Bicycle Pump Design Has Changed?

Question

It's been a while since I had a bike. I notice that the design of the valve clamp on the bicycle pump has changed. You pull up to clamp, and press down to release, but it used to be the other way around. What's the practical reason for this change?

Answer 1

It probably started with the portable pumps, which are stored (or mounted on the bike) with the clamp down against the pump in order to be placed out of the way. It then makes sense to make this down position the open position. I also find that having the clamp up during use allows you to get a much better grip on the pump head and valve stem - allows you to keep the seal, pump faster/harder and avoid damaging the valve stem. Incidentally, there are still a few floor pumps that are unchanged from the old days.

Answer 2

I think it's done to make the pump more portable while the lever is in the open position. On my pump it has a cap to keep the mud out of the valve hole. The cap wont go on if the pump is in the clamped position so I think they changed it around.

Answer 3

Different brands and models of pumps use diferent designs of valve clamps, so if the pump you are looking at is different than what you are used to, it is not because designs have changed. There are many different ways a pump can be connected to the valve.

Answer 4

they change all the time

there was never any standard design



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