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Road Cycling - tyre pressure without a gauge

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PeterM

07-13-04, 06:16 AM

Gday

Just wondering if anyone could give us a guide to testing if your tyre pressure's roughly right without a gauge? I've got a floor pump with a broken gauge and a minipump with no gauge.

Apparently my tires have 102psi max pressure (michelin dynamics).

Cheers, Pete.

jfmckenna

07-13-04, 07:04 AM

I don't think you can. Well I know I can't anyway. I always pinch my tires before a ride and if they are not too low just hit the road. But on the occasion that I decide to fill them, usually once a week and definatlly before a race, I am always surprised aat how off my guesst is...

townandcountry

07-13-04, 08:01 AM

Same here. I just pump until I can't get anymore air in the tires.

Addicted2cyclin

07-21-04, 09:24 PM

ok fist off ALWAYS check your pressure before every ride. I ride a Tourmalet by Lemond and i put 120 psi in my tires, which is the max. Just get a guage and fill the tire up to right psi then feel the tire. REMEMBER next time what the tire felt like so you can fill it up with no gauge. by the way bike tires can USUALLY hold more air then they say. hope this helps.

operator

07-21-04, 09:27 PM

Guages are cheap, like three bucks at walmart for one.

allgoo19

07-21-04, 10:25 PM

Well, Walmart gauges won't go 100 or 120psi. They are usually for general use go up something like 60 or 80. On top of that, they don't sell presta.

This is the one I use and not that expensive($10.-, on sale), and give you a peace of mind.
http://www.performancebike.com/shop/profile.cfm?SKU=427&subcategory_ID=5412

Tom Pedale

07-21-04, 10:34 PM

Guages are cheap, like three bucks at walmart for one.

During my racing days (a hell of a long time ago) there were always guys around during the pre-race preparation who claimed they could determine tire pressure by "feel". Since I always had a guage, I would verify with my guage what they thought the tire was pumped up to. I never found anyone who was closer than 10 psi and about 8 of 10 guessed that the tire pressure was higher than it actually was.