Pumping up road tyres..

[defy-one]

I used 110 psi yesterday. Will try at 80 psi today. Think pressure and tyres in general become a personal choice after a while. It's fun finding your own style

 

[hoopdriver]

There has been some interesting research on tyre pressures. Apparently anything over 110 actually becomes counterproductive unless you're on glassy smooth track as the texture of the road works against the hardness of the tyre.

 

[Hacienda71]

I pump up to what the tyres and wheels are rated to. My wheels are rated upto 140 psi and my tyres are 87 psi to 116 psi, so I tend to put in 110 psi plus a little with a track pump at home. Out on the road when the fairy has made an appearance, I try to put at least 80psi in with the hand pump. It doesn't seem to have much of an adverse effect on my riding.

 

[ushills]

To all those interested in tyre pressure have a read of the link below.

http://www.bikequarterly.com/images/TireDrop.pdf

There are a number of reports now that wider tyres and lower pressures offer lower rolling resistance and comfort, I've moved over to 28C tyres and lower pressures 65psi front and 80psi rear and the grip and comfort is welcome.

 

[hoopdriver]

I've read that article. It was very interesting. I'd always liked the comfort and handling qualities of wider, lower pressure tyres.

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

To all those interested in tyre pressure have a read of the link below...

You beat me to it: another Sacred Cow for the barbecue!

 

[ushills]

You beat me to it: another Sacred Cow for the barbecue!

Indeed, here http://janheine.wordpress.com/2012/06/13/bicycle-quarterly-performance-of-tires/ you can read that wider tyres actually roll faster

 

[defy-one]

That makes for interesting reading. Wondering if changing my tyres to 25c or even 28c will generate a comfortable yet faster time

 

[black'n'yellow]

there is a trade off - otherwise, we'd all be on 40mm rubber. The wider you go, the heavier you get, so the law of diminishing returns applies. 25c would probably be the optimum size for speed/comfort...

 

[ushills]

there is a trade off - otherwise, we'd all be on 40mm rubber. The wider you go, the heavier you get, so the law of diminishing returns applies. 25c would probably be the optimum size for speed/comfort...

I presume that you have not read the research.

Suspension losses have a greater affect than weight, weight affects acceleration but not rolling resistance.

 

[black'n'yellow]

I presume that you have not read the research.

Suspension losses have a greater affect than weight, weight affects acceleration but not rolling resistance.

no - I haven't read the research and I'm not really interested, tbh. Not much point having a 'fast' tyre that won't climb or accelerate. Bear in mind this is the 'real' world, which is why optimum is such a good word to use in this context....

 

[hoopdriver]

Overall weight does matter for racers climbing mountains - not in terms of the usually quoted rotational mass, but simply because a lighter tyre means a lighter bike. Rotational mass affects acceleration, not your rolling resistence or your ability to maintain speed. As the research points out, the differences in tyre weight between, say, 23 and 25 and 28 even 32 are relatively minor and are of concern really only to elite riders on mountain stages. For the rest of us it makes no appreciable difference.

 

[black'n'yellow]

Overall weight does matter for racers climbing mountains - not in terms of the usually quoted rotational mass, but simply because a lighter tyre means a lighter bike.

Sorry, that's rubbish. Did you make that up..?

 

[hoopdriver]

Sorry, that's rubbish. Did you make that up..?

Sure. Made it all up.

 

[black'n'yellow]

Sure. Made it all up.

I thought so - why would you do that..?