| If you're planning to go mountain biking, one | | | | behavior. How does it run on the dirt track? |
| of the most basic things you need to be able | | | | Does it slide on the mountain? Does it ride |
| to do is set your tire pressure correctly. A | | | | smoothly around corners? Then try the same |
| correctly inflated tire gives you better | | | | trail again after you've dropped the pressure |
| control and a smoother rise. If the tire | | | | by 5 psi in each tire. If you find the bike |
| pressure is too low, however, you're more | | | | is more stable and the grip on the ground has |
| likely to get a flat tire, as well as just | | | | improved, then stick with that pressure. |
| having to work harder. A high tire pressure | | | | Otherwise, drop the tire pressure a little |
| makes the bike hard to control and gives you | | | | further and try again. Be careful not to go |
| a bumpy ride.Unfortunately there's no one | | | | too low, however, or you'll end up with flat |
| tire pressure that you should use, because it | | | | tires. A tire goes flat if the tire |
| varies according to your personal preference, | | | | compresses against an object and gets |
| the condition of the tire, the type of | | | | damaged.If you're using tubeless tires, you |
| terrain and the condition of the trail. If | | | | might want to start with a lower pressure, |
| you have a good quality bicycle pump you can | | | | such as 30 to 40 psi. With tubeless tires, |
| regulate your tire pressure, and you also | | | | occasional rim contact isn't a problem and |
| need an accurate gauge for taking pressure | | | | the risk of pinch flats is greatly reduced. |
| readings.Start by inflating the tire to the | | | | So it's okay to run on much lower pressures. |
| manufacturer's specifications, and give it a | | | | You still need to be careful not to dent the |
| test run. Then you can decide what | | | | rims or burp air out from the bead. If the |
| adjustments are required. Always try and use | | | | pressure is too low, you'll see the tire |
| the same pump and gauge, because using | | | | rolling out from under the rim on hard |
| different gauges may give you different | | | | corners.Check for rolling resistance when |
| readings.It's often a good idea to start with | | | | you're using lower pressures. This extra |
| the pressure on the high side, so around | | | | rolling resistance means you have to work |
| 40-50 psi (3-3.5 bar), then gradually lower | | | | harder, but it improves the level of control |
| the pressure a little at a time until you | | | | and gives better climbing traction. |
| find the pressure that best suits your bike. | | | | Cross-country racers want better efficiency |
| If you're a heavier rider, or carrying extra | | | | rather than control, however.You can always |
| weight, then you should also keep the tire | | | | resort to old-fashioned methods and give the |
| pressure a little higher.As you're going on | | | | tire a good squeeze. This is a good way of |
| your test ride, carefully observe the | | | | feeling the pressure and determining if air |
| performance of the bike and the tire | | | | is required. |