Where would we be without air in our tyres? We take the pneumatic tyre for granted, but without John Boyd Dunlop’s 1888 patent, we would have horribly bumpy, uncomfortable rides on solid rubber or wooden ‘tyres’ – and drives; imagine cars without air in their tyres? A small historical aside – one Robert Thomson beat Dunlop to it by near-on 40 years, but Dunlop got the thing to market and  changed our lives, so he gets the credit today. Here’s a quick look at how to operate the little valves that make it all possible, part of an ongoing Back to Basics series that will serve as a reminder of the things we might have forgotten, or still need to learn.

Before every ride, it’s a good idea to get in the habit of checking your tyre pressure. Tyres need the right amount of air to function optimally, and getting them to the right psi efficiently can require some finesse. Bike shop owner Mitch Mcleod, walks us through exactly how to pump a bike tyre, so you can keep rolling confidently.

Pick the right bike pump

There are two popular tube valves: A Schräder valve is wider and flat on the end, while a Presta valve is narrower and features a locking nut at the top, which can be loosened to add or release air. An easy way to remember the Presta valve is that you press to let air out.

Mcleod says that a common mistake many new (and even experienced) riders make when pumping their bike tyres is trying to use a Schräder bike pump with a Presta valve, which just won’t work no matter how hard you try.

If you’re unsure which pump to buy, ask for recommendations at your local bike shop. When it comes to bike pumps, you almost always get what you pay for. A little extra investment can give you a more accurate psi reading, a sturdier bike pump, and even easier inflation.

Prepare the valve

We will focus on Presta valves, partly because most sports bikes in South Africa use them, but also because the Schräder valve (or car valve, as most of us call it) simply requires removing the dust cap, and pumping…

First, remove the plastic cap that might be covering the end of your valve. (Sometimes these get lost; it’s no big deal if yours is missing.) Then—Mcleod says this is a commonly skipped step with Presta valves—unscrew the tiny locking nut at the top. Don’t be shy; the nut won’t fall off, so there’s no need to worry about unscrewing it too much. Give it a couple of taps to make sure it’s moving—you should be able to hear and feel a bit of air come out out. (If you have a Shräder valve, you can skip this step.)

Know the tyre pressure you need

Before you pump, check the sidewall of your tyre: It should list the pounds-per-square-inch (psi) range that your tyre can safely handle. Typically, a road bike tyre can go between 80 and 130 psi, while a mountain bike tyre holds between 25 and 50 psi. Hybrids usually take between 40 and 70 psi. Where your personal psi preference falls within the range for your tyre will depend on your weight and riding style—play around with it and figure out what you like, or you can use our handy guide here.

Attach the pump correctly

Fit the pump head onto the valve. Pumps will have either a switch that flips down or up, or an internally threaded screw top. Both systems serve to keep the head in place as you start pumping, which ensures that air actually goes into the valve instead of leaking out while you pump.

If air seems to be coming out of the pump and not into your tyres, you may need to readjust the pump head slightly. Just detach and reattach to reset the seal.

Pump to the optimal pressure

Using the gauge on your pump to guide you, pump the tubes up to your optimal pressure. And use your upper body and core to pump. Squats are great for building leg strength, but they aren’t required for bike maintenance. Let your arms or even your abs do the work—it can seriously feel like a mini workout.

Go ride!

Once you’ve pumped your tyres to the pressure you want, simply flip the switch on the pump head so it pops off, and retighten the locking nut before you replace the valve cap. Then, as Mcleod so aptly puts it: “Go shred.”