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How to
Choose the Right Bicycle Pump
Whether you ride often or little, cross country, on streets,
or over long distances, you should carry a bike pump and
a tire repair kit in case your tire goes flat. Different
types of riding require different types of pumps. Pumps
come in three main styles: mini, frame-fit and floor. Choose
a pump that suits your needs and is compatible with your
bike. Generally, the lighter the better. First consider
the types of riding you will be doing. For road riding,
look for the lightest weight pump that can handle your tire
pressures. For mountain or road racing, look for a design
that you can inflate quickly. For riding near your home,
you might think about a floor model that you can use for
other uses around the house. You should also compare pump
performance. You can measure the amount of work it takes
to operate the pump, the amount of air the pumps pushes
out, and the maximum of amount of pressure the pump can
create in a tire. Therefore you need to consider:
1. Stroke
Force: Measures how hard you have to work to operate
the pump.
2. Strokes
to Inflation: Measures how much pumping you will have
to do to fill the tire.
3. Maximum
PSI Output: Measures the maximum amount of air pressure
the pump can push into the tire.
You should also check for compatibility of the pump with
your bike. Check all the mounting hardware and make sure
it will fit on your bike in such a way to be out of the
way, and that it fits in a position that is out of the way
of other accessories.
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