Remember to air up those tires!

[SandyLS]

My grandson (12 years old) went on our first supported ride of the year last weekend, The Women on Wheels Ride, Mason Michigan. It was a beautiful day and we had a great time. We both enjoyed the great fruit and cookies at the rest stops and the yummy lunch. Only negative was that we were so slow. Everyone passed us. I decided it must have something to do with riding with the kid even though he assured that he could go faster and I did make him stay behind me. (I thought that way I could keep better track of him on the roads) We had all day to do our 18 miles so there was no rush. The whole idea was to have a great day of bonding with the grandson, mission accomplished. At the end of the ride our speed was just under 12mph.
When we got home Hubby took one look at my bike and said that the tires looked like they could use some air. I bought my new road bike in April and have put on about 500 miles since then. Some how, it never occurred to me to check the air pressure. After all, they didn’t look flat to me. Guess what, the bike rides much better with air in the tires!
Grandson says that he will go riding with me anytime, just what I was hoping to hear.

[Pax]

Good tip! It's easy to ignore 'em if they look fine.


I had to go out an buy the appropriate type of pressure gauge this weekend, the one for my motorcycles and car only goes up to 60lbs. and the tires on the road bike need to be around 100-115lbs. Oops!

[Steph_in_TX]

Maybe we are a tad anal, but we check tire pressue before every ride. With a couple of trips out of town and other things, my bike sat for a couple of weeks and lost some pressure. I can't imagine what you'd lose over 6 months. Enjoy the new ride!

[bikerchick68]

yikes! yep, always check air pressure every ride... and also always check your quick release skewers before every ride to... you just want to make sure they haven't somehow loosened up on ya... it would be bad to have a wheel come off while riding...

glad you had a good ride with your grandson... what a cool thing to do together!!!

[newrider]

Sandy, airing up my tires was the quickest way for me to increase my average mph, too (you'll be amazed!) "I never air up my car tires, what do you mean my bike tires need air before every ride??"

Congrats on the quality time with your grandson. Neither of you will ever regret it!

[caligurl]

i check my tires before i leave on each and every ride... i give them the thumb push test!