Originally Posted by
DaveSSS
What hasn't been mentioned is to verify the accuracy of your pump gauge. That's not easy to do unless you want to purchase a pricey gauge that's for calibration purposes. I use liquid filled Winters brand gauges for calibration, with the gauge attached to some pipe with a presta valve attached to it. My old silca 0-160 psi gauge was off by 8 psi, only delivering 72 instead of 80. I replaced it with a much larger diameter Winters gauge. I use a 0-100 psi gauge, since I never use more than 60. I can compare several gauges at once. My newest lezyne pump is accurate.
"That's not easy to do unless you want to purchase a pricey gauge that's for calibration purposes." But there is something you can do that is easy and cheap. Every time you pump your tires with a known pump, squeeze them with your fingers. You will get to know what an 80 psi tire feels like. When a pump is far off, you'll know. (And you will start associating the finger squeeze with ride feel. Gauge no longer needed at all. I rode and raced for a decade before I owned a gauge. It was never an issue.)