Bicycle pump
A bicycle pump is a type of positive-displacement pump specifically designed for inflating bicycle tires. It has a connection or adapter for use with one or both of the two most common types of valves used on bicycles, Schrader or Presta. A third type of valve called the Woods valve exists, but tubes with these valves can be filled using a Presta pump.[1]
Several basic types are available:
- Floor models or track pumps
- Frame mounted
- Compact or mini
- Foot operated
- Double action
In its most basic form, a bicycle pump functions via a hand-operated piston. During the up-stroke, this piston draws air through a one-way valve into the pump from the outside. During the down-stroke, the piston then displaces the air from the pump into the bicycle tire. Most floor pumps, also commonly called track pumps, have a built in pressure gauge to indicate tire pressure.
Electrically-operated pumps intended to inflate car tyres (as available in most service stations) can in principle be used to inflate a bicycle tyre if the right type of connection is available. Some such pumps are designed to cut off before a suitable pressure (much higher for a bicycle than a car tyre), and will much underinflate the tyre. Others may not cut off, but deliver a high rate of flow to fill the larger car tyre, with a risk of overinflating and bursting a bicycle tyre unless it is stopped with split-second timing.
Bicycle pump types
There are three main types of bicycle pumps
- Stand pump
- Hand pump
- Foot pump
Stand pump
Also known as a floor or track pump. To operate, the user rests the base of the pump on the floor, resting feet at the base, and pulls and pushes full strokes with handles. An additional tube must connect the pump to the fill valve, which may create dead volume.
Hand pump
There are two basic types: tubed and integral. The tubed type requires a separate tube to connect the pump to the valve. These have the advantage that they are cheap, but are inefficient compared to other pumps. They also have a lot of joints from which air can escape.
Integral pumps have a hole in the side with a rubber washer that fits round the valve. This is frequently compressed on to the valve by an extra lever. Because it is well sealed, rigid and has little dead volume, this type of pump is very efficient. An 8" integral will typically pump faster than an 18" tubed. These type of pumps will run the risk of shredding the tube valves, especially on those with presta valves.
A simple pump has a cupped fiber or plastic piston. On the forward stroke the air pushes the sides of the cup against the cylinder, so forming a seal; it provides its own valve. Then this piston can push the air out of the hole at the far end.
Some of the most efficient pumps are double action pumps. By sealing the piston in the cylinder at both ends they can force air into the tire on both strokes.
Pumps can be fitted to a bracket on the bike frame, either a clamp on, screw on, or a braze-on peg, or they can be carried in a pannier or other bag on the bike, or they can be carried by the rider in a backpack, pocket, etc. Pumps carried on the bike are often fairly small to reduce weight. Because of their size, the volume of air that these pumps can provide is somewhat limited compared to a floor pump, so quite a lot of pumping may be needed.
Foot pumps
These pumps are often not specifically designed for bicycle use. They do not generate very high pressures so do not work well for narrow road-bike tires, but are fine for large low-pressure tires as found on mountain bikes.
Because they are designed for cars they fit schrader valves. If the bicycle has presta valves a small brass reducer is required in order to use the pump.
CO2 Inflators
Gas-filled cylinders for bicycles have an unclear history but appear to have appeared between the two world wars. One story says they were made "by a rider after watching a café proprietor charge up the glass of beer he had ordered from a bottle of carbon dioxide."[2]
The pumps generally used liquefied gas that could not be replaced at home. A later version, which had more success, used a cartridge sold originally for drinks syphons. A lever broke the cartridge and enough gas escaped to pump up a tyre.
Modern gas pumps are often used by mountain bike or road bike racers who need to save weight, and to save time if they puncture during a race. They can be a one-time pump or a pump that can be fitted with a replacement cartridge. Most pumps use carbon dioxide and standard-threaded 16g CO2 canisters. Carbon dioxide leaks out of a rubber inner tube more rapidly than air - despite its larger size, the CO2 molecule is slightly soluble in rubber and a tyre may go flat within a few days.
Electric pump
12 volt air compressors made for automobile tires are also compatible with bicycle tires. A portable jump-starter for automobiles can sometimes be used to power these types of pumps. Even non-standard DIY 12 volt electric systems that are primarily for bicycle lighting are sometimes used to power these pumps when cigar lighter receptacles are installed. A main advantage to electric pumps is that recent ones take up less space than hand or foot pumps which makes them suitable for well-equipped bicycles with DIY 12 volt electric systems to use when basket space is of the essence.
Tire pressure
The pressure rating of tires is usually stamped somewhere on the sidewall. This may be in "PSI" (pounds per square inch) or Bar. The pressure rating could be indicated as "Maximum Pressure," or "Inflate to . . . " and will usually give a range (for example, 90-120 PSI, or 35-60 PSI). Inflating to the lower number in the pressure range will increase traction and make the ride more comfortable. Inflating to the higher number will make the ride more efficient and will decrease the chances of getting a flat tire but a firmer ride must be expected.
See also
References
- ↑ Sheldon Brown's Bicycle Glossary W
- ↑ The Bicycle, UK, 30 September 1942, p6
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bicycle pumps. |
| |||||||||||