Is the world riding around on underinflated bicycle tyres? Is something
that is free keeping people from enjoying their riding more? Yes, we’re
talking ‘air’ people. Or lack of it to be more precise.
Many people are surprised to learn that air escapes from all inner
tubes. Those little air molecules eventually find their way through the
rubber. You can’t see them leaving. But the great escape is on night and
day.
Kids and mountain bike tyres typically run in a 30-60 psi band, hybrids
60-100, and road bikes 90-120. The recommended tyre pressure range will
be embossed onto the sidewall of your tyre. It’s not often easy to find
but it’s there.
In a typical week we’ll have someone through the shop who thinks they
need new inner tubes because their tyres are flat. “When was the last
time you pumped your tyres?” we ask. Silence. (The correct answer is
fortnightly for lower pressure tyres and every 1-4 days for higher
pressure tyres.)
The other common occurrence is “Your tyres are a bit low,” we say.
“Really, I just pumped them the other day with a hand pump that I have,”
they say. Out comes our floor pump. Bang it on the valve. The needle on
the gauge goes to 18 psi. Houston, we have a problem.
The solution: A floor pump in every household of Sydney. Easy to
operate. Pump your tyres to the right pressure. No more futile trips to
the petrol station. Get one. Use it.
Voila! Riding will be so much easier. Dare I say it: You’ll be pumped with the result and floored at the difference.
