Road Cycling - Tire pressure

I'm having a hard time pumping up my tires. I can't seem to get enough pressure in there with my pump to keep the tires from bulging when I ride them. I'm using a hand pump, but after a certain point, I can't get anything past the prestas. Any hints?

Use a floor pump. Also, tap the presta valves to break the seal on the valve before you start pumping.

I'm having a hard time pumping up my tires. I can't seem to get enough pressure in there with my pump to keep the tires from bulging when I ride them. I'm using a hand pump, but after a certain point, I can't get anything past the prestas. Any hints?

Yeah, get a floor pump! Hand pumps are not made for daily use and you'll save yourself a lot of effort.

I like the Silca models. Look in the back of your LBS, there's a good chance there's an old Sica pump back there that they use every day.

-murray

Get a floor pump with a PRESSURE GAUGE...

Get a floor pump with a small diameter barrel. The large diameter ones are for rapid pumping at low pressure (mtn bike tires).

Get a floor pump with a small diameter barrel. The large diameter ones are for rapid pumping at low pressure (mtn bike tires).

That reminds me of another bit of advice: Take the pumps your trying over to the rack of bikes and try it out on a couple tires. Remember that 90% of the time you're "topping off" the pressure, not pumping it up from flat. That's one of the issues I have with pump comparisons that I’ve seen, they usually list number of pumps to fill the tire from flat.

With my Silca, it’s about 3 pumps to top it off and I’m ready to go.

-murray

Do NOT get a Bell floor pump if you have anything but lowpressure tires! Even my mountain bike I run at 90lb/psi and even that because my Bell leaks so much I can't pump it higher. I'd take it up to 95, but...the leak's too fast. I have to work like a hoss to get it even to 90.

On the other hand, though, it retrofits to inflate the mouth-valves on pool toys...and works very well at low pressure. The leaking doesn't start until 70lb/psi

I'm having a hard time pumping up my tires. I can't seem to get enough pressure in there with my pump to keep the tires from bulging when I ride them. I'm using a hand pump, but after a certain point, I can't get anything past the prestas. Any hints?

I run STACKS of pressure (about 155psi), and, even though I have a Silca floor pump, I actually find it easier to get the most pressure out of my size 3 Zephal HPX frame pump.

I have 3 of the Zephals (sizes 2, 3 and 4) for my different bikes, and (this may sound silly) the size 3 is the easiest to get heaps of pressure out of.

It does require a bit of strength; are you not that strong?

Also, tap the presta valves to break the seal on the valve before you start pumping.

What do you mean by this? I've been having trouble getting enough pressure in my tires, too (can't seem to get the pressure over 100 psi), and I think I just need a better pump.