Sep 03 2008
Mountain Bike Tip: Pumps
When mountain biking, it is important to always carry a pump with you. As was previously mentioned, it is essential in any biking situation. Flats are a fact of life when dealing with biking, whether that may be road biking or serious downhill thrills. When looking for a pump, there are a few things that are extremely important, particularly that of size and functionality. Although it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to pick out a pump, getting the right one for the job is definitely worth it.
For starters, it is absolutely necessary that the pump selected is lightweight and small. A larger pump hanging off of a bike is not desirable, since that can fall off easier and get caught on brush—all besides the fact of added weight and decreased aerodynamics
The second thing to consider is the functionality of the pump. Most road tires must be pressurized to a PSI of over 100. Most hand pumps will not even get close unless the biker can bench 500 pounds and curl 100 pounds. At that point, the pump will probably be in two pieces anyway. Make sure that the pump acquired suits what it is to be used for. If that is mountain biking, a normal bike pump will most likely do. If it is a road bike, then a more appropriate pump will be necessary.
