tyre inflation

"Paul Stevenson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi all,

please forgive what might seem a naive question.

I have difficulty getting enough pressure into my touring bike tyres. I rather think that my
weight may be some of the problem, 20 stone. Even

when

Quoted message said:

I've pumped the tyres to what appears rock hard once I mount the bike they bulge quite a bit. I
rather suspect that some sort of electric pump may

be

Quoted message said:

the answer and a pressure gauge.

What do people think and what pump would be recommended?

thanks

Paul

What PSI are you inflating to? You really need a pressure gauge pump as its impossible to
guesstimate.

My tyres need 40psi which is a lot (they feel "rock hard" long before that!)

"Paul Stevenson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi all,

please forgive what might seem a naive question.

I have difficulty getting enough pressure into my touring bike tyres. I rather think that my
weight may be some of the problem, 20 stone. Even

when

Quoted message said:

I've pumped the tyres to what appears rock hard once I mount the bike they bulge quite a bit. I
rather suspect that some sort of electric pump may

be

Quoted message said:

the answer and a pressure gauge.

What do people think and what pump would be recommended?

Look at track pumps .. e.g. snurl.com2dtgOpen ↗

Paul Stevenson said:

I have difficulty getting enough pressure into my touring bike tyres. I rather think that my
weight may be some of the problem, 20 stone. Even when I've pumped the tyres to what appears rock
hard once I mount the bike they bulge quite a bit. I rather suspect that some sort of electric
pump may be the answer and a pressure gauge.

There's no need for an electric pump, but I'd certainly suggest a track pump (think ACME dynamite
plunger): these will get tyres up to brick consistency in just a few strokes, and many have a
built in gauge.

Many people overestimate tyre pressures: someone posting here a while back was sure that anything
over 45 psi in a Marathon would be bound to blow it up as it was so hard, but they're rated for 100
(which is what I run mine at).

Also check the tyres and see how hard you can actually pump them (usually written on the side wall):
different tyres will do different pressures, and there's a world of difference in the ride between
60 and 100 psi.

But a track pump is usually the main answer to this sort of thing.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden]
dundee.ac.uk~pjclinchOpen ↗

Paul Stevenson <[email hidden]> wrote:

: What do people think and what pump would be recommended?

What you want is not an electric pump but what is called a track pump - like this:

wiggle.co.ukv2 product list.aspOpen ↗

Arthur

--
Arthur Clune clune.orgclune.orgOpen ↗ "Technolibertarians make a philosophy out of a personality defect"
- Paulina Borsook

Quoted message said:

I have difficulty getting enough pressure into my touring bike tyres. I rather think that my
weight may be some of the problem, 20 stone. Even

when

Quoted message said:

I've pumped the tyres to what appears rock hard once I mount the bike they bulge quite a bit.

Paul,

I had the same problem; 20 stone+, and tires bulging. In common with the other posters, I got a
track pump, and found out that I was running my tyres massively below their rated pressure. Once I
got them up to the rated pressure, the bike seemed much more responsive, and there was no bulging.

Electric pumps are ineffectual and noisy.

HTH,

Pete.
--

---------------------------
Peter Connolly Acute Computing Derby UK

In message <[email hidden]>, Paul Stevenson
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Hi all,

please forgive what might seem a naive question.

I have difficulty getting enough pressure into my touring bike tyres. I rather think that my weight
may be some of the problem, 20 stone. Even when I've pumped the tyres to what appears rock hard
once I mount the bike they bulge quite a bit. I rather suspect that some sort of electric pump may
be the answer and a pressure gauge.

What do people think and what pump would be recommended?

Firstly what sort of pump are you using now? If it is the sort of pump that connects with the sort
flexible connector, then you are unlikely to get high enough pressures.

Secondly, yes you need a pressure gauge - judging pressure with a thumb etc. is hard, I find that I
always under estimate it. I've got a couple of old Zefal ones somewhere in the garage but I
recommend the Topeak Smartgauge, accurate (AFAICT) and works on both Presta and Shraeder valves. Can
use it for cars as well.

<http://www.wiggle.co.uk/product_detail.asp?ProdID=-826426246>

You don't need an electric pump, but you do want a decent one.

If you just want one pump, then get a Zefal HPX, for a hand pump they make relatively easy work of
getting 100 PSI + into your tyres. Not so god on fat MTB tyres because of the lower volume of the
pump cylinder, but I assume we are talking 700C tyres here.

However the best setup is to have a track pump at home, with another pump for on the road use.
These make it really easy to pump up your tyres, so you are more likely to keep them pumped up. I
have an old SKS one that works well. But if I was buying a new one I'd look at one of the better
Topeak (again) ones, just because I think their Smarthead is such a good bit of kit (I fitted one
to my SKS pump).

<http://www.wiggle.co.uk/product_list.asp?CategoryName=Pumps%20-%20Floor>

If you get a track pump with a decent pressure gauge then you could pass on the separate gauge.
--
Chris French, Leeds

Paul Stevenson said:

Hi all,

please forgive what might seem a naive question.

I have difficulty getting enough pressure into my touring bike tyres. I rather think that my
weight may be some of the problem, 20 stone. Even when I've pumped the tyres to what appears rock
hard once I mount the bike they bulge quite a bit. I rather suspect that some sort of electric
pump may be the answer and a pressure gauge.

What do people think and what pump would be recommended?

When out and about, the zefal HPx is the pump to choose.

When at home a track pump they normally have pressure guages built in.

20 stone is 280lbs so the tires will bulge enough to get ~ 3 square inches of tire on the road at
90psi, spread over the 2 tires. If you pop a wheelie then it will all be on one tire:-).

Quoted message said:

thanks

Paul

--
Chris dot Gerhard at btclick dot com.

"Paul Stevenson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Hi all,

please forgive what might seem a naive question.

I have difficulty getting enough pressure into my touring bike tyres. I rather think that my
weight may be some of the problem, 20 stone. Even when I've pumped the tyres to what appears rock
hard once I mount the bike they bulge quite a bit. I rather suspect that some sort of electric
pump may be the answer and a pressure gauge.

What do people think and what pump would be recommended?

thanks

Paul

Paul, a decent track pump is what you need (Topeak, Blackburn etc), and some decent tyres which you
can pump up to a sizeable pressure (sorry, dunno what types 'cos I don't ride a tourer), say 100 psi
or greater.

"Paul Stevenson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Hi all,

please forgive what might seem a naive question.

I have difficulty getting enough pressure into my touring bike tyres. I rather think that my
weight may be some of the problem, 20 stone. Even when I've pumped the tyres to what appears rock
hard once I mount the bike they bulge quite a bit. I rather suspect that some sort of electric
pump may be the answer and a pressure gauge.

What do people think and what pump would be recommended?

thanks

Paul

Contrary to what others have said electric pumps can be fine. I now use a Bosch hand-held Cordless
Pressure Pump, which came free with my drill (PAG9.6V). It pumps to over 8bar so handles my road,
track and MTB tyres.

This is my home/workshop pump and has made the Silca track pump redundant.

If you are after a single pump to do it all, then I would recommend either a Zefal HPX frame pump,
or a Blackburn minipump with gauge.

I would pump the tyres to about 60PSI for road use. You don't say what width your tyres are, but for
your weight I wouldn't look at tyres less than 28mm.

Kind regards,

Daren

Lee said:

What PSI are you inflating to? You really need a pressure gauge pump as its impossible to
guesstimate.

My tyres need 40psi which is a lot (they feel "rock hard" long before that!)

My road bike tyres run at 120 psi.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) jasmine.org.uk~simonOpen ↗

See one nuclear war, you've seen them all.

"Chris Gerhard" <no_spam@not_btclick.com> wrote in message news:3F785808.8020706@not_btclick.com...

Quoted message said:

Paul Stevenson said:

Hi all,

please forgive what might seem a naive question.

I have difficulty getting enough pressure into my touring bike tyres. I rather think that my
weight may be some of the problem, 20 stone. Even

when

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I've pumped the tyres to what appears rock hard once I mount the bike

they

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

bulge quite a bit. I rather suspect that some sort of electric pump may

be

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the answer and a pressure gauge.

What do people think and what pump would be recommended?

When out and about, the zefal HPx is the pump to choose.

When at home a track pump they normally have pressure guages built in.

20 stone is 280lbs so the tires will bulge enough to get ~ 3 square inches of tire on the road at
90psi, spread over the 2 tires. If you pop a wheelie then it will all be on one tire:-).

Following on from the track pump suggestion - they have (or they did a few weeks ago) one in Argos
with a built in pressure gauge - for about 8 quid (complete with adaptor for Presta valves and metal
pump barrel for extra

Also to endorse the pressure level comments - look on the side of the tyre and then inflate to about
5 per cent more - the difference in rolling resistance is amazing (same tip for a car, over inflate
a little and you get better fuel consumption and much longer tyre life)

RG

"Daren Austin" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Contrary to what others have said electric pumps can be fine. I now use a Bosch hand-held Cordless
Pressure Pump, which came free with my drill (PAG9.6V). It pumps to over 8bar so handles my road,
track and MTB tyres.

"can be" being the essential phrase - yours is OK, but most pumps sold for cars get you to a
moderate pressure, but even the cheapest "track pump" gets you to pressures that are OK for anyone
apart from a real track cyclist.

Quoted message said:

(same tip for a car, over inflate a little and you get better fuel consumption and much longer
tyre life)

Are you sure about that? Doesn't the centre wear out faster then the edges. After all, the
manufactures spend quite some time on getting these figures right (well, I assume they do).

Anyway, my road bikes run at 6+ bar, around 100psi, my MTB at <3 bar, and my car at ~ 36psi.

Right , I'm now all tyred out.

Niv

Quoted message said:

(same tip for a car, over inflate a little and you get better fuel consumption and much longer
tyre life)

WARNING: I once bought a new van, misread the recommended tyre pressures, overinflated by not more
than 10% and nearly killed several people by skidding on a dry corner at what should have been
reasonable speed. Manufacturers' recommended tyre pressures are NOT approximate and are precision
calculated.

--
Rob

Please keep conversations in the newsgroup so that all may contribute and benefit.

"Simon Brooke" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

My road bike tyres run at 120 psi.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) jasmine.org.uk~simonOpen ↗

See one nuclear war, you've seen them all.

oh right, well seeing as how im new to all this ;-)

I suppose its cos I have a MTB (says on the tyre inflate to 40PSI) and needs regular top ups to
keep it there!

Lee said:

I suppose its cos I have a MTB (says on the tyre inflate to 40PSI) and needs regular top ups to
keep it there!

Sounds like you have rather grot valves if "regular" is anything like, say, once a fortnight (just a
figure plucked from the ether, but far more frequently than I have to top up my tyres).

40 is okay for off-road where softer works better, but on tarmac you'd find your progress
*considerably* enhanced with a set of road tyres running at twice that.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden]
dundee.ac.uk~pjclinchOpen ↗

Niv <[email hidden]> wrote:
:> (same tip for a car, over inflate a little and you get better fuel consumption and much longer
:> tyre life)

: Are you sure about that? Doesn't the centre wear out faster then the edges. After all, the
: manufactures spend quite some time on getting these figures right (well, I assume they do).

You can over inflate tyres, but usually it increases straight line speed at the expense of
cornering. I tend to just stick to the numbers.

If you are a lot heavier than the "average" cyclist (like the OP) then you may find it helpful to
over inflate a little, but I'd be careful - you'd probably be better with slighty wider tyres run at
the correct pressure if you still have problems.

Arthur

--
Arthur Clune clune.orgclune.orgOpen ↗ "Technolibertarians make a philosophy out of a personality defect"
- Paulina Borsook

"Peter Clinch" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Lee said:

I suppose its cos I have a MTB (says on the tyre inflate to 40PSI) and

needs

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

regular top ups to keep it there!

Sounds like you have rather grot valves if "regular" is anything like, say, once a fortnight (just
a figure plucked from the ether, but far more frequently than I have to top up my tyres).

40 is okay for off-road where softer works better, but on tarmac you'd find your progress
*considerably* enhanced with a set of road tyres running at twice that.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells
Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden]
dundee.ac.uk~pjclinchOpen ↗

Mmmm so i understand, might be time for some new tyres!

Lee said:

Mmmm so i understand, might be time for some new tyres!

If you're riding an MTB with its original knobblies on the road for anything other than getting to
the off-road, you're spending a lot of effort you don't need to. A set of road slicks will allow you
to go faster with less effort and they'll very probably improve cornering at speed as well. And be
quieter and more comfortable to ride on.

Nothing beats knobblies for soft/loose conditions, but outside of that they're pretty ghastly and
just suck the life out of a bike on a road.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden]
dundee.ac.uk~pjclinchOpen ↗