Bicycle Mechanics - inflation issues?

hi. i just changed my bikes tires, a couple of 700 x 32c tires, knobbies for slicks. as i was inflating the tires with my floor pump, i observed that it took a considerable amount of exertion to pump the tires - more so than with my older tires of the same size. also of note, the same tubes were used between my tire change.

i'm wonder what could make it so difficult to pump, even with a floor pump. could there be some crease in the tube? or could part of the tube be stuck somewhere? also, my floor pumps gauge's meter seems like it goes haphazardly up and down - it doesn't stay at a certain number.

any advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

thanks!

daniel.

could be a number of problems.

-Check that the pump is properly attached. If not then the pumped air might be getting trapped between the nozzle and valve.

-Check that your valve is open-prestas need to be unscrewed and hit the pin to make sure its not stuck. Schrader-hit the pin briefly to make sure it is loose.

-You could have a twist in your tube.


Check these things and you're probably ok.

what kind of pump do you have? does it need a little TLC? maybe you need to grease the washer inside

thanks so much for the replies!

i checked the tube and didn't find any twists, thankfully. put air into the tube (presta valve) before reinserting into the tire - little to no exertion. put tube back into tire, put tire into rim - much exertion, same as above. my pump is okay, i tested it on a hybrid i have (with schrader valves) and it required little effort and the gauge wasn't going crazy.

maybe it's the tire, and that it's a bit tighter around the rim? that seems to be the only variable. though i still can't explain my gauge.

thanks!

daniel