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Properly Inflating Bicycle Tires: The Importance
Posted at: Nov 9, 2020
Tire air maintenance is surprisingly often neglected, but in fact, it is only beneficial. In this issue, we summarize the importance of keeping tires well inflated and the precautions to take when inflating tires.
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The Importance of Air in Bicycle Tires
It makes riding easier.
Tires are the only part of the bicycle that is in contact with the ground. The area of the tire in contact with the ground is directly related to riding performance.
The larger the surface area, the more stable the bicycle is, but the more resistance it encounters from the ground, the less power it has to roll. On the other hand, the smaller the footprint, the less resistance from the ground, and thus the lighter the bicycle can run.
If the bicycle has less air, the tires will be crushed by the importance of the bicycle body and the weight of the person riding the bicycle, so the setting area will increase. This will make it harder to roll and heavier to pedal the bicycle.
If the bicycle is well inflated, the tires will not be crushed and the footprint will be reduced, making the bicycle easier to pedal.
Prevent punctures.
The most common bicycle problem is a flat tire. Although a bicycle puncture seems like a tire failure, most are caused by damage to the tube that inflates the tire.
There are three main causes of punctures
- Foreign object sticks in
- Rim strike
- Tube ruptures
A puncture caused by a stone, nail, glass, or other foreign object puncturing the tube can only be avoided by being careful while riding.
On the other hand, the most common cause of punctures is a phenomenon called rim strike, which is a type of puncture in which the tube breaks when it is caught between the wheel rim and the ground when riding over a bump or other obstacle.
If properly inflated, a bicycle tire is basically fine over bumps, but if it is underinflated, the tire will collapse that much more, causing the distance between the ground and the rim to be closer, triggering a rim-striking puncture.
In other words, properly inflating a bicycle tire is directly related to preventing rim-striking punctures.
Grip force can be adjusted.
You can adjust the tire pressure on road bikes and other sport tires by using an inflator with a gauge, which allows you to measure the tire pressure.
By adjusting the tire pressure, the grip of the tire can be changed. Lowering the air pressure will increase the grip, and increasing the air pressure will reduce rotation.
For example, you can increase air pressure on long rides when you want to ride longer and easier, or decrease air pressure on rainy days to prevent slipping and improve grip.
Tips for inflating bicycle tires
Use the proper air pressure!
There is a proper inflation pressure for bicycle tires. The tire is marked with XXbar, XXXpsi, etc., and that is the correct air pressure.
If you inflate the tire more than the correct pressure, the tube inside the tire will burst (burst). Conversely, if less than the correct air pressure is used, the tire will collapse during riding, causing a rimming puncture.
Therefore, it is important to inflate at “neither too high nor too low” air pressure.
Bicycle Air Gauge: How to Use and Read Memory
This is a summary of how to use a bicycle air gauge and how to read the memory, which can be surprisingly difficult for beginners to understand. We have also picked up some points to check when purchasing an air gauge.
Although it is not possible to measure air pressure with English valves, it is recommended that you have a bicycle shop inflate your bicycle once to check “how hard to inflate” so that you can use it as a guide when inflating your own bicycle.
Check for cracked or damaged tires!
In addition to rolling the bike, bicycle tires also protect the inner tube. Therefore, if a tire is cracked or damaged, it will damage the tube every time you ride, so check the condition of the tire when inflating it.
Tires cost about $20 per tire, which can be a painful expense, but it is better than having a flat tire on the road, so have a bicycle shop check the condition and replace the tire as needed.
Generally speaking, tires should be replaced after 3,000 km. If you commute 10 km to and from work or school every day, it will be time to replace tires after about 2 years.
We have seen the importance of keeping bicycle tires well inflated.
Tire inflation not only prevents bicycle punctures, but also ensures a comfortable ride. Make your bicycle ride more comfortable by maintaining them properly.