Originally Posted by jhlst
Please help me! I am trying to get my bike tyres pumped up. I have bought two pumps in two weeks but I just can't work out how to pump them up!!!
I thought it was straight forward just put the pump on the valve and...well...pump inthe air, but no.
Is the pump supposed to clip onto or fix onto the valve in any way**********Mine just don't seem to attach on.
I have a beta mini pump that has a diagram on the back about the two different valves but it does't help. There is s lever and if it's down it's not locked and if it's sticking out it is locked but it doesn't feel any different locked or unlocked.
Please help me as I need to get pedalling!!!!!
At this point you're probably a bit too frustrated, so even Zeus' Own Pump (TM) wouldn't work for you. So calm down just a tiny little bit. And then, if you can, walk down to your nearest LBS (local bike shop) and ask there someone to kindly put you through the ropes regarding the pumps you have vs. the tires/valves you happen to have.
The facts that you'll slowly learn, regard the types of valves, the types of pumps, and how they lock or don't, to these valves. Words like presta, schrader and dunlop...
But for now, just take it easy and try not to hate the world of tire inflation
(and you'll probably learn to hold the valve with one finger while you inflate the tire just enough for the pressure to push the valve out of the rim)