The tire pump is an air pump designed for the specific use of filling a tire with air. The tire pump comes with a nozzle that can be attached to the tire valve to inflate the tire. There are several types of tire pumps, but all work by taking in air and pushing the air back out at high pressures to inflate the tires without taking up your whole day. more »

Every cyclist needs a pump, if not several. Identifying the types of pumps available and purchasing the one (or more) that fits your needs is the best way to keep your tires pumped up to pressure all the time. more »

Air pressure is defined by Webster's dictionary as the weight of air calculated by the force exerted per unit area. Although this formula is probably foreign to most people, the uses for air pressure are not. Air pressure is used to blow up tires, pump spray cans and fill gas tanks. It helps sustain the diverse tastes of humanity, and is an essential part of modern life. more »

Pumping up your bicycle's tires is the easiest and most important part of bike maintenance. A properly inflated tire is easier to ride on and more resilient to flats and other damage. Tire tubes use two types of valve stems: Schrader and Presta. Schrader are most common on mountain and recreational bikes. Presta valves are found on road and racing bikes, are thinner than Schrader valves and have a locking nut on the valve stem. more »

Pneumatic pumps are air pumps that are mainly found at gas stations and car repair shops. They are used for inflating car, truck and occasionally bike tires. Unlike other types of compressed-air pumps, pneumatic pumps utilize outside air as opposed to air tanks. When activated, the pumps suck in air and compress it, harnessing the air for use in tires. more »

Any bicycle pump will inflate a tire, but not every pump will inflate every tire. Most cyclists will want at least two pumps: one for a home or shop and a portable pump to take on rides. Identify what's available, purchase the right pumps for your bike and you'll always be prepared to fix a flat tire and inflate to pressure. more »

Pneumatic systems are as diverse as there are applications for them. There is one common thread however that binds them all together, and that is the power of air. Compressed air to be exact is the way that these systems function. A simple bicycle tire pump is a very good example of how compressed air works. The force of pushing the handle down is compressing the air inside of the pump and forcing it to leave the chamber through a small diameter hole. This action creates compressed air by rapidly and consistently decreasing its volume, creating an expansive force of air leaving the chamber that is controllable. more »