Using a bike pump

[GrassyRidge]

I know, this seems like such a basic thing, but I can't seem to do it right. I bought a bike withe the thinner stems on the wheels, the kind you screw out the little brass part and then put this pump on. Then I bought a nice stand up pump that you push on the valve and pull back the thing to lock it on. (I know these are not real good technical terms, I'm hoping you can follow me). At my LBS they said I needed to check my air and top it off before every ride but I"m afraid I'm doing more damage than good.

I've been struggling with this pump for about 4 months, I pinch my fingers releasing the clamp to get the pump off, it's so high pressure it snaps back on me. Sometimes I don't get it on all the way and the air doesn't go all the way in. Most recently I managed to knock my bike over with the pump clamped on, I bent the valve on my tire, and in trying to straighten it broke the skinny end off.

So, my question is, do you have any tips that will make pumping my tires easier? Can I replace my valve myself, or do I need to visit my LBS?

I freely admit I find it embarrassing to admit how inelegant I am with a bike pump, that seems like such a basic thing to be able to do!

[MommyBird]

I did the same thing to one of my tubes. Bent and broke off the inner part of the stem. Rode the bike after I did it but my husband replaced the tube when I told him.

For some reason the pump head tends to shoot off the stem when my husband fills tires and he uses a special hand position to keep from getting his fingers smacked against the spokes. When I fill tires this shoot-off thing does not happen so I have not had to learn his special trick. Too bad, because it sounds like you would benefit from it if I could pass it on.

What I do to remove the head is wiggle it slightly from side to side and it gradually loses its hold and just falls off with a whoosh. Maybe that would work for you since the same pump that explodes off for my husband falls off gently for me.

To put the pump on I put my left forefinger and thumb around the tire and steady the head of the pump on the stem. With my right hand I press against my left for stability as I flip the lever with my thumb. This seems to help as I have not bent a stem since adopting this technique.

I am sure you will get better and easier to understand info from some of the more experienced riders. I am just a newbie who has finally made friends with the pump.

[OakLeaf]

Put the valve stem at 12:00 so you can pull the pump head straight up onto it from underneath.

Tap the valve stem until you hear a little air come out, to break the seal on a Presta valve, before attaching the pump head.

As far as the pump head lock, what kind of pump is it (brand and model - or can you link to a picture)?

Presta valve cores are technically replaceable, but they may be hard to find. They just screw in. If the outer stem itself is bent, the tube is toast, unfortunately, and you also want to make sure the tube didn't get cut by the rim when it went crooked - that's a fairly common failure area for tubes.

[WindingRoad]

Put a little grease on the head of your pump. I had a pump that was ridiculous to get on and off like that so I put a little vaseline on the head of it and it was much easier after that. I've accidentally broken the tips off presta valves and continued to use them, didn't seem to bother anything, they still held air just fine so i just used it.

[katherine]

I have no useful tips to offer, but I sure am glad you asked becasue I learned some new tricks. Don't feel bad, I too have a terrible time with bike pumps, thanks for speaking up GrassyRidge!

[GrassyRidge]

It's the Bontrager turbocharge wsd floor pump.

I did ride after breaking the tip off and the tire did fine. I haven't tried pumping it up without the tip yet, but will this weekend. I'm hoping to make it to my LBS this weekend, but it's 45 minutes away, so not a casual trip.

Thanks for the tips ladies, I'm going to try them on my next ride and see how they work for me. I'm starting to avoid my pump since it 'bites' me everytime I use it!

[tulip]

WSD pump?? Is it pink??

As Oakleaf said, the "skinny" valves are called Presta valves.The "fat" valves are called Schraeder valves. She gives very good instructions for pumping up tubes. Use the gauge on the pump to inflate to the correct pressure. I have not had luck pumping up a tube of which I have broken the tip. I figure they are lost causes, but I'm happy to be wrong about that.

When you do go to the bike shop, pick up a few extra tubes. You should carry one with you on rides, and since you live a ways away from the bike shop, it's more convenient to stock up when you are there.

Store your tubes in ziploc bags with baby powder. Here's how: Go outside. Take the tube out of the box. Unfold it. Sprinkle a mess of powder on the tube (doing this in a bucket would be helpful) and smooth the powder all over the tube. Fold the tube back up and put it in a ziploc bag. Do this for all your tubes. Keep at least one in your seatbag, and keep the others with your other bike stuff, wherever that is.

Powdered tubes don't stick when folded and are easier to install should you need to change a flat. They also smell like fresh babies.

[maillotpois]

WSD pump?? Is it pink??

Snort! Exactly what I was wondering!!

[ny biker]

I'm stuck on "they smell like fresh babies." I keep thinking - as opposed to stale ones?

But then I'm kind of punchy right now...

Trying to be useful -- I do the same as Oak in terms of keeping the stem straight, except I put the stem at 6:00 instead of noon.

Also if it continues to be really hard getting the clamp closed/on the stem and open/off the stem, it might help to take the whole shebang to the LBS and ask them to walk you through it a few times, to see if they can help you get the hang of that particular pump.

[Jiffer]

I felt like a bike pumping moron for a long time. I, too, thought it should be a simple enough thing to master, but no ... it wasn't. Luckily I had a husband to help me master it ... eventually. I felt stupid every time I asked him for help. Usually I figured it out, sometimes immediately, sometimes after a few tries, but sometimes I had to ask him for help if he was around, which I hated doing. But alas, I DID master the bike pump!!!

One of the things I used to do wrong was not getting the pump clamp (or whatever it's called!) far enough onto the valve. I guess I was afraid of damaging the tube or something. When I started really "pushing" it on there, pumping started going way easier.

When I pump my tires, which I do before every ride, as your LBS suggested ... I put the valve at the top of the tire, at the 12:00 position, as someone else suggested. I use my left hand to push the pump end onto the valve with my thumb over the tire and the rest of my fingers under the pump. I quickly push it up and lock it. After pumping, I just pull it off quickly, so as not to let too much air out.

Seems like I learned something about hearing the air come out of the tire as you push the pump end onto the valve. Like when you hear the air coming out, you know it's on far enough, so that's when you clamp it ... and the air stops coming out. It's just routine now, whatever it is I do, so it's hard to think it through without doing it. I'll pay attention the next time I do it and see if I can come up with any more specifics for you, especially about the air thing I just mentioned. I know how frustrating it can be to master, so I'll do my best to help you achieve success! Hopefully your LBS guys will be able to help you by showing you. I just know it seemed to take more than dh showing me ... several times even ... before I "figured it out". The way he explains something may not be the way I need to learn it. He may leave out a key point that he assumes I know, and they may do the same.

[GrassyRidge]

LOL, it's not pink, I promise. It was something about being lighter or easier to pump that made it WSD.... I think it was probably a lot of hype, but one way or another I needed a pump!

I do know in the beginning I wasn't pushing it on the stem far enough, there may have been quite a few rides when I didn't actually get air in the tires. I do know now pressure actually registers on the gauge when I get it on. I'm gonna try the 12 o'clock thing, that makes sense to me when I think it through and may help me get in the right place, and get it on straight.

Thanks ladies, you are wonderful!

[MommyBird]

I pump my tires every time I ride too. They can always use at least a pump or two.
I also keep my bike on the wall rack while I pump. Keeps it steady and easier to reach.
It seems like our pump will bite but it never does.
We have a Topeak, JoeBlow Pro right now.
Hubby has worn out many brands over the years. Some he complains about, others he loves and is depressed when he can't get an identical replacement.
I think he will be neutral about this one as it has that blow-back thing I described in my earlier post. But I think it is user-error, not the pump.

[Jiffer]

We have two Specialized pumps. Whatever their good one is. The first one eventually had some kind of a problem, so dh got a new one, but then found out the first one only needed a part changed on it, which they sent him for free I believe. It's nice to have two. He can take a pump with him to an event and I have the other at home, or to my event. But funny you mention pink ... one of the pumps does seem to work better, at least for me ... so I designated it as MINE and made it clear that it was MINE by putting pink happy face stickers all over it. Hee hee!!!

[Jiffer]

Okay, so I pumped my tires today and paid attention to what I did. The main thing being that, yes, I hear air start to come out of the tire before I close the clamp. It's a super quick thing. You push the pump thing up without being wimpy about it, you briefly hear a bit of air come out and you clamp it shut. That was the key thing that I didn't get for so long. I thought there was something wrong if air came out. Don't want to let all the air out! But it's the opposite. That's how you know the pump thing is as far as it needs to be to get air INTO the tire.

Hope that helps.

[GrassyRidge]

Well, I tried to go on a ride with my son yesterday, at least with my tires you can't pump up tubes with the tip of the stem broken off. My pump pushed the last little bit in and when I took the pump off it went "POP! Shhhhhhh" as the tire totally deflated!

Hopefully when I get to the bike shop they will have time to show me how to change a tube. I've got a list, extra tubes, bar ends, a helmet that actually fits me, and getting the floppy pieces taken off my pedals. Can't wait!