One of the most common problem bikers face, especially mountain bikers, is when one/both tires become deflated. This kind of problem is faced by avid/seasonal bikers. The Pump Integrated Mountain Bike (PIMB) addresses this type of issue. PIMB, from its name, is a normal mountain bike that has a built-in pump.

The bike consists of two pumps.

The first one which is in the front powered by the front shock, as illustrated in Figure 1 and 3.

The second one which is located beneath the saddle at the back of the bike powered by the rear shock, as illustrated in Figure 1 and 2.

The front shocks, as can be seen in Figure 1 and 3, will provide air to the tube stretching to the rear which would in turn be used to pump air into the rear tire. The front shock has holes on the bottom sides where a rubber tube comes out and connects along the outside frame of the front fork to a metal tube frame. A second metal tube frame slides inside the first one so when the front shocks are compressed by the biker pressing down on the handle bar, the metal tube collapse inside one another. This feeds air into the back tube.

The rear shock, as can be seen in Figure 2, will provide air to the tube attached to the lower part of the bottom bike frame which would ideally be used to pump air into the front tire. Once the biker has connected the end of the tube to the front tire, he then sits on the chair and moves up and down to compress and release the rear shock. This in turn feeds air into the rubber tube which travels along the length of the lower bike frame to the tire illustrated in Figure 2.

Both the front and rear shocks are tunable, thus creating a scenario where it is easier to push down on the shocks.

The built-in pump would be integrated into mountain bikes, since it gives an easier, faster and more convenient accessibility for the bikers to pump deflated tires. Other applications range from pumping other bikes, car tires, soccer/basketball ball, etc.

As mentioned in the benefits above, there is a large market potential targeted towards all types of mountain bikers, from professionals to recreational. Most PIMB (Pump Integrated Mountain Bike) components already exist in mountain bikes on the market today. The cost added to the bike by integrating the pump system is marginal.

A good mountain bike with a reasonable price would cost around $1000 (Canadian Dollars-CND), more pricey than any ordinary (eg. street, off road) type of bike. Ordinary bikes with basic suspensions cost around (CND) $300 to (CND) $600. The pump system would cost another (CND) $100. A normal pump would cost (CND) $20. The fractional increase in the overall cost of integrating the pump in mountain bikes compared to ordinary bikes would be smaller.

So PIMP it out with a PIMB!