Tire pressure on gravel roads

[Aggie_Ama]

For gravel on a mountain bike with tubes, I would stick around 30. For hard pack I would go up to 35. With tubes I had to run a higher pressure. But you don't want to pinch flat on tubes, so bottom line 30 or so. You need a firm tire but a little bit of squish in them for traction. Hope that makes sense, it will once you ride a little more. And since your LBS may know the exact trail ask them what they think as well.

[Catrin]

Thanks Aggie, it helps to have an idea. I suspect that someone at my LBS knows the gravel road/trail I am headed to so will ask. I also need to go look at the gravel trail and make certain it isn't flooded...

[SheFly]

Be careful with tire pressure - it's really an individual choice.

I am 5'10" and between 155 and 160 lbs on a given day. I run my MTB tires (with tubes) between 50 and 60 PSI ALWAYS, including racing. Too much, Becky says! Not so, say I. I haven't flatted on a ride or in a race in years - no fear of pinch flats (and in New England, everything is rocky and rooty).

I'm used to this tire pressure, and am comfortable with it. Riding with less makes me more timid and cautious while riding, thinking about getting a pinch flat.

My point is, that everyone needs to find their own ideal tire pressure, and run with that. I personally would NEVER run 30-35 lbs on a gravel road, but YMMV.

SheFly

[Catrin]

Be careful with tire pressure - it's really an individual choice....

My point is, that everyone needs to find their own ideal tire pressure, and run with that. I personally would NEVER run 30-35 lbs on a gravel road, but YMMV.

SheFly

Thanks SheFly, and I will speak with my LBS. I am 5'3 and weigh 133... I don't know what this trail/road actually looks like but will check it out prior to riding it.

[Aggie_Ama]

SheFly is correct there is no "rule" on pressure. Our trails are super rocky and we Texans run low pressure to compensate the fatigue on our bodies but I am talking "baby head" rock gardens not gravel. It is also constantly loose due to excess droughts. Having squish in my tires makes me feel like I am not bouncing off obstacles and get a grip. Plus with cactus and other prickly plants I know very few people who aren't tubeless here which also changes variables in tire pressure. I have been tubeless almost two years but it is only recently I stopped running very firm tires. I also didn't notice as much with a longer travel front fork (120 mm vs 100 mm now) and rear shock (5" now 4") on my Gary Fisher. So tire pressure isn't the only factor in how the ride feels.

Probably get a starting point and investigate different pressures. Run super high, run super low, run medium. Find your happy place.

[Catrin]

Interesting! The main purpose on this first off-pavement ride is to pop the seals on the rear suspension so my LBS can customize it to the weight of me and my gear - and of course to ride my lovely Jamis They can approximate it pretty darn well, but they explained it would be best to do it this way. They said to expect it to feel odd until we get things dialed in.

I've no idea how much travel I have on this bike, but we will see I am hoping the weather breaks while I am at my conference in Reno next week. I've been focusing on getting enough miles on my Gunnar this week for my fitting next Friday - and for the new bike tune-up. Will start working with the Jamis after my return when, hopefully, things will be a little warmer and drier So far I've only ridden Ms. MG once on pavement.

Depending on the kind/depth of the gravel on this trail, I will start my experiment at 60 psi and go from there.

[Becky]

Be careful with tire pressure - it's really an individual choice.

I am 5'10" and between 155 and 160 lbs on a given day. I run my MTB tires (with tubes) between 50 and 60 PSI ALWAYS, including racing. Too much, Becky says! Not so, say I. I haven't flatted on a ride or in a race in years - no fear of pinch flats (and in New England, everything is rocky and rooty).

I started at 50 and worked my way down until I found the "sweet spot".

It's very much an individual thing and comprised of many variables.