Just learned my bike tires lose 2 PSI every single week...

I was getting flats left and right on my commute through downtown Austin. Turns out I was running my tires at like 40 PSI when the sidewall says 65. I checked a bike repair blog and they said tire pressure drops about 2 PSI per week naturally. Now I top them off every Monday morning before my 5 mile ride and haven't had a flat in 3 months. Anyone else check pressure more than once a month?

2 comments

2 Comments

markm276d ago

...so I guess I've been treating my bike tires like a neglected houseplant that only gets watered when it's already wilting. I check my pressure maybe once a month, after I notice the bike feeling sluggish, and then I just pump until it feels "firm enough." Your method sounds way more disciplined, but also like the kind of thing I'd forget by Tuesday and then just pretend I did it until I get a flat. Maybe I'll try setting a phone alarm, but knowing me I'll just snooze it and blame the potholes.

nathan_webb6d ago

markm27 has a point about the alarm thing. I set one for Monday mornings and snooze it half the time anyway, then just check it when I get home from work. Here's the thing though, you said you pump until it feels "firm enough." How do you even know what firm enough feels like? That's basically a guessing game. Have you ever actually checked with a gauge after you think it's good? I bet you're way off.