Fill up those tires!!

[madisongrrl]

Who da thunk?? The nice guy that sold me my bike stressed the importance of checking the tire pressure daily. I was, like, sure. Yesterday was our first ride and sure enough when we got ready to ride tonight I felt the tire. Felt pretty darn rock hard. The tires call for 120 psi (check the tires to know what pressure you need); my tires were at 90 psi. What the?? Anyway, I just wanted to share with any other new riders to make sure you air up daily. We have the handy dandy standing pump with the pressure guage built in. Easy to use. Have fun!!

Absolutely check your tire pressure before every ride. You might not want to run your tire pressure at 120 depending on your bike frame material, tire selection, road conditions, your weight etc. I'll usually run the tire pressure on my road bike at 100-110... Because the ride is less harsh than at 120 psi. But it is also important not to run the tire pressure too low as you might pinch flat.

[Bruno28]

Learned from experience:

I decided to check that I could pump up my tires on my brand new bike as the tire valves looked a bit odd (Presta valves as it turns out - they didn't have them in my day). ANyway I finally managed to figure out how they worked after extensive 'googling'.

Managed to let a some air out my tires while fiddling about with the valves. Took half an hour and another frantic search on the web to find out how to attach my trusty hand pump to them. Started pumping and got to the stage where I could barely budge the pump any more and the tires still had a slightly jelly like consistency. Have ordered a foot pump. New cyclists - be warned!

[run it, ride it]

Bruno, if you don't mind sharing...

How DO you inflate/deflate via presta valves? Do you need a special pump attachment?

A month and counting, I've NEVER checked my tire pressure and I probably should. I have an air compressor in my vehicle with a built-in guage but I'm afraid it will fill the little road tire much too quickly. That is assuming I could somehow attach that to the valve in the first place.

What's the deal with presta, anyway? Did someone specifically set out to manufacture a valve to confuse newbies?

It astounds me that my nearest bike shop (90km away; not especially 'local') failed to mention so many things to me about my new bike. For example, what tool was needed to adjust the seat (allen key... who would have guessed?), or what the deal was with the valves. None of this is in the owner's manual, and I definitely told them that my last bike was a clunker from the 70s so I knew approximately nothing.

Thanks for the tire pressure memo, Tori!

[Bruno28]

How DO you inflate/deflate via presta valves? Do you need a special pump attachment?

Gee - this is the first time I've given advice on these forums!

Well, you undo the little brass nut at the top of the valve (it will be screwed part way down). You think you are going to let the air out of the tyre - but you won't. if you press the little brass pin like thing sticking out of the valve this will let out a little air and show the valve is working.

Most pumps have a presta valve setting which is basically a rubber washer with the smallest dimension hole of all the variations avaiable on the pump adaptors. You then put the pump on the valve to the bit where theres a smooth, unthreaded ridge. Then you pump til you feel like you are about to explode and wonder if you should swallow your pride and ask your male neighbour for help.

ONe tip - when attaching the pump to the valve, the lever on the pump acts the opposite way to a car pump - you attach it with the lever down and flick it up to lock it on the valve. I spent ages trying to attach the pump when it was locked shut at the opening to let the air into the tyres.

I'm sorry if this has confused you even more but I'm not very technical.

Just noticed kalidurga has explained this more succinctly - but you can have the benefit of my experience anyway!

BTW I'm glad it's not just me - I thought these Presta things had arrived in the thirty years since I last cycled but seems they are a relatively recent thing.

PS my bike shop never thought to mention the presta thing to me either.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

It's really good to have a floor pump with a pressure gauge dial and a little "wing" stand that you put your feet/foot on to steady- keep that pump in your garage or wherever you keep your bike. That's the pump you'll mostly use to pump up before you ride. It shouldn't be that difficult to pump the pressure up on it.

The smaller portable pump is the one you take with you for flats- that's the one that it can be a bit harder to get the pressure up by pumping with your hand. It may not have a gauge. It can be compact, might telescope, or you can attach it to under your top tube, or along your frame parallel to your water bottle cage.

[caligurl]

i don't run my tires at 120 either.... i run them at 100.... cushier ride!

[Bikingmomof3]

I check my tires every day, before I ride. My tires always need some air. I have presta valves, but I am uncertain of the question as I have not encountered any difficulty with the valves-granted I have only know presta valves, so I am missing information.

[Kalidurga]

Ugh, I learned the hard way that you need to check tire pressure before every ride. I had never had a bike with Presta valves before this year and had no clue about how they work. After about a month with the new bike, I had two rides in a row on which I thought my legs were just made of lead. One ride was just two miles up to the store and back, and I seriously wondered what was wrong with me! Then I got the weekly RoadBikeRider e-newsletter, which serendipitously enough had an article about using Presta valves. Eureka! It wasn't my legs at all, it was that I hadn't pumped up the tires properly! Made all the difference in the world (and I'm probably lucky I didn't end up with a pinch flat). Now, if I were just smart enough to apply what I learned about low pressure and rolling resistance on my bike to my car tires, I'd be in really good shape...

Bruno, those Presta valves are a bit temperamental. I have a floor pump and I still end up having to remove and attach the valve head a few times to get it lined up properly. If it's not aligned you'll get that feeling that the pump won't budge, but it's definitely not because the tire's full.

run it, it seems that most pumps these days have valve heads for both Schrader and Presta valves. If yours doesn't, you can probably get a Presta attachment from the LBS. After removing the valve cap, there's a little bit of metal near the tip of the valve that unscrews. You should turn it to the point that it's at the tip of the valve stem. Then, gently push the tip of the stem in and listen for a release of air. Your valve stem is then primed and ready. Sheldon Brown, bless him, has pictures of this: Presta Valve Stem.

[Bruno28]

Bruno, those Presta valves are a bit temperamental. I have a floor pump and I still end up having to remove and attach the valve head a few times to get it lined up properly. If it's not aligned you'll get that feeling that the pump won't budge, but it's definitely not because the tire's full.

I see what you mean about it being easier to pump when it's 'lined up'....but I'm not sure what I'm lining up with what??? Maybe I just think about things too much.

[DebW]

Presta valves can be sticky. Sometimes you have to hit the pin a couple times and let a little air out before the pump can put air in. And try to keep the pump chuck perpendicular to the rim. Moving the pump around on the floor until things line up is often helpful.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I think on Presta valves, after you unscrew the little dohicky and it is all the way at the end of the piin, you are SUPPOSED to press it in a bit to let a LITTLE air out before attaching the pump to it. I was told this "opens" the Presta valve and makes it unstick and ready to accept the pump valve. Note: it can be a bit startling the first time when the air shoots out on your finger, but after that you expect it.

[Kalidurga]

I see what you mean about it being easier to pump when it's 'lined up'....but I'm not sure what I'm lining up with what???

I'm guessing that what happens is that the valve stem can get knocked crooked if the pump chuck (thanks DebW, I wasn't sure what that's called) isn't put on just right, which would probably inhibit airflow. You do have to prime the valve, as DebW and Lisa S.H. described, but gettin' that chuck just right is always an issue for me.

Re: Proper tire pressure for thin road tires-- Does anyone here have access to the RoadBikeRider article archives? I seem to recall an e-newsletter a few months ago that talked about keeping road bike tires inflated to 85-90psi, regardless of what was recommended. I may have to pay for a membership and see if I can find that article. The guy made some interesting comments.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I've also heard that one should occasionally replace the rubber end on the Presta pump vavle- that it does wear with use and won't form a good seal after a lot of use.

[DebW]

I've also heard that one should occasionally replace the rubber end on the Presta pump valve- that it does wear with use and won't form a good seal after a lot of use.

It's just a rubber grommet and easy to replace. I've had them last 10-20 years however. Also if your pump head just screws down on the grommet, it makes a difference how tightly you screw it down. Too tight and the hole in the grommet gets smaller and may hold the valve open even when you're not pumping so that all the air leaks out. Too loose it may not seal well. If you're having trouble with your pump seal, try tightening or loosening the chuck head over the grommet.

[Dogmama]

Re: Proper tire pressure for thin road tires-- Does anyone here have access to the RoadBikeRider article archives? I seem to recall an e-newsletter a few months ago that talked about keeping road bike tires inflated to 85-90psi, regardless of what was recommended. I may have to pay for a membership and see if I can find that article. The guy made some interesting comments.

I inflate mine to 120 (road bike.) I think 85-90 is WAY too low. You risk snake bite flats - where the tube gets caught between the tire and the rim. The holes appear like snake bites - or so I'm told - I can never find the %#$&^ holes in my tubes (as mentioned on another thread.)

A higher psi = less rolling resistance = easier to pedal. I'm 52 years old tomorrow, so I need all the help I can get!