Pumping away!

[Sara123]

Hi all I've been a lurker for a while but now I need some help pretty please

I have a specialized road bike with presta valves and a beto track pump. When I first attached my pump the psi said 60 although the tyres still felt quite hard Anyways I pumped them to 80 psi and can get no further....and I have tried for ages honest, am I being a wimp or do you think I'm doing something wrong?
Thanks lovely cc people
Sara

 

[Bryony]

to the forum! I can't help you, but there will be a very nice and helpful person along shortly that probably can!

 

[vickster]

Welcome. Just to check you are opening the valve up fully? I struggle to get over 100 with my Joe Blow pump, but that's enough for me

 

[Sara123]

Thanks Bryony
I fear my arms are going to fall off

 

[sittingbull]

Have a look at this thread from yesterday, it may help.

If you're getting to 80 psi then you must be doing something right. It suggests you've either reached the limit of the pump or your own limit

I've got a cheap (£15) plastic bodied Beto track pump and it exceeds my expectations, I stop at 115psi (700 x 23c tyres).

Have another go, arms locked straight and put your weight behind it

 

[Sara123]

Thanks all
I've definitely let a bit of air out, in fact I managed to nearly deflate my tyre but I didn't have the pump end on tight enough

Right I'll go and eat some spinach and have another go

 

[Custom24]

I'm a bit suspicious of the pressure actually in the tyre - it's not that difficult to get 100psi with a track pump.

I blew up a tyre a few weeks ago, and I think it may have been because the gauge on my track pump is not accurate. Is it possible for you to check the gauge in some way? Presta valves make this a bit tricky, but one way, if you have also a bike with a Schrader valve, is to check pump vs tyre pressure gauge on that.
another way is to check the pressure of the Presta tyre according to another gauged pump. That's what I did.

 

[biggs682]

@Sara123 if you were nearer i would suggest pop down to Wellingborough and use my blow joe sport

 

[JasonHolder]

Hey there

When you unscrew the presta thingy-ma-bob, press it in and let a blast of air out. They can get stuck shut from being screwed up thight/mucky and make pumping up impossible. Every time You go to pump.
Any track pump should get 100psi no probs. Even with lovely feminine arms

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Have another go, arms locked straight and put your weight behind it

That's the one! When it starts to get difficult, lock you arms and lower yourself by bending your knees. Your body weight does the work.

 

[JasonHolder]

That's the one! When it starts to get difficult,arms and lower yourself by bending your knees. Your body weight does the work.

Works for climbing hills too (when it starts to get difficult) lock the knees and crush the pedals with bodyweight.
Back on track anyway

 

[PatrickPending]

some pressure indicators on pumps aren't super accurate, I normally go with how the tyre feels as my check.... having said that my Joe Blow seems pretty much spot on.....

 

[JasonHolder]

Bet your tires are under pressure then 60psi feels hard but 100-120 is insanely hard as it should be.

Correct pressure tires should make you feel like youre on EPO.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Works for climbing hills too (when it starts to get difficult) lock the knees and crush the pedals with bodyweight.
Back on track anyway

By the time I've run out of gears I'm usually too tired to stand up. If I stand up before I'm too tired to stand up I soon have to sit down again, which pretty much leaves me back where I started.

 

[JasonHolder]

By the time I've run out of gears I'm usually too tired to stand up. If I stand up before I'm too tired to stand up I soon have to sit down again, which pretty much leaves me back where I started.

Hehe nicely worded!
its never too late to set a good base! Cycling is primarily an endurance sport correct?