The Pressure is on.
10-15-18 | 05:40 PM
#51
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 62
Likes: 9
From: Senoia, GA
Bikes: '71 Raleigh Professional MK III; '71 Raleigh Pro Track; '88 Bianchi Campione d'Ialia; 2016 Litespeed T5 Gravel; 2012 Cool Fixie; 2017 Bottecchia Leggendaria; 2018 Bottecchia Leggendaria;2008 Electra Townie
10-15-18 | 05:46 PM
#52
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 62
Likes: 9
From: Senoia, GA
Bikes: '71 Raleigh Professional MK III; '71 Raleigh Pro Track; '88 Bianchi Campione d'Ialia; 2016 Litespeed T5 Gravel; 2012 Cool Fixie; 2017 Bottecchia Leggendaria; 2018 Bottecchia Leggendaria;2008 Electra Townie
10-15-18 | 05:51 PM
#53
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 875
Likes: 203
Bikes: custom Cyclery North (Chicago), Schwinn Circuit
I use what's on the pump or my compressor. As stated it does not make a whole lot of difference. Since bike tires are thin and small the pressure will change with temps and time more than a cars will.
Most gauges I've tried have been fairly accurate. I carry a fairly large foot pump in my rack bag because I have larger tires, and a bad track record with flats. Once I was on my only spare tube of a ride and had to stop 6 times to air up. The patch wouldn't seal on the first tube, a failure around the valve stem. My wife is not very good at navigating so I carry a bunch of stuff, tools, pump, tube, etc. to help make sure I can return home. A hand pump just takes too long so I got the smallest foot pump I could find. And as long as the gauge is fairly accurate it's close enough for me.
Most gauges I've tried have been fairly accurate. I carry a fairly large foot pump in my rack bag because I have larger tires, and a bad track record with flats. Once I was on my only spare tube of a ride and had to stop 6 times to air up. The patch wouldn't seal on the first tube, a failure around the valve stem. My wife is not very good at navigating so I carry a bunch of stuff, tools, pump, tube, etc. to help make sure I can return home. A hand pump just takes too long so I got the smallest foot pump I could find. And as long as the gauge is fairly accurate it's close enough for me.
10-16-18 | 12:14 AM
#54
Cycleway town
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,397
Likes: 169
From: Milton Keynes, England
Bikes: 2.6kw GT LTS e-tandem, 250w Voodoo, 250w solar recumbent trike, 3-speed shopper, Merlin ol/skl mtb, 80cc Ellswick
I have no idea what pressures i run. I pump my tyres to how the bike feels and performs best on them.
10-16-18 | 06:24 AM
#56
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: Bloomington, Indiana
Bikes: Specialized Roubaix
I have many ways to get the pressure I need/want.
1. The awe crap finger pinch. This is when I forgot to throw my pump in my car and loaded up the day before for a ride, pinch and it feels good.
2. The borrow a friends pump. This is when the finger pinch says I need some air and my friend has a pump.
3. Use a CO2 cartridge and hope I don;'t blow the tire. This is when I use the finger pinch, need air, and my friend forgot his pump too.
4. Use my Park tire pump with guage.
5. Use my Canondale Airport pump with guage.
6 Use my Blackburn pump with guage.
The only thing I try, is to use the same pump for a little consistency. I usually adjust the pressure based on the tires and roads I'm riding. As long as I'm using the same pump, it works good. If I use a different pump, it is not always the same as the other pump.
I'm not a fan of external pressure guages. I think they lose a little air, and thus change the pressure. Or maybe i just can't seem to use them correctly??? I say get a good pump with a guage and it will be fine.
1. The awe crap finger pinch. This is when I forgot to throw my pump in my car and loaded up the day before for a ride, pinch and it feels good.
2. The borrow a friends pump. This is when the finger pinch says I need some air and my friend has a pump.
3. Use a CO2 cartridge and hope I don;'t blow the tire. This is when I use the finger pinch, need air, and my friend forgot his pump too.
4. Use my Park tire pump with guage.
5. Use my Canondale Airport pump with guage.
6 Use my Blackburn pump with guage.
The only thing I try, is to use the same pump for a little consistency. I usually adjust the pressure based on the tires and roads I'm riding. As long as I'm using the same pump, it works good. If I use a different pump, it is not always the same as the other pump.
I'm not a fan of external pressure guages. I think they lose a little air, and thus change the pressure. Or maybe i just can't seem to use them correctly??? I say get a good pump with a guage and it will be fine.
10-16-18 | 07:08 AM
#57
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
10-16-18 | 09:12 AM
#58
Zip tie Karen
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 7,005
Likes: 1,546
From: Fair Oaks Ranch, TX
Bikes: '13 Motobecane Fantom29 HT, '16 Motobecane Turino Pro Disc, '18 Velobuild VB-R-022, '21 Tsunami SNM-100
After 40+ years of squeezing the tire after inflating, I can say with certainty that I can't tell a tire's pressure by squeezing between my thumb and forefinger. I just can't. I am able to tell if it's firm enough to ride home on, but I couldn't tell you within 10 psi what the pressure is. Not that any of this matters. Most folks overinflate their tires anyway...
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Dr_UNIX
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12-09-15 05:17 PM
