Old 04-22-18 | 06:42 PM
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dksix
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Joined: Jul 2015
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From: North East Tennessee

Bikes: Basso Luguna, Fuji Nevada

Checking Pressure in Tires with Presta Valves

Are there any gauges that work well for tires using Presta valves? Is it practical to try to check pressure levels in high pressure/low volume tires used on most road bikes?

I just finished up a new bike that I took out for it's first real ride today today. I built this up just for use on a couple of "rails to trails" MUP and a couple of rides I do that are a mix of gravel and paved roads. I inflated the 700C x 37 tires to 50 psi front and 60 psi rear to start, the tire's specs call for a max pressure of 70 psi. I wasn't long into the ride before I realized that the tires were way too hard but I didn't want to just let air out because I had no way of determining what pressure I was running. As of right now the only way I can determine tire pressure is by inflating TO a pressure. My mini pump that I carry with me doesn't have a pressure gauge.

The only pressure gauges I've used are for Schrader valves are just push on, they always lose a little air going on and off but considering the volume it's insignificant. I don't think same system would be suitable for use in many of the tires that use Presta valves. I looked at a suspension pump once that screwed on the valve and sealed before opening the valve with a separate level. That system would only allow the volume of air required to fill the gauges chamber. Is there something like that for Presta valves?
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