pressure sensors

ugo.santalucia
ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,313
edited April 2019 in Road general
This is a step forward in cycling safety and I have been advocating for those for quite some time... I wasn't expecting such a hefty price tag. When they drop a zero from the price, I'll buy them :D

https://www.wiggle.co.uk/quarq-tyrewiz- ... uMEALw_wcB
left the forum March 2023
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Comments

  • redvision
    redvision Posts: 2,958
    I remember dcrainmakers review:
    https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2018/04/han ... r.html/amp
  • pilot_pete
    pilot_pete Posts: 2,120
    I can’t see the advantage. I check my pressures with my track pump before each ride (as they always need a few psi adding anyway) and if my tyres puncture on the ride I know they have. Am I missing something?

    PP
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    I just use my thumbs to see if the tyre needs pumping up.

    Not as accurate but works for me.
  • joey54321
    joey54321 Posts: 1,297
    I'm curious why you see it as a step forward for safety?
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,313
    joey54321 wrote:
    I'm curious why you see it as a step forward for safety?

    Answers both you and Cougie.
    Descent from Blenau Ffestinogg, east side, it's about 2 miles where you can keep a constant 50 mph. A puncture at any point could end in tragedy... however, having a device that spots sudden drops in pressure might just save your life, giving you the opportunity to come to a stop while there is still air in the tyre.

    It's not about checking whether you have 100 PSI, but spotting if it quickly drops.

    Equally, if your rims overheat, tyre pressure will go up, you get a warning, so you can let them cool before they burst out of the rim
    left the forum March 2023
  • joey54321
    joey54321 Posts: 1,297
    I've had a sudden puncture while descending in the alps, I certainly wouldn't have been wanting to look at my Garmin to check my PSI.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,313
    joey54321 wrote:
    I've had a sudden puncture while descending in the alps, I certainly wouldn't have been wanting to look at my Garmin to check my PSI.

    You would have spotted it earlier, with no need to rap yourself... besides, you might have an alarm sounding when there is a drop of say more than 10 PSI, so you might not even need to look.

    It's about whether you care or not... these days we spend 100 quid or more for a helmet than more often than not will never do any useful job other than making your neck sore and your head less aerodynamic... it's peace of mind, and these things are the same... peace of mind... is this peace of mind worth 200 quid a pop? No way, is it worth 20 quid? Maybe...
    left the forum March 2023
  • davep1
    davep1 Posts: 837
    My car has them, although I don't think they are that great. The pressure should be 37 psi but the low pressure warning didn't sound until 22 psi. If they are to be safe, surely they need to be more accurate/resposnive than that?
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,313
    DaveP1 wrote:
    My car has them, although I don't think they are that great. The pressure should be 37 psi but the low pressure warning didn't sound until 22 psi. If they are to be safe, surely they need to be more accurate/resposnive than that?

    22 PSI for a car tyre is still well within safety.
    left the forum March 2023
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,313
    Incidentally the Bosch sensors for cars cost about 20 quid each, which is the figure I had in mind...
    left the forum March 2023
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    My car works out indirectly if tyre pressure has fallen by detecting changes in wheel rotation characteristics via the ABS and traction control systems. I think. Seems quite sensitive; it's been triggered 3 times in as many years. Twice a tyre just needed a couple of psi top-up, once it was a nail in the tyre -> slow leak -> new tyre.

    Not sure about cost-benefit for a pushbike though
  • cgfw201
    cgfw201 Posts: 680
    £200! Having done over 100,000km without having a puncture I've not been able to slow down and stop from in a safe way, this seems totally over the top for solving a problem which doesn't really exist.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,313
    cgfw201 wrote:
    £200! Having done over 100,000km without having a puncture I've not been able to slow down and stop from in a safe way, this seems totally over the top for solving a problem which doesn't really exist.

    Sure... but to play devil's advocate... how many times have you damaged your helmet to the point that you can say it did serve a purpose?

    In my case it did happen once in 2010, but I am still on the fence whether I would have suffered a serious injury or not. So that's 14 years worth of helmets ( I started using one in 2005)... 6-7 of them, easily 400 pounds
    left the forum March 2023
  • cgfw201
    cgfw201 Posts: 680
    ugo.santalucia wrote:
    cgfw201 wrote:
    £200! Having done over 100,000km without having a puncture I've not been able to slow down and stop from in a safe way, this seems totally over the top for solving a problem which doesn't really exist.

    Sure... but to play devil's advocate... how many times have you damaged your helmet to the point that you can say it did serve a purpose?

    In my case it did happen once in 2010, but I am still on the fence whether I would have suffered a serious injury or not. So that's 14 years worth of helmets ( I started using one in 2005)... 6-7 of them, easily 400 pounds

    Reckon I'd be better off spending £500 on a parachute for next time I cycle off the edge of a cliff.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,313
    cgfw201 wrote:

    Reckon I'd be better off spending £500 on a parachute for next time I cycle off the edge of a cliff.

    Most safety innovations get that reaction... safety belts, ABS, helmets... then when the price drops they become "essentials". Obviously the current price makes them redundant, but if they were 10-20 quid, then why not?

    As an aside, during a ride I more than once have the impression of a flat tyre, typically when there is side wind and the rear wheel seems to do its own thing... so I visually inspect while I ride... with that thing I wouldn't have to bother.

    It's only the price, really
    left the forum March 2023
  • whyamihere
    whyamihere Posts: 7,715
    ugo.santalucia wrote:
    As an aside, during a ride I more than once have the impression of a flat tyre, typically when there is side wind and the rear wheel seems to do its own thing... so I visually inspect while I ride... with that thing I wouldn't have to bother.

    It's only the price, really
    Even ignoring the safety aspects, if they were cheaper I'd consider them for that aspect alone... I do see more of an application on the MTB side - In the unlikely scenario where I burp a few PSI out of the rear tyre, I'd like to know about it before I ride a rock garden with an under-inflated tyre over a carbon rim.
  • meursault
    meursault Posts: 1,433
    Super ugly looking things too.

    £20 quid and tech in the core, I'll buy them.
    Superstition sets the whole world in flames; philosophy quenches them.

    Voltaire
  • joey54321
    joey54321 Posts: 1,297
    cgfw201 wrote:
    £200! Having done over 100,000km without having a puncture I've not been able to slow down and stop from in a safe way, this seems totally over the top for solving a problem which doesn't really exist.

    Are you on tractor tyres or something? 100,000km is an insane distance to not have a puncture over!

    I've actually been convinced, at £20 i'd likely call it good value and buy one/two.
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    Hmmm well I did blow out a tyre descending the Alpe one July, but the sensor wouldn't have helped.

    It would tell me that I hadn't checked my pressures before riding I guess but too pricey for the limited benefit for me.
  • wongataa
    wongataa Posts: 1,001
    joey54321 wrote:
    cgfw201 wrote:
    £200! Having done over 100,000km without having a puncture I've not been able to slow down and stop from in a safe way, this seems totally over the top for solving a problem which doesn't really exist.

    Are you on tractor tyres or something? 100,000km is an insane distance to not have a puncture over!

    I've actually been convinced, at £20 i'd likely call it good value and buy one/two.
    He didn't say he had done 100,000km without a puncture.
  • davebradswmb
    davebradswmb Posts: 548
    cougie wrote:
    Hmmm well I did blow out a tyre descending the Alpe one July, but the sensor wouldn't have helped.
    Why would it have not helped?
  • joey54321
    joey54321 Posts: 1,297
    wongataa wrote:
    joey54321 wrote:
    cgfw201 wrote:
    £200! Having done over 100,000km without having a puncture I've not been able to slow down and stop from in a safe way, this seems totally over the top for solving a problem which doesn't really exist.

    Are you on tractor tyres or something? 100,000km is an insane distance to not have a puncture over!

    I've actually been convinced, at £20 i'd likely call it good value and buy one/two.
    He didn't say he had done 100,000km without a puncture.

    Ah yeah, my bad.
  • Alejandrosdog
    Alejandrosdog Posts: 1,975
    At what point do you abdicate responsibility for your own safety?
  • First.Aspect
    First.Aspect Posts: 17,207
    davebradswmb wrote:
    cougie wrote:
    Hmmm well I did blow out a tyre descending the Alpe one July, but the sensor wouldn't have helped.
    Why would it have not helped?
    A puncture is dangerous when it is sudden. It tends to make a loud hissing sound or a bang. You may hear that while you are falling off. I tend not to have time to check my phone while this is happening.

    A slow puncture on the other hand happens, um, slowly, and you can tell because your tire feels like it is slowly going flat.

    I would prefer to spend £200 on 50 inner tubes.
  • davebradswmb
    davebradswmb Posts: 548
    First Aspect wrote:
    davebradswmb wrote:
    cougie wrote:
    Hmmm well I did blow out a tyre descending the Alpe one July, but the sensor wouldn't have helped.
    Why would it have not helped?
    A puncture is dangerous when it is sudden. It tends to make a loud hissing sound or a bang. You may hear that while you are falling off. I tend not to have time to check my phone while this is happening.

    A slow puncture on the other hand happens, um, slowly, and you can tell because your tire feels like it is slowly going flat.

    I would prefer to spend £200 on 50 inner tubes.
    You still haven't really answered my question. If it was sudden then it is quite likely to have been due to excessive pressure as a result of the heat from braking. I couldn't see any detail of how the app works, but it's not difficult to conceive that it might be configured to sound loud alarm to warn you of dangerous pressure whether high or low.

    That is not to say that I would invest in a pair even at £20.I've had a blow out on a steepish (~20%) descent, though it was due to trying to get too much life out of my tyres rather than any excessive pressure, and I still managed to stop my bike without to much drama. You could be unlucky and have it happen in the middle of a bend I suppose.
  • First.Aspect
    First.Aspect Posts: 17,207
    davebradswmb wrote:
    First Aspect wrote:
    davebradswmb wrote:
    cougie wrote:
    Hmmm well I did blow out a tyre descending the Alpe one July, but the sensor wouldn't have helped.
    Why would it have not helped?
    A puncture is dangerous when it is sudden. It tends to make a loud hissing sound or a bang. You may hear that while you are falling off. I tend not to have time to check my phone while this is happening.

    A slow puncture on the other hand happens, um, slowly, and you can tell because your tire feels like it is slowly going flat.

    I would prefer to spend £200 on 50 inner tubes.
    You still haven't really answered my question. If it was sudden then it is quite likely to have been due to excessive pressure as a result of the heat from braking. I couldn't see any detail of how the app works, but it's not difficult to conceive that it might be configured to sound loud alarm to warn you of dangerous pressure whether high or low.

    That is not to say that I would invest in a pair even at £20.I've had a blow out on a steepish (~20%) descent, though it was due to trying to get too much life out of my tyres rather than any excessive pressure, and I still managed to stop my bike without to much drama. You could be unlucky and have it happen in the middle of a bend I suppose.
    I see you have taken up cycling recently, and read a lot about carbon clinchers. Without understanding it.
  • davebradswmb
    davebradswmb Posts: 548
    First Aspect wrote:
    I see you have taken up cycling recently, and read a lot about carbon clinchers. Without understanding it.
    Why so rude? And so wrong at the same time? You still haven't explained yourself. Why did your tyre blow out? Simple question, can you try answering it? And then we may understand why the pressure sensor wouldn't have helped.
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    davebradswmb wrote:
    cougie wrote:
    Hmmm well I did blow out a tyre descending the Alpe one July, but the sensor wouldn't have helped.
    Why would it have not helped?

    It's not like the tyre went down slowly. It blew out. I can't see that the sensor would have indicated this was likely and I'm not even sure what pressure would be indicative of a blow out.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,313
    Alejandrosdog wrote:
    At what point do you abdicate responsibility for your own safety?

    They are not must have, but if technology needs to go somewhere, better to go towards safety, than towards yet more sprockets in your cassette, don't you think?

    Most people seem to obsess about their heart rate, while they are sitting on a blubber pumped at 100 PSI... :roll:
    left the forum March 2023
  • MiddleRinger
    MiddleRinger Posts: 678
    I have tyre pressure sensors on my motorbike. Very useful bit of information and/or warning system.

    If they were a bit smaller, better looking and cost under fifty quid I'd consider them for the road bike. I can see them being much more useful on a mountain bike though.
    ~ ~ How fast is fast enough? ~ ~ ~ ~ Tempo Cyclist - Tasmania ~ ~

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