Bicycle Tire Pump - Frame Pump
Bicycle Floor Pump or Electric Bicycle Pump?

Bicycle Tire Pumps on Amazon

Okay, so a flat tire is rarely the end of the world, but it is also frequently preventable! (Unless you are using a "self sealed" bicycle inner tube) All you need to do is include a lightweight, inexpensive pump and tire repair kit with your gear and you can look forward to a day of uninterrupted bliss.

Don't go on long road trips without your trusty bicycle tire pump. I once made that mistake and it was a long walk home carrying my bike across my back!

Background

Bicycle tire pump can be expensive, like the Topeak Carbon Fiber Pump, but they can also be very affordable. Regardless of what bicycle pump you decide to bring on your ride, having one can make the difference between an inspiring day and a day you rather would have just spent in bed.

Full sized bicycle floor pumps, such as the Blackburn AirTower Pump, are great pumps to have at home to fill your tires before a ride. Filling your tires with the proper air pressure (indicated on the outside of the tire) will prevent pinch flats, and will make sure you get the best distance from each pedal stroke.

Smaller bicycle tire pumps, such as the Blackburn Floor Pump is portable enough to slide into the rear pocket of your bicycling jerseys and light enough so that you forget it is there. Because there are so many different types of tire pumps, let's take a closer look at what is available:

Pump	Good For..	Not Good For..	Use
Bicycle Floor Pump	Fast Fills	Your Back Pocket	At Home
Compact Pump *	Portability	Fast Fills	On Road and Trail
C02 Pump	Faster Fills and Light Weight	Price	For Racing, or if Impatient!
Frame Pump **	Faster Fills	Weight	On the Road

Comments:

* It is always good to test a pump out before bringing it on a ride. Some compact pumps require way too much pumping.

** Remember: the longer the handle, the less pumping you will have to do!

Styles of Pumps

Here are some different styles of pumps you may want to consider:

Bicycle Floor Pump

Amazon.com Widgets

Bicycle Compact Tire Pump

Amazon.com Widgets

Bicycle CO2 Tire Pump

Amazon.com Widgets

Frame Pump, Bicycle Floor Pump and Electric Bicycle Pump on eBay

Fixing Flat Bicycle Inner Tubes

Here is a quick list of the things you will need to repair a flat tire on the road:

A dependable pump
Patch kit
Spare bicycle inner tubes
Tire levers

Remember, it is much better to bring these items along with every ride, rather than depend upon someone else who might not have the right tools, or worse - to end up stranded!

Here are some other tips you may want to consider when repairing your tire:

Pick a safe spot to repair the tire - off the road or away from the trail
Determine what caused the flat (glass, nail, etc.) and remove the item
Wipe out the inside of the tire to keep it free of anything that might cause another flat
If the damage is too great, don't waste time becoming frustrated. Just switch the inner tube out with a new one, and repair the damaged one later. Becoming frustrated will just wreck your ride!
Make sure the tube and tire are seated properly in the rim of the wheel - avoid twisted bicycle inner tubes, pinched tubes, or tires that are slightly popped out from the rims.