damnable

Question is really just it.

How often do you pump your tyres or how often do you need to do it?

I'm going to start commuting one way each day (ride to work the first day, public transport home, second day public transport to work and ride home) as it's a longer ride.

So this means my bike will be sitting at work overnight (secure) and I'd rather not pump the tyres in between, but I hate flats more than I hate pumping.

scroca

Top them off at 120psi once a week, usually Sunday evening.

ItsJustMe

80 PSI (I'm running 700c x 32 on gravel roads, definitely don't want anything narrower or higher pressure than that) once a week if I remember. I top off the airzound to 120 psi while I'm at it. Usually Saturday during my normal maintenance hour where I check car tire pressure/fluids/etc.

colleen c

I have 700x25 on my M-F commuting roadbike. Once a week, I pump them to 115 PSI. They would drop down to 108-110 in seven days.

My MTB is my weekend grocery bike. It has 26 x 1.5 running at 80 psi. I can get by on that tire with only pumping it once every two weeks.

Edit: Since ItsJustMe mention it, I've only pump my Airzound bottle once every two weeks topping it off at 95 psi. I've got a larger air bottle than the OEM bottle.

chipcom 

Until you understand the behavior of your specific tire/tube combo, it's best to check them daily.
Once you get a feel for typical losses, you can adjust as needed (I can go 2-3 days before pumping up the tires on my primary commuter), but it's still a good idea to give them a hand check before taking off.

Steely Dan

once a week for me. sunday evenings i'll top-off the 26x1.0's on my MTB to 100psi and the the 700x23's on my road bike to 135psi.

that will hold for about 7 days with the MTB tires falling off to ~90psi and the road bike tires down to ~120psi.

threecarjam

I pump them when I want more air in them.

Usually once a week, sometimes twice, sometimes every other week. I check most days before I leave for work, though I can usually tell from the ride when they're getting lower than I'd like. Just have a floor pump at home and a decent small pump in your bag (Lezyne or Topeak Road Morph seem to work well and be popular) and you don't have to worry. Also you can change/patch a tube on the road. I have been forgetting my pump lately, but luckily have a few bike shops and well-equipped friends between my home and work if I get a flat or otherwise want more air. Some of the shops here have pumps outside as well, so you can use them even when they're not open.

canyoneagle

I'll usually top my tires up every weekend, which is when I typically do any minor maintenance, tweaking, cleaning, etc.

dcrowell

Tire volume and tube material make a lot of difference. My 'bent with overpriced Schwalbe tubes can go a month between adding air to the tires. My LHT with 700x40 tires and cheap tubes gets more air about once a week. My single-speed (and primary commuter) with 700x32 tires and cheap tubes needs air about three times a week.

gear

before each ride.

MikeyBoyAz

running 700x208c on my commuter and I am checking pressure daily, you never know when you will get a thorn or road tire belt wire in your own tire and develop a slow leak.

jdgesus 

weekly

billyymc

When they need air.

1fluffhead

Exactly what I do.

pdlamb

When they need it, or whenever I think about it, whichever comes first. (Or is that last?)

I can usually go a week between pumping (622x32 90 psi, drops to 75-85 in a week). This winter and spring, though, I've had some many flats that I actually started checking daily.

To the OP: take a Road Morph to work, and check presure the second day before you ride home.

HardyWeinberg

skinny tires need more pumping to avoid risk of pinch flats, wider ones give a lot more slack

Shimagnolo

Hey!
Stop trying to drag logic into the conversation.

Booger1

Right before the 12 mile downhill on my fully loaded touring bike...

or once a week.

exile

Inflate them when they need it. Get a pump with a pressure gauge to see how much air you may be loosing.

You can also get a mini pump like the Topeak Road Morph and stick it in your bookbag or keep it at work. You should also carry a flat protection kit and maybe keep it in an extra water bottle.

Seattle Forrest

Bingo. Use a floor pump with a gauge.

In my case, I top the road bike off every other day or so, and the commuter about once a week. I put 90 psi in the commuter and 100 in the racer. I'm surprised people in this thread are putting so much air in, even in skinny tires. Doesn't that kill your ride quality?

bhop

Every couple days.

chipcom 

When you are a fat bastard like me, pinch flats tend to have a negative impact on ride quality too.

531phile 

Everyday if I can. I don't like the feel of under-inflated tires, why make it harder on yourself? Sometimes, if I am running late and don't but that is rare.

Terry66

Depends on the tire....

700X23 road bike - Before every ride.
700X37 Commuter - Probably every other ride...maybe every third ride.
29X2.1 mountain bike - Once a week

MikeyBoyAz

a quality ride to me is inversely proportionality to waisted energy on rolling friction from under-inflation... and time spend on the side of the road changing a pinch flat.