Part 0800.0005

[Bramble]

Just wondered if anyone has any recommendations, please. These seem to range in cost from £1 up to (almost literally) whatever you want to pay and I'm wondering what the more expensive ones do that the cheapies don't?

I'm also wondering why I can't simply use my good old foot pump (for cars etc) when at home, this seems to be the quickest option?

Very bemused by it all!

[majorbloodnock]

Depends what you want to achieve. The more air a pump shifts, the quicker it'll inflate the tyre, but if it shifts too much air, it may be difficult to judge when to stop (hence why garage air lines are a bad idea). It may well be that your foot pump is OK for your bike when you're at home, and a quick experiment will tell you immediately. If not, and you want something at home to pump up tyres quickly, then get a track pump such as this. Although they can get pretty expensive, you don't need to spend much, since all are pretty adequate unless you're getting really serious in your cycling and wanting to change tyres on a regular basis.

 

If you want something to carry with you and you have a backpack, I'd strongly recommend something like this. Hand pumps are often tiring not because of the amount of pumping but because of the action, where you're pushing with one arm whilst trying to keep the other end still with the other arm. This one has the same action as a track pump, so you're pushing against the ground, so feels much more natural to use. It has the added benefit of a pressure gauge so it's not just an emergency bit of kit. You might even feel it's sufficiently easy to use that you don't need a separate pump at home, too.

Edited September 16, 2011 by Guest

[Bramble]

Thank you very much Major, very informative, I shall pootle off to investigate your links now!!! Thanks again!