Tubular Tires - air pressure

Luke DeMoe

2012-09-21

Jeremy Powers runs between 24-27 and he is god. We all should bow down, and
hit up Slate for some Rapha kits. They are 7% faster then all other
clothing...

On Thu, Sep 20, 2012 at 6:12 PM, Drew Coleman wrote:

> This is a pretty good call. I weigh 165-170 and run pretty darned close
> to what he guessed. 35 in rear, 32.5 in front with adjustments based on
> conditions. Tubies are a revelation, by the way. I switched this year and
> will never go back (that is until I inevitably flat and get glue all over
> myself as I learn that phase of cycling).
>
> Drew
>
> ------------------------------
> Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2012 16:08:13 -0700
> From: cyclematt@gmail.com
> To: birdman@teamfoodbaby.com
> CC: obra@list.obra.org
> Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Tubular Tires - air pressure
>
>
> Tom,
>
> Be prepared! You are going to get lots of replies on this! Here is my two
> cents...
>
> Quick answer: assuming you are running 700 x 32's. At 175 I would guess 35
> in the rear and 30 front.
>
> Longer answer: It depends on your tire, weight, riding style
> and conditions. Run a bit more pressure on a dry course and a bit less on a
> wet course relative to what you typically run.
>
> The main way tires stick to the ground is by allowing the casing of the
> tire to conform to the ground. The goal is to get as large a contact patch
> as possible while not pinch flatting or having
> the casing roll in corners. The lower the pressure the larger the contact
> patch and the more traction you get. On a cross bike the only suspension is
> the tire. Too much air and you have a very bumpy ride that is hard to
> control.
>
> Too low pressure and you will dent the rim, pinch flat, or roll the tire
> off the rim.
>
> I like this "rule of thumb" method for checking tire pressure. Take your
> left hand and make a fist. Now stick your thumb out. Place your right palm
> over your thumb. Now place your thumb on the tire so your outstretched
> thumb is perpendicular to the wheel. Using your body weight you should not
> quite be able to touch the
> rim. Thats a good starting place for tire pressure and a good technique
> in general for learning to check pressure.
>
> I weigh 145 and in this dry weather, running 700 x 32 Tufo Cubus tubulars,
> I start with 30 in the rear and about 26 up front. I ride very
> aggressively...cornering hard where I can so I don't have to slow down.
> When cornering hard with low pressure there are lots of lateral forces
> being applied. I have seen tires roll off rims mostly with riders who run
> very low pressures. It makes sense.
>
> You have to find that balance of suspension, traction, and reliability (no
> flats or tires coming off!). Hope this helps.
>
> Matt Martel
>
> On Thu, Sep 20, 2012 at 3:31 PM, Tom Bird wrote:
>
> So getting ready for first races on my new tires and wheels. Never been on
> tubulars before and looking for a starting air pressure for the cross
> races. I weigh 170-175 depending on how much beer I drank the night before.
>
> I figure once I have a good idea I will adjust from there once I get some
> ride time under me.
>
> Oh and with things hot, dusty, and dry now how much do you vary the
> pressure when it gets wet and sloppy?
>
> Thanks
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Drew Coleman

2012-09-21

This is a pretty good call. I weigh 165-170 and run pretty darned close to what he guessed. 35 in rear, 32.5 in front with adjustments based on conditions. Tubies are a revelation, by the way. I switched this year and will never go back (that is until I inevitably flat and get glue all over myself as I learn that phase of cycling).

Drew

Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2012 16:08:13 -0700
From: cyclematt@gmail.com
To: birdman@teamfoodbaby.com
CC: obra@list.obra.org
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] Tubular Tires - air pressure

Tom, Be prepared! You are going to get lots of replies on this! Here is my two cents... Quick answer: assuming you are running 700 x 32's. At 175 I would guess 35 in the rear and 30 front.
Longer answer: It depends on your tire, weight, riding style and conditions. Run a bit more pressure on a dry course and a bit less on a wet course relative to what you typically run.
The main way tires stick to the ground is by allowing the casing of the tire to conform to the ground. The goal is to get as large a contact patch as possible while not pinch flatting or having
the casing roll in corners. The lower the pressure the larger the contact patch and the more traction you get. On a cross bike the only suspension is the tire. Too much air and you have a very bumpy ride that is hard to control.
Too low pressure and you will dent the rim, pinch flat, or roll the tire off the rim. I like this "rule of thumb" method for checking tire pressure. Take your left hand and make a fist. Now stick your thumb out. Place your right palm over your thumb. Now place your thumb on the tire so your outstretched thumb is perpendicular to the wheel. Using your body weight you should not quite be able to touch the

rim. Thats a good starting place for tire pressure and a good technique in general for learning to check pressure. I weigh 145 and in this dry weather, running 700 x 32 Tufo Cubus tubulars, I start with 30 in the rear and about 26 up front. I ride very aggressively...cornering hard where I can so I don't have to slow down. When cornering hard with low pressure there are lots of lateral forces being applied. I have seen tires roll off rims mostly with riders who run very low pressures. It makes sense.
You have to find that balance of suspension, traction, and reliability (no flats or tires coming off!). Hope this helps. Matt Martel

On Thu, Sep 20, 2012 at 3:31 PM, Tom Bird wrote:

So getting ready for first races on my new tires and wheels. Never been on tubulars before and looking for a starting air pressure for the cross races. I weigh 170-175 depending on how much beer I drank the night before.

I figure once I have a good idea I will adjust from there once I get some ride time under me.

Oh and with things hot, dusty, and dry now how much do you vary the pressure when it gets wet and sloppy?

Thanks

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Matt Martel

2012-09-20

Tom,

Be prepared! You are going to get lots of replies on this! Here is my two
cents...

Quick answer: assuming you are running 700 x 32's. At 175 I would guess 35
in the rear and 30 front.

Longer answer: It depends on your tire, weight, riding style
and conditions. Run a bit more pressure on a dry course and a bit less on a
wet course relative to what you typically run.

The main way tires stick to the ground is by allowing the casing of the
tire to conform to the ground. The goal is to get as large a contact patch
as possible while not pinch flatting or having
the casing roll in corners. The lower the pressure the larger the contact
patch and the more traction you get. On a cross bike the only suspension is
the tire. Too much air and you have a very bumpy ride that is hard to
control.

Too low pressure and you will dent the rim, pinch flat, or roll the tire
off the rim.

I like this "rule of thumb" method for checking tire pressure. Take your
left hand and make a fist. Now stick your thumb out. Place your right palm
over your thumb. Now place your thumb on the tire so your outstretched
thumb is perpendicular to the wheel. Using your body weight you should not
quite be able to touch the
rim. Thats a good starting place for tire pressure and a good technique in
general for learning to check pressure.

I weigh 145 and in this dry weather, running 700 x 32 Tufo Cubus tubulars,
I start with 30 in the rear and about 26 up front. I ride very
aggressively...cornering hard where I can so I don't have to slow down.
When cornering hard with low pressure there are lots of lateral forces
being applied. I have seen tires roll off rims mostly with riders who run
very low pressures. It makes sense.

You have to find that balance of suspension, traction, and reliability (no
flats or tires coming off!). Hope this helps.

Matt Martel

On Thu, Sep 20, 2012 at 3:31 PM, Tom Bird wrote:

> So getting ready for first races on my new tires and wheels. Never been on
> tubulars before and looking for a starting air pressure for the cross
> races. I weigh 170-175 depending on how much beer I drank the night before.
>
> I figure once I have a good idea I will adjust from there once I get some
> ride time under me.
>
> Oh and with things hot, dusty, and dry now how much do you vary the
> pressure when it gets wet and sloppy?
>
> Thanks
> _______________________________________________
> OBRA mailing list
> obra@list.obra.org
> http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
> Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org
>


Tom Bird

2012-09-20

So getting ready for first races on my new tires and wheels. Never been on tubulars before and looking for a starting air pressure for the cross races. I weigh 170-175 depending on how much beer I drank the night before.

I figure once I have a good idea I will adjust from there once I get some ride time under me.

Oh and with things hot, dusty, and dry now how much do you vary the pressure when it gets wet and sloppy?

Thanks