Pressure

[Glasgow44]

Hi there. I'm in the middle of packing my panniers for a 4 day trip from Morecambe to Scarborough via The Way of the Roses. What is the best way to gauge the tyre pressure? Should I just pump them up to the maximum just now or do I pack what I'm taking and put the panniers on the bike, then sit on the bike, ride round the block and see how the tyres are. I'm always a bit scared that I pump them up too much or not enough then I get a puncture or I burst the tyre.

The bike is a Specialized Sirrus Sport and the tyres are Schwalbe Marathon Plus 700 x 32c and its says on the tyre: 4.5 - 6.5 bar 65-95 psi

 

[ianrauk]

Go for somewhere in between max and min. You wont burst your tyres. .

 

[User6179]

75 psi would be my estimate , definitely not 95 psi .

 

[vickster]

How heavy are you? What pressure do you usually use? Can't imagine you are adding that much weight in percentage terms to what the bike usually carries (albeit more over back wheel with panniers)

I'd go for around 80-85 being on the heftier side.

 

[Glasgow44]

How heavy are you? What pressure do you usually use? Can't imagine you are adding that much weight in percentage terms to what the bike usually carries (albeit more over back wheel with panniers)

I'd go for around 80-85 being on the heftier side.

I'm about 12 stone and 5'6. I usually have my tyres at the maximum pressure. I have a Joeblow pump - do I need to let all the air out first then blow them up or will the gauge tell me what the existing pressure is?

 

[Debade]

I've ridden thousands of touring miles on Schwalbe Marathon Plus, on many types of roads and simply use the recommended pressure. Can't imagine that the 20-40 added pounds will make a big difference. I am sure there are riders that much bigger than you and Schwalbe does not make a recommendation for varying tyre pressure.

Knowing how to distribute the weight for controlling your bike is more important. May want to search online for tips. I did just read an article that suggested if only using 2 panniers, they are best placed in the back.

 

[vickster]

I'm about 12 stone and 5'6. I usually have my tyres at the maximum pressure. I have a Joeblow pump - do I need to let all the air out first then blow them up or will the gauge tell me what the existing pressure is?

Just use the pump, it should tell you the pressure on the first pump assuming it works (my Joe Blow was crap)

Do you really use max when you are 12 stone...isn't the ride hard?! I found M+ v slippery and jittery when pumped up hard as well

 

[Racing roadkill]

Be careful about pumping your tyres up too much if the weather and / or roads are warm. I know a fair few people who've over pressurised for the conditions and had their tubes go bang spontaneously, because they've left their bikes in the sun, and the inevitable over pressure failure has happened. Same for people who've pumped their tyres up to silly high pressures on a warm sunny day and ridden on the warming tarmac, and their tyres / tubes have suffered a similar fate.

 

[Moodyman]

General advice (from Vittoria) is to pump to max and then ride. This will be harsher than ideal. As you ride, remove about 5psi (this is the equivalent of a quick pssst with your finger nail) each time until it feels right. That is, until you the get balance between comfort and forward movement.

For me as a heavy rider this is max minus 10 psi (about 2 x pssst)