Inflating the bicycle tube: what you should pay attention to
If you want to inflate a flat bicycle tire, you should make sure that it has enough air. This is the only way to continue driving safely. In this article we explain what you should consider when inflating tires.
Pump up your bike - there are these valves
If the bicycle tube loses air or if you have just changed it, the tube still has to be inflated. Here we'll show you how it's done.
- All you need to inflate a hose is a pump. There are different versions, for example with a manometer that shows the air pressure in the tire, or a pump with different attachments. These are important because bicycle tires have different valves and you have to have the right attachment for pumping.
- There are three different types of valve for hoses, they are called "car valve (or Schrader valve)", "bicycle valve (or Dunlop valve or flash valve)" and the French valve (or Scalverand valve). If you compare these valves directly, the French valve is the narrowest and longest, the car valve the widest and shortest.
- Different types of bikes need different pressure in the tires. A city bike has about three to four bars, a mountain bike about 2.5 bars and a racing bike about 8 bars.
- The optimal tire pressure can also be found on the tire itself. The number can be found in the highlighted letters and numbers on the side of the tire.
This has to be considered when inflating
If you have a suitable pump with a suitable attachment, then the inflation can begin.
- Find out beforehand, in case of doubt on the tire itself, what the air pressure should be. This should be achieved, but not too low or too high. Then, if necessary, place the correct attachment on the pump.
- The first thing to do is remove the cap from the valve. See if your valve may need to be opened before pumping. Put the pump attachment on the valve and snap it into place. In most cases there is a kind of rocker arm. So you have both hands free to pump.
- By pressing the tire by hand, you can test how much you still have to pump. If the tire has reached the desired number of bars, the process is finished. Next, the lever on the pump is folded back and the valve closed if necessary.
- Finally, the cap is screwed back onto the valve. Take a test drive to test the tire pressure.
