Winter Cycling - What happens to bike tires in the winter?

Do they expand or what?

I took my bike out today after not riding it for 3 days. The last time I rode it, it was rainy and in the 40s. I didn't dry it off, but it stays in the garage, so i figured it would dry alright.

I had bought a new bike pump, so today I noticed that my tires weren't as full as they could be so I decided to fill them a bit more. My tires say they could go from 50-85 psi. There were at about 50psi when I started. I pumped them up to a little less than 80psi. Then when I tried to ride.... the wheels wouldn't move at ALL. I thought it was because my tires were too full and were hitting my fenders, but then I figured that it was because the wheels were hitting the break.

I let the air back out down to 50psi..... and it was better, but the tires were still not completely mobile.

My next thought was to loosen the breaks, but I didn't have the tools on me, and this wasn't a problem the last time I rode it, so I didn't think that should have been necessary. What is the problem? It is a new bike of about one week.

Was it the rain? The cold? The newness? Too much air in the tires? ?????

:mad: Made my shopping trip, no fun at all.

If the wheels are hitting the brake when fully inflated they are too big for the amount of clearance. You will have to go to a smaller tire or a brake designed for more clearance of big tires. If you are a light rider you may be fine with 50psi in the tires if the tire is wide enough.

The difference in tire size from 50psi to 80psi should not be large. So there must not be much tire clearance at all.

What in the world would make you think that tires expand in cold air. Have you never taken a balloon outside in the cold???? If not, go do it now and see what happens to the balloon.

Those described above are the only "special conditions" that I could think of that would make a difference. It was fine last week. I guess I will just taking it back to where I bought it and ask them to fix it as I have no idea what is going on with it.

Have you had a good look for what might be causing the wheel not to turn? Did you take the wheel off the bicycle and put it back on again at any point? These things are probably more of a Bicycle Mechanics issue than a winter issue.

Those described above are the only "special conditions" that I could think of that would make a difference. It was fine last week. I guess I will just taking it back to where I bought it and ask them to fix it as I have no idea what is going on with it.

If the bike is new, either the tire is the wrong size or has a flaw which can make it bulge. OR the bearings in the wheels are bad or were assembled improperly. I would take it back to the shop and have them look at it.

It's a good brand bike, so I don't think it is poorly made. https://www.performancebike.com/bikes/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10052&catalogId=10551&productId=1073698

I guess I'll have to take it back in and have them look at it. arg. Just strange that it just came on randomly.

I get fat in the winter, so why wouldn't my bike tires?

Since the bike is now, I suspect the brakes may be out of adjustment. I'd take the bike back to your bike shop and ask them to look at it.

40-degree weather shouldn't bother the bike at all.

I get fat in the winter, so why wouldn't my bike tires?

You get fat because you do less work and gain weight. However, your tires coincidentally will have to work harder to carry your fatter self so they are working harder and will not get fat.