Wednesday, September 23

Bicycle Wisdom Rediscovered #2

Air Pumps Work Great for Bicycle Balloon Tires...
Big ol' air pumps can be pretty sweet!

Sometimes, we forget that total lack of effort can be WONDERFUL. While I don't disagree with my earlier statements about floor pumps, such as here, in a place like Ocean Shores, MORE POWER to fill up bigger and wider tires can be REAL NICE. Hence, I recently rediscovered just how nice it can be to have a big air tank in the garage, ready for refilling a tire with no notice at all.

Floor pumps are fine for road bikes, with their itty bitty tires, and even for other types of tires, in preference to a 12 volt electric pump, but it's really NICE to fill up a wide, 26 inch tire in seconds, without any pumping effort.


8 comments:

Khal said...

Yep. Got one too.

GreenComotion said...

When there are more tires to be inflated, having an electric option might be good for lazy people like me, but I use my floor pump more often than I use the electric.
I don't have a sophisticated air pump, but only a 12V inflator, which works okay for the car tires.
Not sure which option I would choose to use on a motorcycle though.
Peace :)

Khal said...

I have a small compressor in the garage that I use for cars and motorcycle. Rarely use the compressor on the bicycle tires because I leave it at room pressure (it has a slow leak so it would be running every few hours) so I would have to let it pump itself up. Its just as convenient to use a decent volume bike pump like the Park PFP series.

Steve A said...

My pump has a big reserve tank with no leaks and a simple flip lever if I want it to run. Its only downsides are that it'll only pump up to 80 or so and it won't pump Presta valves which leaves me to get reacquainted with the floor pump when the fixed-gear bike needs air.

Steve A said...

12v pumps are mainly good for emergency use. I do keep one in the trunk next to jumper cables.

recumbent conspiracy theorist said...

I have one of those cute little round compressors like the contractors sometimes use. I have to stop by the hardware to get some brass fittings to get it into service. For years I've just used my bicycle floor pump for everything- cars, motorcycles and bikes. Car tires and motorcycles take forever to fill with a bike pump. I don't recommend it.

Steve A said...

I got one of those round compressors last year for use in Texas. I hope it'll deliver enough to top off the RV tires, but haven't tried it yet. THIS Christmas!

cafiend said...

The compressor at work will hit about 115psi on a fresh charge. My home unit might make 95. The floor pump suffices to top off, but the compressor is nice for repairs or tire changes when I have to inflate the tires from nothing.

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