Road Cycling - Tire Pressure Question....

Gang,
Based upon the advice of the bike shop I bought my Bianchi from, the owner suggested I run 120 psi pressure in my Vittoria Rubino Tech tires mated to Campy Vento Wheels and work right off the pump gauge and check every time I ride which seems to be good advice. As fate would have it, when I received the bike the front tire wouldn't hold air so suspected a pinch tear in the tube so picked up a new Presta valve tube. I just order a new Park Tire pump with integrated gauge and the inexpensive Park plastic tire levers to change the tube and all went well with a note that the bead...believe may be Kevlar... on the deep section Vento wheels was a bear...not to get off as much but put back on...made it though...and good news is without any pinch tearing...new tube holds pressure. Couldn't get the tire back on without the Park tire levers incidentally...they work nicely for those interested. Played around with the pump a bit and decided to see how the pressure corelated on my car with Schrader valve...thought I would try it. Noticed that the gauge pressure on the Park pump read lower than my car tire guage when comparing car tire pressure...hmmm. Now I am wondering if there is a corelation issue between the Park pump gauge and what I am actually putting into my bike tires and don't have a Presta tire gauge to compare. Would appreciate some advice from those that may know. 120 psi is a lot to pump into road bike tires and don't want in actual fact to be inflating to more pressure than that due to the pump gauge reading a bit low. Have others checked their tire pump gauge against their tire gauge? Any recommendations for a solid bike pressure guage..perhaps digital? What pressures do you guys run in your 700C X 23mm tires?...my body weight is 188 lbs.
Thanks,
George

I use 100psi front, 110psi rear on both my road bike and on my tandem. I used to use 120psi on both, but the lower pressures seem to feel better and roll just as fast.

Air pressure gauges are an interesting subject in themselves. I suspect that you aren't going to get a very accurate reading at 35psi if you are using a gauge that goes to 200psi. You'd like for the active readings to come in the middle of the gauge for best accuracy. If you want to be really anal about it, you can consider calibrating your gauge with a welding regulator.

One other thing you might consider is using sentences and paragraphs. It would make your post a whole lot easier to read.

Thanks and no Thanks RG,
Thanks for your comments relative to tire pressure which I tend to agree with and no thanks to your comments about my sentence structure. What is insulting is your very response belies your thesis that you can't follow my stated question(s). Being true to your user name, I suggest if you struggle understanding my sentence structure, do not respond to my posts at all and I will show similar restraint in dissecting your sophmoric prose.
George

I'm not sure which gauge is more accurate at low pressure but Park makes reasonably good tools so I'd trust it over the auto gauge in the range of pressures for a road bike tire.

Regarding what pressures to use, most tires have a max inflation pressure printed into the sidewall of the tire. Needless to say, it's best to not exceed these levels. Below this it mostly a matter of ballancing ride quality to risk of pinch flatting. Only you can determine what this ballance should be.

On my bikes, I inflate to about 115 psi and check them every fourth day or so - pressure after this time is usually in the 95 psi range.. I weigh 170lbs and ride on fairly good roads so pinch flatting in not a major concern of mine.

Hope this helps.

Ed

It does Ed...Thanks for your comments. It seems that is precisely the balance. Underinflating does induce pinch flatting incrementally and improve ride if not increase rolling resistance....a matter of degree. As you suggest, I will likely run just a bit under max. pressure in favor of a slightly improved ride. And you are quite right about Park equipment...I find there stuff to be top notch as well.
George

I am 195lbs and run 130 in the front and 180 in the rear. I also use a park pump with gauges. I check my psi before every ride. I don't have the pinch flat problems due to the fact I don't run tubes.
A lot of the problems with pinch flats is in the tubes, the light weight tube will blow if you look at them wrong. I have found the cheaper tubes are better for most riders.

More great advice. Wow dwatson, you run some serious pressure. An astute observation about running a cheaper tube...precisely what I installed and why. Will gladly add a few grams weight for a bit more tube wall thickness to preclude failure.
BTW Nessism...I checked the sidewall pressure spec on my Vittoria's as you suggested. Min. spec was 100 psi and max is 125 psi. Will likely run them at mid-range based upon the above.
Thanks,
George

There is this gigantic thread on tire pressures in the Bike Mechanics forum.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=90011

Thanks and no Thanks RG,
Thanks for your comments relative to tire pressure which I tend to agree with and no thanks to your comments about my sentence structure. What is insulting is your very response belies your thesis that you can't follow my stated question(s). Being true to your user name, I suggest if you struggle understanding my sentence structure, do not respond to my posts at all and I will show similar restraint in dissecting your sophmoric prose.
GeorgeI think RG nailed it. He also says it with a minimum of prose and big words. All the better for some of us that have killed too many brain cells with an OD of Bud.And FWIW, you could have asked the question in about 2 simple sentences.

More great advice. Really?? He shouldn't be running that kind of pressure in the rear with any standard clinchers I know of.

I ride almost every day. I run 125/125 in my Specialized Mondo S-works tires. Works great. I have a presta tire gauge which correlates precisely to both of my Specialized pumps and my Blackwell pump. Someone mentioned that Park makes great tools - agreed, but I can assure you that someone else makes their pumps, and certainly their pump gauges. Get a stand-a-alone tire guage for your presta tubes - that way you will have another way of measuring, but you can also calibrate your pump.

BTW, I check my pressure daily. I want a consistent ride, and I have never seen a tube that will hold the same pressure 24 hours later with a ride in between.

Thanks Operator and sydney, there is one on every forum and on this great forum with overall good fellowship, sadly its you. Your reputation and tone of your collection of posting on this board speaks for itself. A summary of who and what you are if you will. And I might add, a sad commentary it is on a message board among people that share the same passion for the same sport. Sydney and this applies to you RG as well, the proper place for any criticism is a PM. Any place else, and it is a reflection on you and not any content within any thread by any particular poster. FYI, within the board software, there is a facility to block any poster you find offensive for whatever reason. Please do not respond to any of my posts in the future and I will oblige and return the favor.
George

More great advice. Wow dwatson, you run some serious pressure. An astute observation about running a cheaper tube...precisely what I installed and why. Will gladly add a few grams weight for a bit more tube wall thickness to preclude failure.
BTW Nessism...I checked the sidewall pressure spec on my Vittoria's as you suggested. Min. spec was 100 psi and max is 125 psi. Will likely run them at mid-range based upon the above.
Thanks,
George

BTW, don't sweat the grammar police. There are obligatory police officers on every forum. Even though they can readily understand your post, they cannot help themselves - they must "help" and police you - it's their job. They are on a mission from god!

Skydive69...more good input...Thanks. Do you have a suggestion for a good quality tire gauge? I guess, my preference would be a digital gauge unless you have a good suggestion for an analog gauge.
Thanks,
George

I don't Skidiver. In fact, I find it amusing. Especially if they only knew what my academic background was...lol. Almost any criticism of fellow posters is always a self indictment...pretty transparent.
George

Skydive69...more good input...Thanks. Do you have a suggestion for a good quality tire gauge? I guess, my preference would be a digital gauge unless you have a good suggestion for an analog gauge.
Thanks,
GeorgeI always just used whatever gauge was on the floor pump, go with 110-115(assuming that's within recc.),and have never had an issue.Not alot of rocket science in bikes or inflating bike tires.

I don't Skidiver. In fact, I find it amusing. Especially if they only knew what my academic background was...Surprising you haven't told us. But but does any academic background assure that one will actually be able to pour whizzzz out of a boot?

Actually sydney, there is what is tantamount to rocket science...I have a rocket science background...in bike design and it relates to shifting mechanisms. Sydney...ever do a statistical VSA using GM&T to make sure all the tolerance stack up's coincide based upon all separate permutations of tool cavities and then perform a a DOE and DVP&R to verify? Lots of engineering goes into bicycle design...lol.
George

Actually sydney, there is what is tantamount to rocket science...I have a rocket science background...in bike design and it relates to shifting mechanisms. Sydney...ever do a statistical VSA using GM&T to make sure all the tolerance stack up's coincide based upon all separate permutations of tool cavities and then perform a a DOE and DVP&R to verify? Lots of engineering goes into bicycle design...lol.
GeorgeThat's just dandy. But I don't need to know about it in order to adjust a derailer or inflate a tire. But now I understand....LOL

Sydney and this applies to you RG as well, the proper place for any criticism is a PM. Any place else, and it is a reflection on you and not any content within any thread by any particular poster.

??????????

I know you don't know about it but that's alright man. Understanding how things are designed always helps with mechanical work whether its restoring old BMW's...something I like to do...or adjusting a derailleur....the disciplines are related as the design was created before guys like you tried to work on them. :)
George

I know you don't know about it but that's alright man. Understanding how things are designed always helps with mechanical work whether its restoring old BMW's...something I like to do...or adjusting a derailleur....the disciplines are related as the design was created before guys like you tried to work on them. :)
George

If you're so smart, why did you have to ask how to inflate a bicycle tire?

I never said I was smart...lol. I asked about experiences with gauge correlation and threw in some other anecdotal observations.
DG, why don't you and sydney go out for a bike ride? I prefer to ride with the other guys that feel a bit better about themselves.
George

as for the other parts of your question, try the 'cover your tire in flour' trick when putting it on your rim. until you stretch out your clinchers, it'll be tough to do it any other way.

i run my pro races at 110, which seems peachy (that's actually what they're rated for). interestingly, and i doubt that this is in any way relevant, my rubinos would leak air at the rate of abou 10psi/week, while my pro races do that in around a month. i still pump up my tires before any major ride, but i find that i don't have to really do all that much anymore. just an observation.

anyway, i think anything over 90psi will keep you out of the pinchflat danger zone. after that, it's all about what you can stand.

super high inflation works well on the tubular clinchers and the such, but i'm not sure that many normal tires are rated above 130 psi.

as they say, your mileage may vary.

ok, go back to insulting each other.

Just noticed you have a bianchi... WERD.

I never said I was smart...lol. I asked about experiences with gauge correlation and threw in some other anecdotal observations.
DG, why don't you and sydney go out for a bike ride? I prefer to ride with the other guys that feel a bit better about themselves.
George

Don't encourage them - those without lives thrive on the attention that their perpetual bleatings bring them. But again, every forum, every club, every place that people meet brings the unofficial police.

Covering tires in flour? What exactly does that do?

Just noticed you have a bianchi... WERD.

George, I use the analog gauge that I believe appears in most of the catalogs. White face with brass base. It seems to be a fine instrument, and very easily pushes on to the Presta valve sans air loss. Although I have digital and analog gauges for my automobile tires, I always find myself coming back to the analog. Perhaps it is the airline pilot mentality in me - I have always liked the overview that only an analog gauge offers.

Covering tires in flour? What exactly does that do?

gives you a slippery (but dry) surface to get the tire back on the rim. works like a charm when the tire is new and overly tight.

Great tip Mr. Ballistic about the flour. Wish I would have known that prior to trying to mount that Vittoria...man that was tight. Will keep that in mind for the next tube repair. Thanks Skydiver for your tips on gauges...I will look into a nice analog gauge per your comments. Like yourself, I too like analog gauges. You are a pilot huh?...pretty cool. I will impart a last anecdote and then leave this thread which has been both good and bad willed. A good friend of mine, Jack Estes II is also a pilot and was recently called up to Iraq. I have helped Jack quite a bit with a couple of his BMW's as he was having trouble most noteably with his old V12 E-32...a 750iL. Anybody who has ever wrenched on the venerable M70 understands their complexity...completely redundant Bosch engine management...two of everything...CPU's, fuel pumps, MAF's, CPS's...effectively two autonomous straight sixes joined together...a nightmare when wrong...none better when right. I digress. Jack wrecked one of his other BMW's and was taking it apart and I was helping him part it out and sell the parts to other BMW enthusiasts. Then Jack had to leave for Iraq. He was gone about 6 weeks or so and flying a mission when his aircraft took anti-aircraft enemy fire and both his feet were blown off. Jack is one of the smartest most wonderful people I have ever met and possessed the skill of being a pilot like yourself Skydiver...a talent I don't have. I worked with Jack to redesign his peddle box on his 750iL so he could drive the car with his new titanium prosthetic feet. I think of Jack often as I am a recreational cyclist and have my feet to propel my bike and he doesn't. Now I will abandon this thread and say thanks to all for your advice on tire pressure.
George

Oh god this thread was a waste of my time.

What is insulting is your very response belies your thesis that you can't follow my stated question(s). Being true to your user name, I suggest if you struggle understanding my sentence structure, do not respond to my posts at all and I will show similar restraint in dissecting your sophmoric prose.
George

Actually, Retro Grouch said "easier to read", so, if he's anything like me, he may have meant it literally.

My eyes are getting a bit crap, and I find it harder to read huge slabs of words that
aren't broken up. :)