold the valve head firmly in place with your hand. Ensure there is a tight seal.
Step 5
Release the T-handle on the opposite end of the mini pump, if the pump has one, and set it to the "T" position. Set the pressure switch, if the pump has one, to either the low or high pressure setting, depending on what pressure is required.
Step 6
Pump the handle of the mini pump in and out with a steady motion. Avoid pumping too quickly, as friction will cause the pump to heat up. Check the pressure, if your pump has a gauge.
Step 7
Release the locking lever and remove the mini pump from the valve when the tire is filled. Replace the valve stem cover on the tire. Close the locking lever and T-handle on the pump.
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