Tyre pressure

[Chrisc]

Seems I've been unnecessarily flogging myself riding on tyres that I thought were inflated... Trying to use the little ('get you home' as I am now aware) pump supplied with the bike was getting me nowhere so after talking to my bike shop I bought a track pump and now understand just how much air ought to be in there.
Having gone from 25psi to 60psi has made a world of difference as no doubt, you experienced riders would know! Upshot is that this week out on the hills I've climbed every one that previously beat me without having to stop for a rest! Talk about performance enhancers, a bit of air has made me feel like Wiggo!

 

[johnr]

'Pump your tyres up' was the best advice I got as a beginner.... imagine what 80psi would be like!

 

[gaz]

25psi :| thats low, possibly ok for an mtb tyre but i bet it's still lower than recommended on the side wall.

 

[orienteer]

As a cycle instructor, always make this point to beginners. The max pressure is moulded into the tyre sidewall. Use max pressure on the rear, about 30% less for for the front as it carries less weight.

The other crucial factor is saddle height. Should be on tiptoe sitting on the saddle with feet on the ground. The saddle should be level.

 

[gaz]

The other crucial factor is saddle height. Should be on tiptoe sitting on the saddle with feet on the ground. The saddle should be level.

Can't say i agree with that. on modern day road bikes (racers and hybrids a like) and some mountain bikes, you shouldn't be able to put your foot on the ground whilst in the saddle. otherwise your saddle is too low.

Some bikes may allow you to do this due to their geometry and low bb.

 

[Debian]

Can't say i agree with that. on modern day road bikes (racers and hybrids a like) and some mountain bikes, you shouldn't be able to put your foot on the ground whilst in the saddle. otherwise your saddle is too low.

Some bikes may allow you to do this due to their geometry and low bb.

+1

I can't touch the ground at all whilst seated on the bike.

On most MTBs these days due to the height of the bottom bracket you can't, and shouldn't be able to, touch the ground whilst seated. A rule of thumb is to have the leg nearly straight when sitting in the saddle with the heel on the pedal at the bottom of it's stroke.

Sheldon Brown gave good advice on saddle height that worked well for me.

Certainly keep the tyres well inflated unless you have a particular and good reason not to. I use max pressure front and back, slightly higher than max in the rear even, seems to work for me.

 

[longers]

I like mine firm but not rock hard for road riding, almost maximum but not quite.
If the roads were smooth then I'd go for the full amount in.

 

[Banjo]

Seems I've been unnecessarily flogging myself riding on tyres that I thought were inflated... Trying to use the little ('get you home' as I am now aware) pump supplied with the bike was getting me nowhere so after talking to my bike shop I bought a track pump and now understand just how much air ought to be in there.
Having gone from 25psi to 60psi has made a world of difference as no doubt, you experienced riders would know! Upshot is that this week out on the hills I've climbed every one that previously beat me without having to stop for a rest! Talk about performance enhancers, a bit of air has made me feel like Wiggo!

Nice one Chris .Train hard fight easy as they say.

I have been using my heavier fatter tyred hybrid over the winter .Getting back on the road bike now feels great ,probably the same feeling your getting with the tyres pumped up.

I use a 12 volt tyre inflator that plugs into the ciggarette lighter socket on the car. Copes with 110 lb easilly .I use a brass adapter to go on the Presta valves (lbs gave it to me when I bought the hybrid).

We have 6 bikes in the family so even using a track pump is hard going.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

A rule of thumb is to have the leg nearly straight when sitting in the saddle with the heel on the pedal at the bottom of it's stroke.

As above

Some bikes you may be able to touch the ground with tiptoes, others not.

Saddle height from the ground is a complete irrelevence - something that we get stuck with from learning to ride as kids when the saddle has to be lower at first.

Most non-cycling parents never get the saddle raised on their kids' bikes once they have their balance, thus they grow up with this erroneous theory on saddle height (and with the misconception that cycling hurts your legs and knees!)

Ideally, saddle height should be set whilst sat on a bike that is suspended a foot off the ground - that way saddle-to-floor can't interfere with anything!

 

[Chrisc]

Nice one Chris .Train hard fight easy as they say.

I have been using my heavier fatter tyred hybrid over the winter .Getting back on the road bike now feels great ,probably the same feeling your getting with the tyres pumped up.

I use a 12 volt tyre inflator that plugs into the ciggarette lighter socket on the car. Copes with 110 lb easilly .I use a brass adapter to go on the Presta valves (lbs gave it to me when I bought the hybrid).

We have 6 bikes in the family so even using a track pump is hard going.

Yep it's great now! Tyres rate between 50 and 75psi and I was recommended to use 60 which only takes a few strokes from flat. My bike shop gave me a brass adaptor for my woods valves as well but the pump has a dual head which fits them nicely anyway. Also pumps up my motorbike tyres as well!
Hoping to be getting my own road bike before too long now so expect another step up when my bike suddenly weights 9kg instead of 22!
Gonna be up them hills like a rat up a drainpipe!

 

[Bill Gates]

Blimey. Your tyre pressures seem awfully low to me. I put 8 atmospheres (115 psi) in front and rear. When I race this is upped to 140 psi. Mind you the spec of the tyres allows for this level of pressure (provided your rims can handle it)

 

[Chrisc]

Blimey. Your tyre pressures seem awfully low to me. I put 8 atmospheres (115 psi) in front and rear. When I race this is upped to 140 psi. Mind you the spec of the tyres allows for this level of pressure (provided your rims can handle it)

It's a Dutch bike with fat tyres not a roadie so that may explain it?

 

[Chamfus Flange]

Pump to 120 psi then re-inflate if they drop below 100.

 

[gaz]

It's a Dutch bike with fat tyres not a roadie so that may explain it?

That does explain, on the wall of the tyre it should have a max and min, just keep within that and your fine

 

[Chrisc]

That does explain, on the wall of the tyre it should have a max and min, just keep within that and your fine

That's what I've done. Tyre says 50-75 so I've gone for 60.
A friend decided to go to max pressure as marked at 80 on his tyres and the rear exploded in his hallway that evening!