Bike pumps - is there a difference?

[Sapphire]

Are there good and bad pumps or are they all pretty much the same?

I have a floor pump that I got at Target many many moons ago. I rarely use it and have always tended to just go to the gas station if I need air in my beach cruiser. The pump sticks on one of the tires and it doesn't want to come off...additionally, its just a lot of work!

Now that I have a road bike, I'd like to not have to do the whole gas station thing. I've been told the co2 cartridges are really only a temporary fix.

So...is there a preferred tire pump out there?

[Owlie]

Yes, there's a difference. DBF and I have a cheapy floor pump from Performance. DBF's family has a more expensive floor pump, and wow--what a difference! (I can't remember the brand name, unfortunately.)

[TsPoet]

Floor Pump - get a good one from a bike shop (REI, performance, wherever) I have a Joe Blow and am happy with it. I really like the ones with the dual head that will either do presta or shraeder without having to change anything. If you have a cruiser that you've been filling up at the gas station, and just got a road bike, I wouldn't be surprised if your bikes have different valves. If your new bike has presta, you'll have to get a presta head.
On the bike - a road morph. they are wonderful little pumps.
http://www.rei.com/product/648089/to...ump-with-gauge

I've always been told to never use car pumps - I think because of the danger of over-inflating.

[Biciclista]

Floor Pump - get a good one from a bike shop (REI, performance, wherever) I have a Joe Blow and am happy with it. I really like the ones with the dual head that will either do presta or shraeder without having to change anything.

If you have a cruiser that you've been filling up at the gas station, and just got a road bike, I wouldn't be surprised if your bikes have different valves. If your new bike has presta, you'll have to get a presta head.
On the bike - a road morph. they are wonderful little pumps.
http://www.rei.com/product/648089/to...ump-with-gauge

.

what she said.

[withm]

Floor pump with the gauge at the TOP of the pump, not at the bottom. Much easier to read.

[hebe]

I started out with a very cheap Lidl floor pump... which bent when it fell over. I replaced it with a Joe Blow that I don't think I could break if I tried.

[HillSlugger]

floor pump with the gauge at the top of the pump, not at the bottom. Much easier to read.

yes!

[OakLeaf]

Most cheap big-box store pumps won't even deliver the pressure that you need for road bike tires.

If you're using the gas station's compressor, BE SURE to put an accurate tire gauge on your tire. DAMHIK... When you get your own pump, you can check the accuracy of your pump's gauge against your standalone gauge; if there's a large difference, check it against two or three other people's gauges and use your instinct and judgment as to what's really accurate.

I take it you need a pump that will easily accommodate both Schraeder valves (the big rubber spring-loaded ones that come on fat tubes like your beach cruiser, same valve type as on cars, motorcycles, and lawn and garden equipment) and Presta valves (the skinny metal screw-type ones that come exclusively on skinny bicycle tubes)?

$35-40 at your LBS should get you a good-enough pump, but ask them what they recommend. Spending much more than that will get you rebuildability, the capacity for super high pressure tubular tires, a certain amount of bling factor . Most inexpensive floor pumps claim they'll work with both types of valves, but some are easier than others. I've had good luck with my Specialized Air Tool Sport.