Mountain Biking - need help pumping tires

Hi, I have a mongoose mountain bike around 6 years old. I wanted to start riding it, but I can't put in air into the tires. The thing that is connected to the tube is very small compared to a normal one. I'm not sure what i need to buy to mkae it work. I'd really appreciate if someone could help me.

What?!
"The thing that is connected to the tube..." are you talking about the valve stem?
Maybe you're looking at a presta valve? Can you unscrew / loosen the very tip of it?

If you don't have a Presta valve then maybe the tube is so low that the valve stem sort of got pushed in.

Can you try to pull it out? If the valve stem is too short and you're using a bicycle style pump, you may not have enough length to get a good grasp allowing air to go in. Try pulling the stem out.

http://www.geocities.com/cyqlist/valve.html

Which one does yours look like, Presta or Schrader? If it is the smaller one, Presta, you have two options. The first option is to get a pump that will work with Presta valves or your second option is to buy an adapter you can screw unto the Presta valve to pump it up using a Schrader compatible pump.

http://www.notubes.com/product_info.php/cPath/22_33/products_id/49 - Adapters

I'm guessing he has a presta valve tube.

In cycling, there are two types of valve stems for inner tubes.

Schraeder is the one that you are most used to seeing. They are bigger, the ends are threaded and there is a spring activated relief mechanism inside. These are the type found on most car tires.

The other, is a Presta Valve. Most likely what you have. There is a little tip that unthreads. What you really need is an adapter. Go to most bike shops and ask for a presta/schrader adapter. They're usually about $1 or $2.

You loosen the little tip, push it to make sure the seal is broken, then you screw the adapter on and fill the tire like you normally would.

Here's one as a reference: http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/11968-343_KOOPA9-3-Parts-74-Tubes/Accessories/Kool-Stop-Presta-Valve-Adapter.htm

it is the one on the left. http://www.geocities.com/cyqlist/valve.html

so yes it is the presta valve

You'll either need to buy a new pump or an adapter.

would they sell the adapter at sportmart?

If Sportmart carries Presta tubes, they should at least have Presta pumps.
The adapter may be a little harder to find. A local bike shop is more likely to carry those.
I bought a small pump that fits presta and schrader valves for less than $20.

My bike shop in Houston had a container with a 150 of those adapters in them for about $1 each. They gave me four of them free when I picked up my new NRS a couple of weeks ago. The bike shop near you will probably have some.

My bike shop in Houston had a container with a 150 of those adapters in them for about $1 each. They gave me four of them free when I picked up my new NRS a couple of weeks ago. The bike shop near you will probably have some.

$1?! My LBS sold them to me for $3.50. :mad:

thank you all. I jus bought one and filled my tires up and then while riding, my back tire popped... o well, i guess I'm buying a Schraeder, just incase i lose the adapter. thanks again.

i would just get a new tube on a 6 year old bike and not have to go through all of this.

make sure the schrader fits into the hole in your rim, if not you could always drill it out.