A few quick questions from a new cyclist.
 

Hey guys, I just started cycling in late June when I bought my first road bike. I got my first flat yesterday, but I do not have a gauge for these valves yet or a floor pump. I will be getting those in the immediate future though.

So I was wondering, can you feel when a tube/tire is properly inflated to 120? I'm just wondering because I'd like to ride before my trip to the city to get the gauge/pump.

Also, when changing the tire for the first time, the bead was very strong and wouldn't budge easily. So much so that the plastic tire iron actually broke (probably some user error honestly), so I was curious, is there any other tools/items that could be used to do a tire change until I get another set of tire irons? I know whatever I'd use I'd have to be careful.

Thanks,
Coby

1) You don't have ANY gauge to measure tire pressure? Or just one to check while on the road? If it is the former, be glad you have made it this far with just one flat. You should be checking tire pressure and topping them off every week at least. If it is the later, don't worry about it. Get the tire "firm" and finish the ride.

2) New tires can be tough, but they will loosen with time. You should practice putting them on without levers. These are useful for getting the tire off the rim, but putting them back on they are likely to cause more damage to the new tube. As for replacements, that's tough. Usually they come in pairs, did you break both? Usually you can manage with one. When you replace them, get something higher quality (I like the Pedro's levers) rather than the pencil thin ones to avoid this in the future.

I've given up on gauges! I simply inflate my tire and pinch the sidewalls, if the tire gives slightly, I'm cool with it. You can always use a gauge and pump up the tires to 120 PSI and follow this by feeling how much tension the tire has on the sidewall by again by pinching the side walls. I purposely don't pump my tires to the extreme, where there is absolutely no give to the sidewall. I am afraid of the tire bursting or blowing out!!

Floor pumps these days are amazing! Nothing like the one's of old where you'd be on your third stroke and the air leaking out of the hose would be on its second! I can pump up my tires in seconds and be on my way. Good luck!!

And delicately using a regular screw driver one can change a tire! Nice thing about a screw driver is that it doesn't break as easily as a plastic tire iron! (oxymoron: plastic tire iron!) Tire irons are ideal though for a tire change!!!

A floor tire pump with a gauge is your best friend, its good to invest in one and not by any cheap kind. Even riding with a tire below 20 psi of the recommended can cause a pinch flat. As for tire levers, these alloy ones will do the trick http://www.lezyne.com/products/tire-...e/alloy-levers.

Going by feel is OK if you have to, but you'll be way off without a gauge. Get a floor pump. And, be aware that 120 psi may not actually be the best inflation, depending on your weight. There are charts.

Don't use a screw driver. Unless you've changed a ton of tires you'll destroy five tubes for every one you get right. Get a pair of Pedro's tire irons available at every bike store and most sporting goods stores.

Unfortunately is the first. I ran out of money when buying the other things, and just haven't gotten around to getting a gauge. I was pretty much just pinching the sides and thinking "Well, that feels like it did yesterday.". Not accurate at all I know.

I'll make sure to install the tires without levers. Thanks for that new info. It was a pair of two and only one broke, but the tire seems too tough to use just one. I put the first one in and under the bead and pinned to the spoke pretty easily, but it was more difficult getting the second one under the bead. And when I did it broke right as I tried to lever it up.

I'll take a note on Pedro's, thanks.




Yeah, I was just pinching before every ride. I said "flat" in my post, but it wasn't a flat I guess, but the pressure had decreased. I'm a bigger guy, and I noticed the tire didn't feel right while riding and was making a sound like it was crumpling. So I stopped and it did feel like less pressure.

Oh, and here's an other question in regard to quality floor pumps. Are the gauges on them pretty accurate? The reason I ask is because I know that cheap pumps from Walmart don't have very good gauges, so I'm curious.



Thank you very much.

I'm a pretty big fella, but I'll look at a chart to see. thanks.


Yeah, I figured I'd screw that up. I'd rather not take the chance.

Yes, you can feel approximately the pressure - it is hard to the touch, but still a very small amount of give. If you use CO2 to refill after you flat, then generally they will inflate to a good pressure - 110 or more - without even thinking about it.

But like others have said, nothing beats a quality floor pump with a pressure gauge - and you should get one immediately - but on the road you will learn to know what a good pressure feels like.

If you need to change your tire without real tire irons, then just grab a couple of teaspoons with rounded handles, or anything like that. (I am not sure I would use a screwdriver as Cyclomania mentioned though - surely feasible with some care, but also really easy to rip the tube with a squared-off edge like that).

Alright thanks. Hopefully after a while I'll get the proper feel for it, and more graceful tire changes.

I now plan on ordering a Topeak JoeBlow pump tomorrow. Should I order a standalone gauge as well?

I have a CO2 refiller in my saddlebag, but haven't used it. Does it take one full cylinder to fill a tire?



Thanks again. Everyone's help is much appreciated.

Probably not. I have one, but very rarely use it. The gauge on the floor pump is likely going to be enough for most times.

Yes, pretty much.

I agree with the argument of a screw driver being virtually more destructive than a useful tool for tire changes, best to stick with the teaspoon idea! I know when I was poor as a child and we didn't have all the tools in the world, a screw driver would work just fine with the right finesse. Anyway, I am glad others thwarted you from taking this action, really!