does low pressure always require a new tube?

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2004-08-04 1:43 PM

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Extreme Veteran
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Boston, MA
Subject: does low pressure always require a new tube?
Yesterday my tires were too low to ride, so does that mean that they need new tubes? or could i just re-inflate them and head out on the road. I thought that it might be from riding my bike in the heat, and storing it in my air conditioned apartment...

I was just planning on pumping 'em bakc up and seeing if the air stayed in... but i thought i'd ask in case anyone could toss thier 2 cents in.
thanks

2004-08-04 1:56 PM
in reply to: #43587

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Elite
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Subject: RE: does low pressure always require a new tube?
Pump'em then ride'em
2004-08-04 2:04 PM
in reply to: #43587

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Resident Curmudgeon
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Subject: RE: does low pressure always require a new tube?
Tires will lose pressure, even overnight, especially the high-pressure skinny road tires. If you haven't checked them over a number of days, the pressure could have been dwindling until the tires were noticeably low. Doesn't mean that they have a puncture, the air just escapes through the tiny pores in the rubber.

Get you a decent floor pump with a gauge and check your pressure every time before you ride.

Once a week or so, fully deflate your tires and fill them with fresh air. That old, stale air will slow you down.






















OK, I was just kidding about the "stale air" part!
2004-08-04 4:48 PM
in reply to: #43587

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Subject: RE: does low pressure always require a new tube?
I pump my tires up to 130psi before every ride. They can drop 30 or 40 psi in just a few days. There probably isn't anything wrong with your tubes.
2004-08-04 11:27 PM
in reply to: #43587

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Elite Veteran
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Roscoe, IL.
Subject: RE: does low pressure always require a new tube?
On Monday I was out the door and clipped in when I heard a funny noise and the front end felt strange. My front tire was flat!?!?! I pumped it up, listened for a leak, wet it down and looked for bubbles, nothing. It has stayed at full pressure since. No clue why it was flat.
2004-08-04 11:30 PM
in reply to: #43587

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Elite
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Racine, WI
Subject: RE: does low pressure always require a new tube?
I've had that experience too...doesn't have to mean a thing. Pump, if it holds, go for it


2004-08-05 12:47 AM
in reply to: #43594

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Elite
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Bay Area, CA
Subject: Old Air?
Now I've heard everything. Old air in the tires will slow you down? Do you have proof of that? Scientific studies with "old" air vs. "new" air and that the athlete was able to gain 30 seconds over a 10 mile course??
2004-08-05 8:10 AM
in reply to: #43587

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Champion
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Subject: RE: does low pressure always require a new tube?
(begin Urban legend) Inflate your tires with Helium and not only will your bike be lighter, but you'll get better looking and younger. You'll have to fight off sponsors with a stick too(end urban legend)

"Old air" hoooboy! thats rich

Must be Friday ;-)

Seriously, though, check your tire pressure before every ride. If you have not invested in a floor pump with a gauge, it's a really good idea. Rubber is fairly porous, and tires can leak down to an unridable level  in a few days. As someone else pointed out, low-volume, high-pressure road bike tires are particularly suceptible to this.

Peas

D



Edited by ride_like_u_stole_it 2004-08-05 8:18 AM
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