Can someone tell me what converter would work with a garage air pump, to pump my bike tyres?
Someone mentioned an eBay link recently, but I cannot find it!
I have an old bicycle - nothing fancy.
How to Use Garage Pump for Bike Tyres?
check on 23/09/2019 - 13:14
Comments
@Frugal Rock
Which valve type do you have? Google Schrader valve.
Thank you, that is helpful.
Mine is a Schrader valve.
I know what to look for now.You should be able to pump them up as is, but be aware many will have warnings not to fill bike tyres and some attendants might actually tell you to stop. It's quite easy to overfill a bike tire and have it explode in your face so be careful.
The attendants also don't like people messing around with the air too much because the same compressor often runs the LPG system (air is pushed into the tank to force the LPG out). If the pressure drops too much it temporarily shuts off and people can't fill up.
@ssquid: If the system can’t cope with pumping up a tyre or two then t need an upgrade, not tut-tutting users.
@Euphemistic: It handles pumping up a car tyre to ~30PSI fine.
It doesn't handle someone messing around repeatedly pressing the "flat tyre" button, which is the only way to inflate a bike tyre because they can't trigger the machine's auto-inflate sequence.
Presta valves will need an adapter, Schrader valve is identical to a car tyre, no adapter necessary.
Presta valves are typically only on Road Bikes and typically use far higher pressure than a car tyre.
For Manual Air hoses (does any garage still have manual?) just blank off the other side with your Thumb and squeeze the trigger to fill.
For auto Air Hoses, dial in the desired pressure and fill.Tubes for Mountain Bikes are using Presta valves now. At least they do with the tubes I am purchasing.
Tubes for higher spec mountain bikes use presta, and all other styles too. Low end models typically stick with Schr… car valves.
Please be aware that many modern gas station pumps only go up to like 60 psi, this is handy if you are using a BMX or 26 x 1.75, but if you are running with a 700c x 25 you may be wanting 100 - 120 psi.
Those pumps are 'enough' to get you moving until you find a pump capable of > 100 psi.
Be careful if you want to use one of those set pressure units. I haven’t used one yet, but imagine they deliver a lot of air fairly fast so be ready to disconnect quickly. Sometimes they have a ‘flat tyre’ setting you need to use, and hey probably have a sign saying no bikes.
Anything with a hand control should be ok, but only give it little bursts of air and check how firm the tyre is before adding more. Short burst, like aboutr a second initially.
As above, it would be very easy to over do it and end up with a loud bang and a walk home.
Which valve type do you have? Google Schrader valve.