But now it offers one of the smartest too. Specialized already makes a very good floor pump. Gauge is consistent and precise, but not accurate.For mini pumps, we tested tire pressure after 200 strokes, the limit of our collective forearm strength. For the floor pumps, we counted how many strokes it took to get to 20 psi in a mid-width, 29-inch mountain bike tire, as well as 80 pounds in a 700 x 28mm tire. We pumped skinny tires, fat tires, gravel tires, and everything in between. We’ve spent hours inflating and deflating tires, pushing our forearm strength to the limit to see how these pumps perform. The gauges on these pumps typically have large, easy-to-read markings in one-psi increments that make it easy to dial in a precise tire pressure. However, most struggle to inflate tires to more than 60 psi.

High-volume pumps, on the other hand, move a large amount of air with each stroke and are made for filling fat tires very quickly. These will max out between 160 and 220 psi. Generally speaking, if you ride tire pressures higher than 60 psi, you need a high-pressure pump. High-pressure pumps move a smaller volume of air with each stroke and are better suited to filling skinny road tires.

Simply press the head to the valve, lock it on, and start pumping. → Adjustable: This style automatically adjusts itself to fit presta and Schrader valves without any extra steps. → Twin: This type of head has two individual ports: one for presta and one for Schrader valves. However, the head’s internals must be reversed-it takes a few seconds and doesn’t require tools-to switch it from one style to the other. → Swappable:This also has all the parts needed to inflate a presta or Schrader valve. Most modern pumps are designed to work with both main valve types, and some come with adapters for things like sports balls and pool floats. Join Bicycling All Access for more gear advice and tips Still, because you never know where your riding will take you, we included a few pumps in our roundup that come with an adapter for this type of valve. It’s usually found on city bikes, but is rarely seen in the U.S. → Dunlop: The less-common Dunlop valve, used in parts of Asia and Europe, looks like a wider presta valve.

This type of valve can be inflated using an air pump at a gas station. It’s wrapped in rubber, threaded at the end, and has a pin in the center that can be depressed to add or release air with a spring to keep it sealed. The Schrader valve is wider than the presta type and the same circumference from tip to rim. → Schrader: Think car tire, mountain bike tire, beach cruiser, and most kids’ bikes. The smaller diameter of this valve compared with a Schrader type reduces the size of the opening in the rim, which makes for a stronger wheel. Presta valves are typically found on road and performance bikes because they’re able to hold higher air pressures. It’s usually threaded from tip to rim and has a knurled nut at the end that must be unscrewed (opened) in order to add or release air. → Presta: This is the long, thin valve that tapers at the top and is made entirely of metal.

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