Without a doubt, the bicycle part that requires the most maintenance is the tire. It's also the one that just about everybody can maintain. Tires need filling on a regular basis, so it's imperative that every rider has a means of inflating them. There are plenty of options when choosing an inflator. The technology involved in bike tire inflators is not complicated, and selecting the right one for you only requires a little information.
Floor Pumps
A floor pump is the most common type of bike tire inflator. After attaching it to the tire by its valve fitting, it is utilized by standing the pump on the floor, stepping on the foot piece and pumping air by raising and lowering the top piece. This motion sucks air into the unit, then forces it into the tire tube through its valve. A less common type of floor pump is foot-operated: it opens and closes like a clam shell as the foot depresses and releases it. These are less popular because they are somewhat wobbly.
On-board Hand Pumps
The on-board hand pump is designed as an emergency pump, meant to be brought along on bike rides. It mounts to the bicycle frame and generally stays out of the way until needed. It is used in essentially the same way as a floor pump; however, it is held in the hands rather than stepped on for support. They are also smaller and lighter than floor pumps.
CO2 Compact Inflators
The CO2 inflators are ideal as a bring-along items for bike rides. They are the smallest and lightest of the tire tube inflators. They work by utilizing compressed carbon dioxide from small disposable cartridges. These cartridges fit in the inflator device and release the CO2 as the user depresses a trigger. The advantage of these inflators is that they are small and can be stored in a seat bag or jersey pocket. This also eliminates the wind drag associated with mounted pumps.
Electric Pumps
Electric pumps plug into a wall socket or use battery power to pump air into the tire tube. They are heavy and therefore are not brought along on bike rides. Electric pumps are also frequently used to pump other equipment such as balls, pool floats, air mattresses and heavier-duty tires. They can be considered multi-purpose pumps and are not cycling-specific.
Air Compressors
Air compressors are basically larger versions of electric pumps, but they are available in many sizes. They are used in industrial settings as well as in residential garages. They are commonly seen at gas station air-filling machines. Air compressor pumps are very powerful, and are used in industrial applications to power high-speed tools. It's this power that makes them a poor choice for filling bicycle tires. They are difficult to regulate, and can easily rupture a tube or burst a previous patch job.
Valves
There are two types of valves on bicycle tire tubes. The first type is called a schrader valve. It is the most common valve found on entry-level bicycles, car tires and many other common tires. The second type is a presta valve. These are found on higher-end bicycles with better-performing tire tubes. Fortunately, many tire inflators feature valve connections for either type. However, it is a good idea to find out which type of valve your bicycle tires have before shopping for an inflator.
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