Proper Air Pressure

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Proper air pressure can make all the difference

There are a lot of questions out there about how much air pressure a road bike tire should have. Proper air pressure is a hot topic among wheel and tire manufacturers and triathletes alike. Most of the major companies have invested time and money into testing what is really faster. Nearly every test had the same results. Most people were a little surprised about the results.

The tests showed that the pressure that had the least amount of rolling resistance was actually around 90psi. The general rule of thumb (up to this point) was the higher the pressure, the less resistance you had. People aired their tires up to whatever the tire was rated. Tires bounced on the small bumps that pavement has when they were aired up to more than 120psi. This bouncing caused the tire to lose momentum and it took more effort to keep the tire going at the same speed. When aired up to 90psi, the tire deformed over the bumps and kept the momentum going.

This same result also showed up when using 23mm tires versus smaller, “faster” tires. The 23mm tires deformed over the bumps and the 19mm tires bounced on the bumps.

If you’re going with the experts, then roll with 90psi.  If you feel like more air is better, despite the testing, it’s still best to keep it 120psi or under.

Pre-Ride Safety Inspection

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Use the 8 tips below when conducting your pre-ride safety inspection

Before each ride, perform a safety check of your bicycle. This pre-ride safety inspection should take a minute or two. Click To Tweet

This pre-ride safety inspection will help prevent avoidable accidents and keep you spinning happily!

  • Check your tires for proper inflation (marked on the side of the tire)
  • Check the tire treads for excessive wear or other damage, such as embedded glass or other objects
  • Check the brakes; spin the wheels to check for rubbing and apply the brakes to ensure they stop the bike smoothly and evenly
  • Check the brake pads for excessive wear
  • Check the cables and housing to make sure there is no fraying or splitting
  • Check the wheel quick release levers to ensure they are secure
  • Check for any loose parts or other mechanical problems
  • Do a slow-speed ride and inspect bicycle, brakes, and shifting before you leave your driveway

Following this pre-ride safety inspection guideline will go a long way to enjoying your bike rides. It’s easier to remain motivated in the offseason when your bike is in great shape. It will often help you prevent unexpected incidents or a long walk home.

Book Release: Control Your Success

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Control Your Success shares the experiences of a veteran triathlete and coach

Order Stephan Schwarze's new book, Control Your Success, today!

Schwarze (far right) on his 60th birthday ride. Photo from Schwarze’s Facebook page.

With his new book, Control Your Success, Stephan Schwarze shares some of his experiences from many years of racing and coaching athletes. He presents a framework of habits and strategies performing as an athlete while being successful at work and having a family. It is a practical guide with many tips and examples for triathletes, runners, and other athletes.

Stephan grew up in Germany. After living in New Zealand and Switzerland, he moved to Austin (TX) in 1996. He is married to Illiana. They have two boys, Pablo and Philip. Stephan graduated with a Doctorate in Technical Sciences in Zurich in 1996. He has worked in leadership roles for innovative software and technology companies since then.

For more than 30 years, Stephan has been passionate about triathlons – especially about Ironman distance races. He has competed in 60 full-distance Ironman races. 12 of those were World Championship races in Kona (Hawaii). He has placed in the top 5 of his age group in more than half of his Ironman races. Stephan has placed twice as an age group athlete on the podium in Kona. He has also won two USAT National Amateur titles (sprint triathlon in 2005 and long-course duathlon in 2006). In addition to his own racing endeavors, he also has coached many multisport athletes over the past 20 years and led them to successful race results.

Stephan is giving away two signed copies of Control Your Success. Visit this post on the Jack’s Generic Tri Facebook page and comment why you want to add Stephan’s book to your library. Contest ends on Friday, October 12, 2018. Winners will be selected at random and contacted about further details.

Control Your Success is also available in paperback and on Kindle on Amazon. Please visit Stephan’s coaching website to learn more about him and his coaching.