dumb question

[velogirl]

I've run in the low 30s on my clinchers (rated to 40psi min, I think) and into the 20s on my tubulars. And I'm a big girl.

And I won't say it, but I've never (you know what) -- knock on wood!

One way I learned what pressure to run was start high. I used to always start aroudn 45psi for my pre-rides. As I would ride the course, I'd see if I was bouncing around (too high). If so, I'd let some air out until I liked the feel. Then I'd check the pressure with a guage (I've got a digital one). After doing that for a while, I've learned what I like.

Although, I still raced with too much air my first race this season. I put the wrong type of valve stem extenders on my new tubulars and I couldn't check the pressure. It's was the first race with lots of distractions and I didn't take enough air out. Was sliding around all over the place.

[telegirl]

Thanks for the question, Ruth! And to Velogirl for her answers!

All of the pros I know LOVE their tubulars, but I was thinking that in cyclocross, it would be a detriment to use tubulars because of the difficulty in fixing the flats (I know racing, you probably have multiple tires already on rims for quick change, but I am talking about just going out and about off road)- And are tubeless becoming popular in the cyclocross arena?

Now that I have my new baby coming, I started getting more tire and rim geeky....frightening.....

[velogirl]

If you don't race, you don't need tubulars. Stick with your clinchers and you'll be fine.

UST tubeless technology hasn't hit the cross scene yet, although Tufo makes a tubular clincher (basically a tubular with a bead so it fits on a clincher rim). I just got some and it was hecka-hard to mount. I couldn't do it by myself and even me & a big guy had a hard time doing it together. It's so tight because it's designed to seal the rim. In my opinion, this would be super-hard to change a flat.

Did I mention you should just stick with your clinchers?

[telegirl]

Hmm, maybe I should stick with clinchers; at least that is what I am reading between the lines there, Velo - I might do some local racing, but just for the fun of it.

Thanks! About the last thing I would have thought I would be is a tire geek....wow, now I just need a pocket protector for my bike jersey.

[madisongrrl]

I've run in the low 30s on my clinchers (rated to 40psi min, I think) and into the 20s on my tubulars. And I'm a big girl.

I ran my clinchers at 37psi this weekend. It worked well with the course. I'm not sure how I would feel dropping it below 35, but I'll have to experiment. I really wanted to run them lower than 37psi, but I was too chicken. One of my teammates sometimes drops her tire pressure to 28-30psi and doesn't have problems with flats. I really like the feel of riding on a lower tire pressure, but I fear the DNF too much.

[spokewench]

Some of our courses in Flagstaff are way to rocky for running really low pressure - they are not typical smoother cyclocross courses so typically I can't run real low pressures -
but since it looks like the only cyclocross this year will be down south in Tucson and Phoenix (whoever heard of cyclocross without snow??? ); I'll probably be able to run higher air pressures