Tire inflation?

[shadon]

This seems like it should be so basic...but....it's not.

In prep for my ride tommorow...I went to check and fill my tires...back tire no problem. Front tire...not so much. I attached the pump to the valve and it seemed instead to remove air from the tire...suffice to say I now have a front tire that is to soft to ride and has less air in it than it started with.

What the h*ll am I doing wrong???

[DirtDiva]

I dunno. I've bent one of the Presta valves on my bike and I have to be quite careful when I fill that tyre. Mostly it's a problem when I'm trying to get the thing screwed back up fully though... Hope you can get it sorted ASAP.

[shadon]

of course I go off to the closest LBS...and it filled right up. and got the typical bike shop dude shrug..."I dunno..maybe it's your pump" as she (yes she) walked away.
So no I need to salvage the day with some sort of ride...ggrrrrr

[Running Mommy]

It may be your pump! IF you have a pump that has a head for both presta and schraeder valves, it may be the pump. Occasionaly my pump will not recognize that I just inserted a presta valve, and it blows air out the other side!
I thought I was nuts until my husband had the same problem with it. I guess there is a little mechanism inside that doesn't always work?? Because it does it every once in awhile, but for the most part it works. Frustrating for sure!
I could see where it seems like it's taking air out because the pump is pressing on the valve and so air is being released.
Anyway, that's my best guess. Sorry- no real "answer" for you!

[Geonz]

It makes a difference on my bike where the valve is. If it's down between 5 and 7 o'clock, I can't seem to get it to work. I'd have thought pointing down owuld be best... but 11 or 1:00 work best. Getting just the right angle seems to be the trick. (I have the same issues a little bit with the car tires... but my plan is to take them in tomorrow ...)

[shadon]

It may be your pump! IF you have a pump that has a head for both presta and schraeder valves, it may be the pump. Occasionaly my pump will not recognize that I just inserted a presta valve, and it blows air out the other side!
I thought I was nuts until my husband had the same problem with it. I guess there is a little mechanism inside that doesn't always work?? Because it does it every once in awhile, but for the most part it works. Frustrating for sure!
I could see where it seems like it's taking air out because the pump is pressing on the valve and so air is being released.
Anyway, that's my best guess. Sorry- no real "answer" for you!

Hmmmm...I think I'm gonna go find a presta specific pump then. I don't need agrevation like that...it completely through me off my grove for getting ready for the ALC...

Now to work on riding down hill.

[mellic]

I would take Geonz advice before you buy a new pump. Turn your wheel so the valve is at the bottom and then try.

[Petra]

just a few more thoughts:
if a tire is inflated with cold gas, and then warmed up, the gas pressure will increase (like leaving your bike in the hot car on a sunny day.... the tire will explode eventually). If you fill your tire with He (I hope no one was planning on this anyway....might also get a little costly) the He will diffuse through the tire walls really really fast... and this really doesnt help out on the road.
Petra