A bicycle pump is an important accessory that is used to fill bicycle
tire tubes with air. The floor fit pump, the frame-fit pump, and the
mini pump are three common bicycle pump styles. Floor pumps are
manual pumps that are used for routine maintenance. Spring loaded
frame-fit pumps are also manual; they are only used on road bikes that
feature a pump peg. These are convenient when the cyclist needs to
carry a pump along on the bike, and they pump more air per stroke than the
smaller mini pumps. Mini pumps are the most lightweight pump
style.
They include high pressure road bike mini pumps as well as lower pressure
mountain bike tire pumps. The downside to using a mini pump is that
it takes a great deal of effort to inflate a tire to the correct pressure.
Many pumps include built-in air pressure gauges, but a separate gauge can
be purchased if needed. It is important to purchase a pump that is
compatible with your bicycle tube valves, so you may need to research
compatible brands before purchase. Schrader and Presta are the two
most common tube valve types.