Nothing can ruin a bike ride like a flat tire. While a crash of course is far worse, a flat is just downright annoying and frustrating because it is fairly minor but yet just enough to get you off the bike. Now Benjamin Krempel has developed a system that could keep you riding instead.
The PumpTire system consists of a tire, an inner tube that clips into it and an air valve. The concept is a different as clincher tires are from tubular tires. Basically the PumpTire is designed to automatically pump air into the inner tube by actually using the compressive effect when the tire rolls. To ensure that it doesn’t just keep inflating, the tube stops pumping when the desired pressure is reached.
Video after the jump
httpv://youtu.be/rMmZnzG9QqI
Essentially the system works by drawing in air from a one-way valve, which is located where a normal valve stem would be located, but instead of the air going into the inner tube it goes into a smaller outer tube running along the center of the tire. This outer tube is compressed against the ground, which compresses the lumen, sending air into the inner tube. It in turn creates a vacuum and continues to draw in air. It is the valve that must sense when the ideal pressure is reached.
This system means that riders won’t have to check their tires before a ride, and riders of a 26 inch wheel could keep their pressure at about 65psi, while a 700c x 28 mm wheel for performance riders might be set from 65 to 96 psi. While still in final development, PumpTires is taking pre-orders. But we’d say to Benjamin and the team, no pressure at all guys.