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Tire pressure and bad bike shop advice.
Hiya:
So, when I picked up my new bike at the LBS, I asked about how low I could/should go on tire inflation. Background: It's a loaded touring bike with 700x32c tires, max pressure 110 psi, I weigh only SLIGHTLY less than 150 lb and my food-oriented usual group ride group has an instinct for finding really bad roads (Harmony Grove Road, 30th St., etc. for those who've experience with San Diego and the joys of riding "deferred maintenance.") And I won't usuallly be riding with a full load -- I just wanted a drop bar pickup truck that could take the commute and the grocery store run. The answer -- "Don't go under 100 or you'll get pinch flats." This somewhat shocked me, because I've met a few (really slender) brevet riders who put 90 to 100 psi in 700x23c tires. I mean, what's the point in getting the big wheel if you can''t get some decent cushioning out of it? Robert Leone |
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#3
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Tire pressure and bad bike shop advice.
wrote:
Hiya: So, when I picked up my new bike at the LBS, I asked about how low I could/should go on tire inflation. Background: It's a loaded touring bike with 700x32c tires, max pressure 110 psi, I weigh only SLIGHTLY less than 150 lb and my food-oriented usual group ride group has an instinct for finding really bad roads (Harmony Grove Road, 30th St., etc. for those who've experience with San Diego and the joys of riding "deferred maintenance.") And I won't usuallly be riding with a full load -- I just wanted a drop bar pickup truck that could take the commute and the grocery store run. The answer -- "Don't go under 100 or you'll get pinch flats." This somewhat shocked me, because I've met a few (really slender) brevet riders who put 90 to 100 psi in 700x23c tires. I mean, what's the point in getting the big wheel if you can''t get some decent cushioning out of it? Robert Leone Uh, ride around the holes. That is one of the advantages of having a bike and only 2 wheels to worry about instead of a car where you just know you are going to hit one on the left or right. Bill Baka |
#4
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Tire pressure and bad bike shop advice.
"Bill Baka" wrote in message . com... wrote: Hiya: So, when I picked up my new bike at the LBS, I asked about how low I could/should go on tire inflation. Background: It's a loaded touring bike with 700x32c tires, max pressure 110 psi, I weigh only SLIGHTLY less than 150 lb and my food-oriented usual group ride group has an instinct for finding really bad roads (Harmony Grove Road, 30th St., etc. for those who've experience with San Diego and the joys of riding "deferred maintenance.") And I won't usuallly be riding with a full load -- I just wanted a drop bar pickup truck that could take the commute and the grocery store run. The answer -- "Don't go under 100 or you'll get pinch flats." This somewhat shocked me, because I've met a few (really slender) brevet riders who put 90 to 100 psi in 700x23c tires. I mean, what's the point in getting the big wheel if you can''t get some decent cushioning out of it? Robert Leone Uh, ride around the holes. That is one of the advantages of having a bike and only 2 wheels to worry about instead of a car where you just know you are going to hit one on the left or right. Bill Baka I put 2500 km on my 700X32's last year with 75 rear/70 front. They are rated at 85psi Only flat I got was when I picked up a piece of wire - no pinch flats. I weigh 200 lbs Mike |
#5
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Tire pressure and bad bike shop advice.
Weather Guy wrote:
"Bill Baka" wrote in message . com... wrote: Hiya: So, when I picked up my new bike at the LBS, I asked about how low I could/should go on tire inflation. Background: It's a loaded touring bike with 700x32c tires, max pressure 110 psi, I weigh only SLIGHTLY less than 150 lb and my food-oriented usual group ride group has an instinct for finding really bad roads (Harmony Grove Road, 30th St., etc. for those who've experience with San Diego and the joys of riding "deferred maintenance.") And I won't usuallly be riding with a full load -- I just wanted a drop bar pickup truck that could take the commute and the grocery store run. The answer -- "Don't go under 100 or you'll get pinch flats." This somewhat shocked me, because I've met a few (really slender) brevet riders who put 90 to 100 psi in 700x23c tires. I mean, what's the point in getting the big wheel if you can''t get some decent cushioning out of it? Robert Leone Uh, ride around the holes. That is one of the advantages of having a bike and only 2 wheels to worry about instead of a car where you just know you are going to hit one on the left or right. Bill Baka I put 2500 km on my 700X32's last year with 75 rear/70 front. They are rated at 85psi Only flat I got was when I picked up a piece of wire - no pinch flats. I weigh 200 lbs Mike Aren't you putting in a lot of extra work pushing a half flat tire and defeating the road bike skinny tire thing? I run my mountain bikes at 65 psi and I go from 170 (fat) in the winter to 140 (skinny) in the summer. Curious. Bill |
#6
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Tire pressure and bad bike shop advice.
So, when I picked up my new bike at the LBS, I asked about how low I
could/should go on tire inflation. Background: It's a loaded touring bike with 700x32c tires, max pressure 110 psi, I weigh only SLIGHTLY less than 150 lb and my food-oriented usual group ride group has an instinct for finding really bad roads (Harmony Grove Road, 30th St., etc. for those who've experience with San Diego and the joys of riding "deferred maintenance.") And I won't usuallly be riding with a full load -- I just wanted a drop bar pickup truck that could take the commute and the grocery store run. The answer -- "Don't go under 100 or you'll get pinch flats." This somewhat shocked me, because I've met a few (really slender) brevet riders who put 90 to 100 psi in 700x23c tires. I mean, what's the point in getting the big wheel if you can''t get some decent cushioning out of it? 100psi might be a bit higher than needed for a 32c tire, but if the roads are truly that bad, and the shop knows that, it might not be totally unrealistic. As for comfort, simply having a 32c tire to begin with helps greatly in that regard. Those running 90 to 100psi in a 23c tire (and not getting flats) have an angel on their shoulder. Unfortunately, there seems to be a shortage of such angels to go around. --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles www.ChainReactionBicycles.com |
#7
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Tire pressure and bad bike shop advice.
wrote:
Hiya: So, when I picked up my new bike at the LBS, I asked about how low I could/should go on tire inflation. Background: It's a loaded touring bike with 700x32c tires, max pressure 110 psi, I weigh only SLIGHTLY less than 150 lb and my food-oriented usual group ride group has an instinct for finding really bad roads (Harmony Grove Road, 30th St., etc. for those who've experience with San Diego and the joys of riding "deferred maintenance.") And I won't usuallly be riding with a full load -- I just wanted a drop bar pickup truck that could take the commute and the grocery store run. The answer -- "Don't go under 100 or you'll get pinch flats." This somewhat shocked me, because I've met a few (really slender) brevet riders who put 90 to 100 psi in 700x23c tires. I mean, what's the point in getting the big wheel if you can''t get some decent cushioning out of it? Find a new LBS. Sheldon brown recommends 75psi for 32mm wide tires carrying 100 lbs of load per tire (200lbs for the whole bike). Take a look at: http://sheldonbrown.com/tires.html#pressure Personally, I ride 700x32 tires commuting on bad roads in the city with a fiar load. I used to inflate my tires to 90psi, but these days I won't go above 80psi, as they are so much comfier that way. When I finally get around to top up the pressure, they are usaually around 65 psi, and I don't get pinch flats - my flats are caused by sharp pieces of metal - staples, nails, cotter pins, etc, etc. Later, Mark Muller |
#8
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Tire pressure and bad bike shop advice.
On Sun, 12 Mar 2006 22:27:39 +0000, Mike Jacoubowsky wrote:
So, when I picked up my new bike at the LBS, I asked about how low I could/should go on tire inflation. Background: It's a loaded touring bike with 700x32c tires, max pressure 110 psi, I weigh only SLIGHTLY less than 150 lb and my food-oriented usual group ride group has an instinct for finding really bad roads (Harmony Grove Road, 30th St., etc. for those who've experience with San Diego and the joys of riding "deferred maintenance.") And I won't usuallly be riding with a full load -- I just wanted a drop bar pickup truck that could take the commute and the grocery store run. The answer -- "Don't go under 100 or you'll get pinch flats." This somewhat shocked me, because I've met a few (really slender) brevet riders who put 90 to 100 psi in 700x23c tires. I mean, what's the point in getting the big wheel if you can''t get some decent cushioning out of it? 100psi might be a bit higher than needed for a 32c tire, but if the roads are truly that bad, and the shop knows that, it might not be totally unrealistic. As for comfort, simply having a 32c tire to begin with helps greatly in that regard. Those running 90 to 100psi in a 23c tire (and not getting flats) have an angel on their shoulder. Unfortunately, there seems to be a shortage of such angels to go around. Lately I've been riding with 7 bar (101psi) in my front tire (23mm). I'm about 170#, not particularly careful, and I ride some pretty rough roads. I never get pinch flats. I've been told by two different pro team mechanics that they also use 7-8 bar for most riders. Pros may be lighter on average but ride faster -- so they probably hit harder, plus anyone who has raced knows hitting potholes and other hazards is inevitable when boxed in by the peloton. If so many of us can ride successfully at ~100psi with 23mm tires, then surely you can use much lower pressures with 32mm, especially if you're lightly loaded. Matt O. |
#9
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Tire pressure and bad bike shop advice.
wrote:
wrote: Hiya: So, when I picked up my new bike at the LBS, I asked about how low I could/should go on tire inflation. Background: It's a loaded touring bike with 700x32c tires, max pressure 110 psi, I weigh only SLIGHTLY less than 150 lb and my food-oriented usual group ride group has an instinct for finding really bad roads (Harmony Grove Road, 30th St., etc. for those who've experience with San Diego and the joys of riding "deferred maintenance.") And I won't usuallly be riding with a full load -- I just wanted a drop bar pickup truck that could take the commute and the grocery store run. The answer -- "Don't go under 100 or you'll get pinch flats." This somewhat shocked me, because I've met a few (really slender) brevet riders who put 90 to 100 psi in 700x23c tires. I mean, what's the point in getting the big wheel if you can''t get some decent cushioning out of it? Find a new LBS. Sheldon brown recommends 75psi for 32mm wide tires carrying 100 lbs of load per tire (200lbs for the whole bike). Take a look at: http://sheldonbrown.com/tires.html#pressure Personally, I ride 700x32 tires commuting on bad roads in the city with a fiar load. I used to inflate my tires to 90psi, but these days I won't go above 80psi, as they are so much comfier that way. When I finally get around to top up the pressure, they are usaually around 65 psi, and I don't get pinch flats - my flats are caused by sharp pieces of metal - staples, nails, cotter pins, etc, etc. Later, Mark Muller No argument about the 100 lbs per tire but most of your weight is on the seat post so it is more like 150/50. And what about sitting up and riding no hands? Most of us probably do it, safe or not, I admit to it after about ten miles just to relax my wrists. Better safe than walking. Bill |
#10
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Tire pressure and bad bike shop advice.
Lately I've been riding with 7 bar (101psi) in my front tire (23mm).
I'm about 170#, not particularly careful, and I ride some pretty rough roads. I never get pinch flats. I'm not convinced that pinch flats are the only type of flat reduced by higher pressures. I don't understand the mechanism, but it seems that my customers running lower pressures get more flats from objects that become embedded in their tires as well. I've been told by two different pro team mechanics that they also use 7-8 bar for most riders. Pros may be lighter on average but ride faster -- so they probably hit harder, plus anyone who has raced knows hitting potholes and other hazards is inevitable when boxed in by the peloton. Speed is a key element, along with riding in a pack and not being near the front. The higher the speed, the more force upon the tire when you hit a pothole (and the more likely you'll bottom out). Ironically, at higher speeds, the impact often feels less severe, perhaps because you have more forward momentum. Riding in a pack is an issue as those toward the back don't see what's on the road in front of them, and they're also likely riding "on the rivet" and not as able to take evasive maneuvers when something is spotted. If so many of us can ride successfully at ~100psi with 23mm tires, then surely you can use much lower pressures with 32mm, especially if you're lightly loaded. The original poster talked about his bike both set up for loaded touring as well as lightly loaded. A loaded touring bike can be pretty deadly for pinch flats, because you can't easily lift the wheels (or jump the bike) over whatever shows up in front of you. But all things being equal, a tire with greater air volume will allow for lower tire pressures. Matt O. -- --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles www.ChainReactionBicycles.com "Matt O'Toole" wrote in message news On Sun, 12 Mar 2006 22:27:39 +0000, Mike Jacoubowsky wrote: So, when I picked up my new bike at the LBS, I asked about how low I could/should go on tire inflation. Background: It's a loaded touring bike with 700x32c tires, max pressure 110 psi, I weigh only SLIGHTLY less than 150 lb and my food-oriented usual group ride group has an instinct for finding really bad roads (Harmony Grove Road, 30th St., etc. for those who've experience with San Diego and the joys of riding "deferred maintenance.") And I won't usuallly be riding with a full load -- I just wanted a drop bar pickup truck that could take the commute and the grocery store run. The answer -- "Don't go under 100 or you'll get pinch flats." This somewhat shocked me, because I've met a few (really slender) brevet riders who put 90 to 100 psi in 700x23c tires. I mean, what's the point in getting the big wheel if you can''t get some decent cushioning out of it? 100psi might be a bit higher than needed for a 32c tire, but if the roads are truly that bad, and the shop knows that, it might not be totally unrealistic. As for comfort, simply having a 32c tire to begin with helps greatly in that regard. Those running 90 to 100psi in a 23c tire (and not getting flats) have an angel on their shoulder. Unfortunately, there seems to be a shortage of such angels to go around. Lately I've been riding with 7 bar (101psi) in my front tire (23mm). I'm about 170#, not particularly careful, and I ride some pretty rough roads. I never get pinch flats. I've been told by two different pro team mechanics that they also use 7-8 bar for most riders. Pros may be lighter on average but ride faster -- so they probably hit harder, plus anyone who has raced knows hitting potholes and other hazards is inevitable when boxed in by the peloton. If so many of us can ride successfully at ~100psi with 23mm tires, then surely you can use much lower pressures with 32mm, especially if you're lightly loaded. Matt O. |
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