Biking is one of the most relaxing activities on the planet. You can bike alone or with friends. Not so cool is getting a flat tire. Even worse is losing air every time you remove the bike pump. Frustrating, right? We’re going to walk through together how to remove bike pump without losing air.
Hopefully, you’re in a comfortable location, not in the beating sun or pouring rain. Be sure to move out of the way of other potential cyclists or walkers, depending on location. Check out the following steps on how to remove your bike pump without losing air.
1. Secure Bike
You don’t want your bike falling over on you or away from you while you are pumping air into the tire. Either lie it down on the ground or make sure it is steady with the kickstand down. If someone is with you, your friend can help hold it while you deal with the tire.
2. Check Tire
Because you have a flat, it does not mean the cause is because the tire is out of air. A tear in the tire or a nail may have caused it to lose air. If that is the case, pumping air into it is a waste of time and air.
3. Prepare Pump
Not all pumps work with all tire valves, so fingers crossed you have the right one you need. Go ahead and pump it a few times to make sure you hear the sound of air coming out. If you don’t hear air, your pump may not work correctly. Following are examples of bike tire pumps:
- Hand pumps
- Floor pumps
- Mini pumps
- Foot pumps
- Digital pumps
- CO2 pumps
4. Remove Tire Valve Cap
When you try to remove the tire valve, the cap may be tight. Well-prepared cyclists keep tools with them for these types of emergencies. For most valves, turn the cap clockwise to remove it. Presta valves rotate counterclockwise. Once you remove the cap, lay it somewhere safe nearby.
5. Connect Pump to Valve
Most cyclists know how to do this in their sleep. The pump goes over the valve. It is the nozzle of the pump that covers the valve entirely. You will know it is on correctly when you begin using the pump.
6. Watch Pressure Gauge
Do a few test pumps to see if the tire pressure changes. If there’s no change, try adjusting the pump nozzle to make it more secure over the valve. Repeat test pumps until you are satisfied that the pump will inflate your tire.
7. Push Pump Handle
Now that you know it works, go ahead and push the pump’s handle down, let it come back up, and repeat. You feel ready to know how to remove a bike pump without losing air? We will get there.
8. Pump to Correct Tire Pressure
Look at the tire wall. It will tell you how much air your tire can hold. Now check your tire gauge. Is it close? Is it getting harder to pump? Perhaps it has stopped pumping altogether. What does that mean? You’re ready for the next step.
9. Remove Pump
Now you can learn how to remove bike pump without losing air. Once your tire pressure is where you want it, flip the switch at the top of the pump. Then, while keeping the valve covered, you can tighten the nut that locks onto the valve. If you lose air, it will be minimal.
10. Be Quick!
A fast reaction time when completing step 9 improves your chances of losing very little air. Having the valve cap nearby allows you to replace it and keep the air inside the tire quickly. You did everything right from the beginning. Speed is a crucial component of how to remove bike pump without losing air.
Read also: When to Replace Bike Tires?
Final Thoughts
Sometimes air loss is inevitable when pumping a bike tire. However, you can minimize the amount of air lost. Know your bike in and out, including your tires’ valve type. Knowledge like this, combined with knowing how to operate your tire pump, gives you the best results in learning how to remove bike pump without losing air.
