How often do you pump up your tyres on tour
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: London
Posts: 252
Bikes: Thorn Club Thorn
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
How often do you pump up your tyres on tour
Recently whilst touring, with a friend, I noticed that every 2 days I had to pump my 700x 28 back up to 8 bars, 120psi, whilst my friend riding on 700x 32 had to pump up his tyres every 4-5 days. His tyres went to max 6 bars, 80 psi. I carry approx 15 kg whilst touring and his weight was about the same. I just wonderes if wider tyres needed less filling up then the narrower tyres.
#2
Banned.
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: ny
Posts: 1,764
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 36 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
All tires( or rather tubes) leak to some degree, 120psi in a smaller tire casing is always going to lose air quicker than a larger casing( greater air volume) running at a much lower pressure of 80 psi.
#3
cyclopath
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Victoria, BC
Posts: 5,264
Bikes: Surly Krampus, Surly Straggler, Pivot Mach 6, Bike Friday Tikit, Bike Friday Tandem, Santa Cruz Nomad
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
6 Posts
I pump my 700x32 marathons up to 90psi and don't touch them for 4 or 5 days at a time. When they start looking low I'll deal with them.
#4
Long Live Long Rides
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: KCMO
Posts: 718
Bikes: 1988 Specialized Rockhopper Comp, converted for touring/commuting. 1984 Raleigh Team USA road bike.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
700x28? Geeesh, I don't think I've even seen tires that thin!
Just kidding. The above statement (Velonomad) is true. Narrower tires will require more 'topping off' than higher volume tires. I like a cushy ride and my 26x1.75 touring tires only see about 45-50 psi. Even fully loaded.
There are some pretty nice latex or latex blend tubes that hold air better.
Just kidding. The above statement (Velonomad) is true. Narrower tires will require more 'topping off' than higher volume tires. I like a cushy ride and my 26x1.75 touring tires only see about 45-50 psi. Even fully loaded.
There are some pretty nice latex or latex blend tubes that hold air better.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Ottawa, Canada
Posts: 325
Bikes: Surly Long Haul Trucker
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
With my 26x1.75 tires, I think I pumped them up once every two weeks or so. They were pretty good at holding around 50 PSI.
#7
Macro Geek
I pump when my tires start to feel a little soft, which is usually every two or three days. I have also been known to top up when I am about to head out on a rough road.
On my last tour I rode on new tubes and tires, and I did not need the pump for all six days of my tour!
On my last tour I rode on new tubes and tires, and I did not need the pump for all six days of my tour!
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Toronto
Posts: 464
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I pump up my tires as often as they need it. On my last tour, which was twelve days, I pumped the rear tire once, and the front not at all.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Central Coast, CA
Posts: 3,392
Bikes: Surly LHT, Specialized Rockhopper, Nashbar Touring (old), Specialized Stumpjumper (older), Nishiki Tourer (model unknown)
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
I pump mine up every morning. I want full pressure for the day's ride. Of course, if I forget, or if I get behind schedule and decide to skip it I don't stress. I think if you pump them up every three days or so the pressure stays so close to full as to make the difference negligible. This is based on absolutely no scientific evidence - simply my own opinion.
#10
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: London
Posts: 252
Bikes: Thorn Club Thorn
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thanks all, that’s about covers it, I guess the best thing to do is pump a little every day, don't fret if you don't, as mentioned, but I suppose if it does not make much difference in the psi in the tyre doing it on a daily basis then at least you get that psychological uplift from it.
Last edited by JoeLonghair; 03-13-07 at 03:14 AM.
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Cape Coral, FL
Posts: 389
Bikes: '79 Schwinn Varsity
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Rear tire, every day........front tire, every other day.......somedays they only need a few lbs, some days as much as 5-10 lbs......Schwalbe Marathons..700x28............no "incidents" for over 2,300 mi. at this point....24.8 miles R/T commute.
#12
It's true, man.
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: North Texas
Posts: 2,726
Bikes: Cannondale T1000, Inbred SS 29er, Supercaliber 29er, Crescent Mark XX, Burley Rumba Tandem
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
All I know is, if a tire's starting to feel even remotely soft and I don't take the opportunity to top off, I will flat that tire straightaway.
#13
Scott
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,393
Bikes: Too Many
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Here in the USA in Wal-mart stores you can purchase 27" X 1, 1 1/8, and 1 1/4" tubes (which also fit 700cc tires) that are extra thick and only lose 5 Lbs. a month! I use them in my 700 X 38 tires.
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Okanagan Valley, BC CANADA
Posts: 1,049
Bikes: Trek 7300FX, Lemond Sarthe
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I check them every morning, but only pump them a bit maybe every second day.
#15
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: London
Posts: 252
Bikes: Thorn Club Thorn
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by BILLB58
Rear tire, every day........front tire, every other day.......somedays they only need a few lbs, some days as much as 5-10 lbs......Schwalbe Marathons..700x28............no "incidents" for over 2,300 mi. at this point....24.8 miles R/T commute.
#16
Banned
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,115
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
It's a lot easier to have tires with minimal rolling resistance, that might need a little maintenance than tires that are too soft or heavy, but require none. Now where you draw that line is a whole other mater.
#17
Scott
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,393
Bikes: Too Many
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Originally Posted by Peterpan1
It's a lot easier to have tires with minimal rolling resistance, that might need a little maintenance than tires that are too soft or heavy, but require none. Now where you draw that line is a whole other mater.