putting air in tires . . . . sigh

[SadieKate]

Limewave, did you get the tire filled?

I hope you didn't go to a gas station and use the compressor. Even with a tire gauge, you could cause some damage. Having seen tires blow off rims, not a good plan. If you can't get any pressure with a floor pump, this isn't going to work either. You need to diagnose the problem.

And, KSH, why ask an older man for help. A woman, young or old, wouldn't know?? A young man? I think you just slighted a whole dang large segment of the population (and I know older men who aren't allowed to touch my bike - for gawd's sack, one politely helped me get ready for a ride once and put his greasy fingers all over my brake rotor while closing the QR). Ahem . . . I think there are a whole lot of TE forum members waiting to hear your reasoning.

[li10up]

Okay, I have a question about all this, too!

The book I bought on riding said to check your air before every ride. Um, no, I haven't. We aired up the tires (using an air compressor hooked up to my husband's car -- he carries it in the back end all the time) when we first assembled the bikes and haven't checked since. (That has been about ten days, now, and I've ridden 31 miles and he's ridden half that.)

How often do you check?

I check mine before every ride. I ride about every other day and in that short of time my tire pressure goes from 100psi to 90psi.

[Deanna]

Okay, I have a question about all this, too!

The book I bought on riding said to check your air before every ride. Um, no, I haven't. We aired up the tires (using an air compressor hooked up to my husband's car -- he carries it in the back end all the time) when we first assembled the bikes and haven't checked since. (That has been about ten days, now, and I've ridden 31 miles and he's ridden half that.)

How often do you check?

I do an ABC check before every ride - Air, Brakes, Cranks. As a cyclist it's your responsibility to make sure your bikes in good working order before you get on the road. It also leaves you less to worry about so you can enjoy the ride more.

[DebW]

Okay, I have a question about all this, too!

The book I bought on riding said to check your air before every ride. Um, no, I haven't. We aired up the tires (using an air compressor hooked up to my husband's car -- he carries it in the back end all the time) when we first assembled the bikes and haven't checked since. (That has been about ten days, now, and I've ridden 31 miles and he's ridden half that.)

How often do you check?

You need to calibrate your thumb. Then you can check before every ride and it only takes 2 seconds per tire. That's my technique. Every tube leaks slowly, and the leak rate varies by tube thickness and material. It's a function of time, not of how often or how far you ride. Most bike tires need a few pump strokes every 3-5 days to maintain pressure, depending on how wide your acceptable tire pressure range is. So if you ride everyday, you don't really have to check your tires every ride, but if you ride once a week you should.

[Grog]

Okay, I have a question about all this, too!

The book I bought on riding said to check your air before every ride. Um, no, I haven't. We aired up the tires (using an air compressor hooked up to my husband's car -- he carries it in the back end all the time) when we first assembled the bikes and haven't checked since. (That has been about ten days, now, and I've ridden 31 miles and he's ridden half that.)

How often do you check?

Low pressure tires (like those on your hybrid) loose air less quickly than high-pressure road bike tires.

On my road bike I add air at every ride, or at least every other day. I don't bother checking the pressure and re-inflating: I just plug the pump on (it has a pressure gauge) and pump them back to 100-110, they're always at about 90-95.

On my hybrid, when I didn't have a road bike, I would pump the tires once a week or so.

On my current city-bike, that I just use to go around campus, never more than 5 km away, I pumped the tires .... hum, in January. Maybe I should check them out!

[pooks]

Okay, thanks -- I need to definitely check my tires!

[hibiscus09]

I checked mine today for the first time in about a week. Wrong! They were way lower in air pressure than I would have thought from just checking by squeezing the tire with my fingers! I'll start checking them for each ride.