High or Low PSI, race results

xtreem
xtreem Posts: 2,965
edited November 2008 in MTB general
As short as posible:

Saturday and Sunday I'm participating in a DH race, with my XC bike. :oops: :D
Today I went with some mates to try the track.

Half way down I blow the rear tire on some rocks, roots.
The guys told me that higher presure for less punctures.
I don't have a pump with a presure gauge so the answer I look is high or low PSI?
And because it's a hardtail, less air front, more rear, wright?

Any other tips for DH racing, just to not finish last?
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Comments

  • johnsav
    johnsav Posts: 775
    lower pressure = more grip but more snake bites
    i run about 40psi back and 35 front

    buy a proper pump! [/quote]
  • Vivid
    Vivid Posts: 267
    johnsav wrote:
    lower pressure = more grip but more snake bites
    i run about 40psi back and 35 front

    buy a proper pump!

    If you want to keep on top of the pressures i would recommend a track pump with a proper gauge as stated above.

    I personally run 30psi front and back. However i run different compounds, 42a front and 60a rear. This is similar to changing the pressures to increase the grip, the 42a front offers more grip than the 60a rear.

    If you want to run low pressures for more grip and be less prone to snakebites, dual ply tyre's would be the way to go.
  • xtreem
    xtreem Posts: 2,965
    Proper pump with presure gauge I can't afford at the moment.

    I know about the grip stuff too. So, I'll keep my curent presure on front, (because with
    suspension fork it will soften the impacts) but on the rear I'll put more because the ride is
    very harsh and there is no rear shock to absorb the impacts.
    Btw, I know about using different PSI depends of the weight of the rider.
    So the numbers don't help much. But many thanks anyway guys. :D

    And another question, I'll see the replys tomorow morning before going to race.

    Pads wear, BB5, they lose half of their stopping power at the end of the run.
    Question: Wich is better: brake constantly with small amount of presure applying to it
    or brake hard - let go off brakes - brake hard?
    NS Bikes Eccentric Alu custom - 2016
  • Spider987
    Spider987 Posts: 189
    Xtreem wrote:
    Proper pump with presure gauge I can't afford at the moment.

    I know about the grip stuff too. So, I'll keep my curent presure on front, (because with
    suspension fork it will soften the impacts) but on the rear I'll put more because the ride is
    very harsh and there is no rear shock to absorb the impacts.
    Btw, I know about using different PSI depends of the weight of the rider.
    So the numbers don't help much. But many thanks anyway guys. :D

    And another question, I'll see the replys tomorow morning before going to race.

    Pads wear, BB5, they lose half of their stopping power at the end of the run.
    Question: Wich is better: brake constantly with small amount of presure applying to it
    or brake hard - let go off brakes - brake hard?
    Depends if your wanting to slow down put the breaks on lightly.
    If your wanting to stop without skidding apply hard then realease then apply hard to avoid skidding
  • xtreem
    xtreem Posts: 2,965
    Thanks guys, going to the race this morning and will let you know
    what I've done, Sunday evening when I get home. :D
    NS Bikes Eccentric Alu custom - 2016
  • xtreem
    xtreem Posts: 2,965
    So as i promised I'll tell you what happened:

    Went on Saturday morning for the practise session.
    I drove the track without pushing my self too hard, just to learn the corners.
    In the practise I've finished the track one and a half times.

    Qualifications came. Started well, pushed my self too hard and the bike, and after 200m
    I blow the rear tire, again, on some rocks. :(

    From 30 riders only I didn't finished the Qual.
    I did changed the tire with the repaired from the friday, but that was deflating slowly.
    So at the end, I redraw from the race. :cry:

    But the saddest thing is that I still don't know for what time I would it finished the track. :cry:
    I didn't care if I had the slowest time, I only cared to finished only once as I wanted. :cry:
    NS Bikes Eccentric Alu custom - 2016
  • shin0r
    shin0r Posts: 555
    Hard luck mate - better luck next time!
  • strodey
    strodey Posts: 481
    Proper pump with presure gauge I can't afford at the moment

    Tesco track pump £8.66 with pressure gauge!
    Carbon is a mans best freind
  • BlackSpur
    BlackSpur Posts: 4,228
    strodey wrote:
    Proper pump with presure gauge I can't afford at the moment

    Tesco track pump £8.66 with pressure gauge!

    Not available in Macedonia though.
    "Melancholy is incompatible with bicycling." ~James E. Starrs
  • strodey
    strodey Posts: 481
    Not available in Macedonia though.

    good point well put :lol:
    Carbon is a mans best freind
  • xtreem
    xtreem Posts: 2,965
    Lucky british guys. :lol:

    Well I think at my lbs can order a Topeak JoeBlow Max II for roughly the same price as at CRC.

    For probably 1month I can save that money.
    But that's not the problem. At that price I need:

    - Fullfinger gloves 661 Comp
    - Multitool Crank Brothers or Topeak
    - Pump

    So wich one? I prefer gloves because winter is coming.
    NS Bikes Eccentric Alu custom - 2016

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