A bike tool kit is incomplete without a bike pump. Though, there is not much difference in the functionality of the bike pumps available in the market. However, you can be a bit more selective if you are looking for something specific like a portable or a floor standing pump. Here are some points you should keep in mind when you are looking for a bike pump to add to your kit:

Types of Bike Pump:

Bike pumps are categorised on the basis of their portability and ease-of-use. The types of bike pumps that you can look for are:

Frame-Fit – This type of bike pump is designed to attach to the bike’s frame and are ideal for road cyclists. Frame-fit pumps are the saviours when you get a flat tyre miles away from home.

Floor Standing – This is the bike pump you will usually see stored in someone’s garage. Floor standing bike pumps are heavy and bulky so you cannot carry them with your bike. These pumps offer high-capacity and are the fastest in inflating your bike tires. These bike pumps usually feature a pressure gauge and are designed to work with anything that needs to be aired up.

Mini Pumps – This type of bike pumps are smaller and lightweight in comparison to the previous two. These portable bike pumps are ideal for trail and road cyclists. You can also look for a model that can fit your bike’s frame. You need to check the psi offered by these pumps as some may have psi capacity lesser than what is required for a road bike.

CO2 Inflators – This lightweight and minimalist bike pump is designed keeping in mind the requirements of a racer. You can fill your inflated tyres with the CO2 in the pump without any manual work. Once home, you would need to inflate the tyres and re-fill them with air.

It is better if you have a floor-standing bike pump at home and a mini or frame-fit pump for when you are out on a ride.

 

PSI Capacity:

Check the psi capacity that is offered by the bike pumps. An ideal choice would be a pump that has a higher psi capacity than required by your bike. Here is the list of pumps according to the psi capacity of the bike tires:

  • Mountain or Comfort Bikes – 90psi
  • Mountain or Comfort Bikes – 120 psi (fastest inflation)
  • Road Bikes – up to 160 psi

A bike pump is a necessity for every cyclist whether you are a professional or a hobbyist. A lightweight and portable bike pump for the bike rides and a high-capacity floor standing one for your garage is the ideal pair. Keep the above mentioned points in mind while making the purchase and enjoy tension free bike rides.