Learned from experience:

I decided to check that I could pump up my tires on my brand new bike as the tire valves looked a bit odd (Presta valves as it turns out - they didn't have them in my day). ANyway I finally managed to figure out how they worked after extensive 'googling'.

Managed to let a some air out my tires while fiddling about with the valves. Took half an hour and another frantic search on the web to find out how to attach my trusty hand pump to them. Started pumping and got to the stage where I could barely budge the pump any more and the tires still had a slightly jelly like consistency. Have ordered a foot pump. New cyclists - be warned!