Bicycle Network: Bikes 'n' Bits

Pumps: floor pumps

For home use a floor pump is essential to keep your tyres at the right pressure

Ride On magzine tested floor pumps (AKA track pumps) by providing them to riders on the Great Victorian Bike Ride. At the end of the nine-day ride after being used by 5000 riders there were some clear high-performers in the durability stakes. We also asked riders and the WARBY mechanical support team on the ride to rate the usability of the pumps.

The best floor pumps

Bicycle Network Victoria members can read reviews and comparison of all seven pumps tested by logging in to Blink and browsing the Ride On library.

What to look for

• That the pressure gauge is easy for you to read

• That the gauge has a movable pressure indicator so you can easily see your desired pressure (not essential but it’s a good visibility aid)

• That the pump feels solid and stable when you use it

• That it is easy to attach and detach the pump head to and from the valve

• That the pump is comfortable for you to use

Which one to buy will depend on the type of bicycle you own, or intend to own. For a road bike you need a pump which is quick to connect and disconnect to Presta (French) valves and which will easily inflate a tyre to high pressures up to 120psi.

However, if you will only ever own a MTB or hybrid with Schrader (car-tyre type) valves, and tyres which only need to inflate to 80psi, there are many more pump options out there.