PSI?

[loops]

Hi,

I was chatting to a guy about my bike outside a shop and he said the tyres were soft, this is my first road bike, when I felt the tyres they felt ok, but he said they should be rock hard and that I needed a proper floor pump to gauge the pressure. I've had a look on line and they can be very expensive, I am I right in thinking a 'pump' is a 'pump'? or is there something else I should be looking for when I go shopping for this?

advice please! thanks.

 

[HLaB]

He's right the tyres should be rock solid (to reduce P'tures and also they'll roll better). The rating on the side of your tyres is a good guide, I'm fairly light and I run my tyres at 90-95 psi front and 100-105psi rear but other will run even higher pressures. He's also right a decent floor pump is better, with a hand pump you'll be struggling to get to circa 60psi (unless you've arms like Popeye) with a floor (track) pump you'll easily get to 100psi+.

 

[Tim Hall]

Up to a point Lord Copper. Both my hand pumps can get 100psi no problem. While a track pump is dead handy (I've just bought a new one), the pump I carry on the bike must be able of getting up to the right pressure too, otherwise after I fix a flat out on the road Ill be riding with soft tyres. Pumps on the bikes at the moment are Topeak Roadmorph and Topeak Road Masterblaster. Zefal hPX is also very good.

 

[snorri]

advice please! thanks.

Following advice on this forum, I purchased a track pump, it is the best value for money cycling accessory I have ever purchased.

It makes tyre inflation a pleasure rather than a struggle and I just use my bike mounted pump now for problems away from home.

 

[cyclingsheep]

A wise decision

 

[tyred]

A track pump is an excellent investment, especially for a road bike where pressures are higher but I am of the opinion that some people over-inflate tyres. Rock hard tyres will only roll better on very smooth surfaces and will roll less well on a typical road surface, and on poor road surfaces, they may even cause control issues if you take the pressure to the extremes.

 

[Globalti]

Agreed. A Topeak Joe Blow was the best accessory I ever bought, even my neighbour borrows it for pumping up his caravan tyres. Topeak are excellent with spares as well.

I started road riding with my tyres at 110 to 120 but soon realised that on the roads around here 100 is more comfortable and makes no difference to speed.

 

[Hip Priest]

I made the mistake of trying to pump my road bike tyres up with a regular handpump. Couldn't get it past 60psi despite putting so much effort in that I burned a patch of skin off my left hand and burst some capillaries in my right bicep. Thankfully the kind folk on here pointed me towards a track pump, which is a pleasure to use.

 

[killiekosmos]

Following advice on this forum, I purchased a track pump, it is the best value for money cycling accessory I have ever purchased.

It makes tyre inflation a pleasure rather than a struggle and I just use my bike mounted pump now for problems away from home.

+1. I also carry a few CO2 cylinders to inflate tyrss following a p****ture on the road. Refills cost about £2.50 each. Makes emergency stops very quick (off with wheel, replace tube, check tyre, refit and inflate and off you go).

 

[loops]

Hi thanks people,

Went and bought track pump today not an expensive one but functional! As people have mentioned it made pumping the tyres such an easy job! I used it to pump up my hybrid tyres as well! which felt a much easier ride to work this morning

 

[mustang1]

A track pump is an excellent investment, especially for a road bike where pressures are higher but I am of the opinion that some people over-inflate tyres. Rock hard tyres will only roll better on very smooth surfaces and will roll less well on a typical road surface, and on poor road surfaces, they may even cause control issues if you take the pressure to the extremes.

I used to ride 23mm 120psi. Then I switched to 25mm but stuck at 120psi. Felt fine. Then I was off the bike for a month and when I returned, the 25mm 120psi tires felt too hard and I also had control issues. Maybe they were always there but I only noticed it after spending time away from the bike. Now I inflate to 100psi. I'm a happy camper.

 

[fossyant]

Joe Blows are good. I'm using a 20 odd year old Silca one that's great, but used a neighbours Joe Blow, and it's a doddle. Progress.

 

[darth vadar]

Three cheers for track pumps !!!!!

 

[david k]

i got a halfords own one half price, 12.50! not tried it yet though

 

[Fiona N]

Joe Blows are good. I'm using a 20 odd year old Silca one that's great

I've got an even older one - from 1983 prize for winning a cycle race - engraved and everything Still going strong with some new rubbery bits and tube from the local motor factors.