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How to Inflate a Bike Tire

Inflating a bike tire can be a frustrating task. Several things could go wrong. Once you fill the tire, all the air you just put in it could leak out. You could over-inflate it and pop the inside tube. But, if you do it correctly, you shouldn't have these problems. The right inflation will make a bike ride more enjoyable. The following steps will help you inflate a tire correctly.

Instructions

- 1
  Find a bike pump. The bike pump could be manual or attached to your cigarette lighter in the car and pump automatically.
- 2
  Unscrew the small black top on the valve. Place the small black cap in a safe location where it will not get lost.
- 3
  Place the pump nozzle on top of the valve. You may hear some air escaping. This is okay since you will replace the lost air.
- 4
  Secure the pump nozzle. Some nozzles have a black or silver nozzle lever that starts in the upright position and is pushed down to a 90 degree angle. This secures the pump to the tire valve.
- 5
  Begin pumping. If you are using a foot pump, stand upright and inflate. If you are using an electric pump, turn the machine to "on."
- 6
  Inflate the tire to the manufacturer's recommended pressure. This will be printed on the tire wall.

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