Tire pressure on gravel roads

[spokewench]

I need to do a little hard riding on the Jamis to break the seals on the rear suspension so lbs can customize it for my weight. They said gravel roads would do the job - and out in my corn fields there are some gravel roads that I've never been able to ride As wet as everything is that is my only option anyway - and they said road riding won't do it.

Should I lower the tire pressure any for gravel roads? Last week I ran the full 65 pounds pressure - but that was for pavement. I suspect these roads don't have fresh gravel on them - though I do want to look at them to make certain any flooding has subsided.

I think you are new to riding in the dirt, arent you? For rocky stuff where I ride here in Flag, I never ride with more than 35 in the front, 40 in the rear. I weigh 125 pounds. This will give you a softer ride; I do not think that you are trying to go fast per se, just ride the bike for the lbs and get the feel of it. The harder more air in your tires, the more they slide. I suspect that you would like a more stable feel for some of your first rides, so I would opt for no more than 45 on a dirt road for you.