tyre pressures
toad
Posts: 104
in General Chat
most days i ride to work on my claude butler san remo ( road bike ), it is 12 miles on country roads ...every day before I go i pump my tyres to between 100-110 psi with a decent tyre pump ...... when I get to work the pressure has usually reduced to 70 psi particularly in the back wheel .... this makes the ride home difficult ... the hand pump I have on my bike doesnt seem to be able to get the pressures above 80 . Am I doing something wrong ?
0
Comments
You will always struggle to get much above 80psi with a hand pump.
I keep a couple of spare valve adapters (assuming you've got presta valves on your tires) so that, if I need the really high pressure, I can use the air pump at a garage to pump up my tires to the point where they are rock-solid. Just be really careful and take it in very small doses if you use a tire pump from a garage (I mean, literally, hold the handle to release the air for a split second and no longer), because they are high-volume pressure pumps that can blow up your bike tires so fast that they might just burst if you hold for too long.
Or, you could get those little air canisters from a bike shop that I've seen some people use in races.
As for tyres I never use anything other than Continental.
The best bet is to get a good set of inner tubes and a track pump (for home) and a good mini pump (for out and about). I have a Topeak mini masterblaster and I can get almost 100 psi out of it.
Please bear with me as a novice cyclist...On the rim of the tire the pressure states a max of 110 psi...
But I am hesitant to go beyond 80 as its feels like it could not take much air.
Appreciating the need for firm tyres - has anyone any thoughts or recommendations?
Many Thanks,
Paul
As well as making them roll faster having them fully pumped up makes them more resistant to punctures (so I have been told). I run them with less pressure in winter or wet weather as it improves the grip.
Mike
I do check the pressure regularly, especially in the summer, to avoid the blow outs!
I was once told that the tire makers posted maximum pressure errs on the side of caution and you'd be ok to put a bit more in....think I'm just going to stick to 120!!
In terms of punture resistance due to higher pressures, think that might just apply more to mtbs to stop pinch flats from rocky surfaces
Maybe it was a bit too old, or factory default!??
Since taking this approach I haven't suffered a puncture (I had 3 before the blow out in the space of 6 weeks whilst training).
I do have to qualify this by adding I have a sh*te bike at the moment with equally low quality tubes etc.
Anyway, with both of these sets of tyres allowing 150psi max I always inflate to the limit, training or racing. You lose a few when you disconnect the pump, gain a few when the tyres get warm when riding. Mid-summer I'll back off 10 psi in a race to allow for sun-warming in the transition area.
I always let a bit out after riding, just in case the temperature goes up in the car / garage / wherever. Anyway, there doesn't seem much point in stressing the rubber and valves unless I'm on board. I don't deflate by much, though (down to about 100psi), because I don't want to wear anything out through temp/pressure cycles.
Does this sound sensible? I've always thought that with road tyres harder is better.