How to choose your bike pump?
On a desert island, a cyclist would probably take two things: their bike and a bike pump! An indispensable accessory, the pump has its place in the workshop as well as out on the road, whatever the discipline.
Punctures, tyre changes, re-inflation or pressure adjustment: the bike pump is called upon constantly. This accessory, in order to last over time and give the best chance of setting up your ride correctly, must be chosen with care.
Bike pump features
Types of pumps: floor pumps, hand pumps, CO2 pumps, suspension pumps
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BIKE PUMPS
Floor pumps
The floor pump is the workshop pump par excellence. It offers efficient inflation thanks to its large air volume while reducing the effort required to reach the desired pressure. Its design makes it pleasant and easy to use: firmly held under the user's feet, it is stable; its comfortable handle provides a good grip while the long hose ensures easy access to the wheel, whether the bike is on the ground or on a repair stand. Finally, the large-diameter barrel and pump body add rigidity to the whole unit. Enabling precise inflation thanks to the integrated gauge, the floor pump most often features several adaptors for multi-compatibility with the main valves on the market (Presta, narrow and unscrewable, and Schrader, larger and similar to car valves). Finally, accessories to inflate balls, for example, may be supplied and broaden the range of applications.
Note that for installing tubeless tyres, new types of floor pump are appearing: they contain a pressurised air reservoir. Once filled manually, this reservoir releases a large quantity of air into the tyre in a fraction of a second. The effect is guaranteed: no more need for a compressor!
Hand pumps
The hand pump is ideal for out on the road thanks to its small size and light weight. The most compact models can measure as little as 15 to 25 cm in length and weigh only a few tens of grams, notably thanks to the use of carbon. These pumps offer great freedom and fit easily in a small backpack, a jersey pocket, or on the bike via a specific mount usually combined with the bottle cage mount.
Even though there are double-action pumps that push air on both the downstroke and the upstroke, hand pumps remain limited in their flow rate and cannot reach high pressures. Such a pump is therefore primarily a back-up solution designed for roadside repairs.
The CO2 pumps
Here, use is child's play. The pump, very small in size, accepts a single-use cartridge. Once pierced, the cartridge instantly releases enough CO2 to reinflate a tyre. The operation is very quick and the bulk minimal, as is the weight. Cartridges can have a smooth or threaded nozzle. Various volumes are available depending on the discipline (Road/MTB).
Suspension pumps
These high-pressure pumps are not intended for tyres, but for adjusting forks and air-sprung shock absorbers requiring a limited volume of air but very high pressures (generally up to 20 bar / 300 psi).
Made of plastic or metal, they feature a very precise gauge and a flexible hose to connect to suspension valves that are sometimes difficult to access.
Which bike pump should you choose?
First of all, it is best to check that the pump in question is compatible with the valves used. The vast majority of current bikes are fitted with Presta or Schrader valves, and Dunlop to a lesser extent. It is rare for an adaptor not to be available to switch from one valve to another.
Next, the air flow rate must be suited to the tyres to be inflated. A road cyclist cannot make do with a single mini-pump to reach the high pressures used in the discipline without exhausting themselves — generally between 7 and 8 bar. For comfortable inflation at home in the workshop, a floor pump, or at the very least a high-pressure hand pump, is the best accessory.
In MTB, with the trend for large-section tyres, a high-volume pump will be very useful. Furthermore, a mountain biker using tubeless or tubeless ready tyres must be able to send a large quantity of air into the tyre quickly to make it "seat" — a sign of an effective fit. The operation is sometimes possible with a hand pump, but not always. In any case, it will be much easier to do with a floor pump.
The accuracy of the gauge also comes into play: some high-volume tubeless tyres, in MTB, can run at very low pressures. A difference of a few psi can radically change the behaviour of the bike! (1 bar = 14.51 psi). Moreover, not all gauges are equal: the larger the dial, the more precise the markings. On a floor pump, it should ideally be placed at the top to remain clearly visible during inflation.
Finally, weight, size and ergonomics must be compared. A floor pump is subjected to heavy mechanical stress: therefore prioritise a sturdy body, in steel or aluminium. Likewise, a metal foot will have a longer lifespan than a plastic one.
The same logic applies to hand pumps: while carbon or plastic reduce weight, the use of aluminium can improve longevity.
Furthermore, the floor pump, necessarily bulky but very functional especially for intensive use, should ideally be complemented by a compact hand pump or, for cyclists and riders seeking maximum speed during repairs and minimum weight, a CO2 pump.
The ideal setup for the mountain biker
A high-volume floor pump, optionally fitted with an additional air reservoir for tubeless tyres, sturdy, stable and with a precise gauge. It is kept permanently in the workshop or in the car.
A small hand pump complements it for roadside repairs in the event of a puncture. Competitors will prefer a CO2 pump in the field, which is faster, but the cartridges are single-use. In the workshop, a high-pressure pump also ensures precise adjustment of air suspension.
The ideal setup for the road cyclist
A high-pressure hand or floor pump capable of inflating to more than 8 bar for the workshop. To take out on rides: a CO2 pump and one or even two single-use cartridges suitable for high pressure (a 16 g cartridge can, for example, inflate to 9 bar).
For occasional or urban cyclists
A basic floor pump allows you to reinflate your tyres from time to time effectively and without exhausting yourself. And for commuting, a small hand pump in your bag will allow you to deal with a puncture.
