Tip to share :-)

top_bhoy

I thought I'd share this little piece of info to any beginners out there as it struck me it may affect them more.

My mate (who is a beginner) recently asked me to pump up his front/rear tyres using my track pump as he only had a hand held mini pump to use. His tyres were very low but after I took them to 110psi - the word back is that it feels like a completely new bike and gets him better speed.

In other words, probably a commonly over-looked problem of not getting a hand held pump anywhere near the required pressure, yet a very effective upgrade at minimal cost!!

Bronzie

Track pump = the most essential tool in the garage

McBain_v1

Agree - 100psi is a minimum

markos1963

Totally agree, just bought a track pump from Tesco of all places(only 9.99) It amazed me how low my tyres were on both my bikes. Now running 110psi on my winter steel hack and 120psi on my carbon summer bike. The transformation was instant with me knocking off 5 mins on my 20 mile loop today

duckiciao

My track pump doesnt have a pressure gauge built in, and obviously a scrader valve gauge wont work. Whats the best way to tell what the pressure is without buying a presta pressure gauge? (if such a thing exists)

dennisn

duckiciao wrote:

My track pump doesnt have a pressure gauge built in, and obviously a scrader valve gauge wont work. Whats the best way to tell what the pressure is without buying a presta pressure gauge? (if such a thing exists)

I'm very hard pressed to think of a way to tell tire pressure without a gauge.
And yes, a presta pressure gauge exists. Get a floor / track pump with a gauge.

Dennis Noward

musto_skiff

How often do you "top them up"?

Bronzie

musto_skiff wrote:

How often do you "top them up"?

Minimum once a week, or before every race / sportif.

My earlier post should have read "track pump with pressure gauge = most important tool in the garage"

DavidTQ

lidls selling a track pump at the moment £5 seems sturdy dont like the base, do like the the arrange ment of cylinder \ piston meaning I dont need to fear trapping parts of my anatomy when using my full body weight to get that last 10 psi in...

andy81

Just to continue the theme, just after a bit of advice on disconnecting the pump after inflating the tyres - whenever I do it I can't avoid air escaping, leaving the pressure too low. The pump I'm using is a Beto pump. Any tips?

PhilofCas

well said Top_Bhoy, it was my first purchase when i got my first road bike

Bronzie

Andy81 - not sure if the Beto has the type of valve adaptor that just pulls straight off or whether there is a locking lever that needs to be undone first - it SHOULD just come off the valve without letting air out - could be that the valve adaptor is worn or faulty

Not Another Hill

Is it just the air that's in the pump rather than from the tyre? Remember there will be air under high pressure in the pump's tube which escapes with a massive hiss as soon as the valve from the pump is released. If you have Presta valve, it's designed to prevent air coming out unless you press the thin metal valve end.

chronyx

This is interesting. I should check my tyres thinking about it.

So will a normal foot pump not reach the required pressure?

Bronzie

chronyx wrote:

So will a normal foot pump not reach the required pressure?

A car footpump? Wont work on presta valves and def wont do 120psi.

Some handpumps (esp the full length "frame pumps") can do 100+psi but they have no pressure gauge so you have to go on feel. If I puncture and pump to what I think is full pressure using my Zefal HPX pump, I'm usually 20psi too low when I check at home.

z000m

i have a dual foot pump it will give any of your track pumps a run for theyre money

top_bhoy

z000m wrote:

i have a dual foot pump it will give any of your track pumps a run for theyre money

Do you use both feet at the same time

It may do the job but I would guess it would not be better than say a Joe Blow dedicated track pump.

If people are serious about doing more than a few Km at a time, a dedicated track pump is an essential item.

HungryCol

Any other tips to share apart from track pumps?!

My tip: Wear Marigolds or laytex decorator gloves when doing maintenence work your bike. Your hands will be glad not to see the nail brush.... again!

graham_g

HungryCol wrote:

Any other tips to share apart from track pumps?!

My tip: Wear Marigolds or laytex decorator gloves when doing maintenence work your bike. Your hands will be glad not to see the nail brush.... again!

But if my hands were really clean after fettling then the missus might expect foreplay! :shock:

chronyx

Graham G wrote:

But if my hands were really clean after fettling then the missus might expect foreplay! :shock:

Totalnewbie

The connector on the Beto pump is awful when it comes to Presta valves, I had to spend a tenner buying the Topeak double head connector upgrading it - then it was perfect.

top_bhoy

Graham G wrote:

HungryCol wrote:

Any other tips to share apart from track pumps?!

My tip: Wear Marigolds or laytex decorator gloves when doing maintenence work your bike. Your hands will be glad not to see the nail brush.... again!

But if my hands were really clean after fettling then the missus might expect foreplay! :shock:

Is fettling an arrestable offence?