Make sure that you can apply enough braking pressure to stop in an emergency without the levers coming into contact with the handlebar, and if necessary make adjustments – it might be a two-second job via the barrel adjuster to dial the brake pads in, you might need to take more cable through the calliper, or you might need to bleed hydraulic brakes. If not, you’ll need to re-centre your brake calliper. Spin the wheels to make sure the pads aren’t rubbing, then squeeze each brake lever in turn to check the pads hit the braking surface correctly (not rubbing the tyre) and at the same time. Brakesĭon’t take chances when it comes to braking.
We've included links where you can find out how to put right any issues you uncover.Īnd to mollify the commenters, maybe you're not going to check every one of these before every ride, but if you're aware that these are things that can go wrong you'll spot them before a minor adjustment turns into an expensive mechanical disaster. It might look a lot but you’ll get through it quickly once you get into a routine and it’s time well spent. Here’s what we think is sensible before every ride – it’s not a comprehensive list of everything you should ever check, and we've not included any accessories like lights that you might have fitted, or spares that you carry. That might be the ideal but it just isn’t going to happen, is it? If you’re riding most days, maybe twice a day if you're commuting by bike, it’s unrealistic to think that you’re going to check every part of the bike in detail before each ride. And of course, if you REALLY want to step up your game, join us for one of our clinics.Giving your bike a quick check over before you head out onto the road will help you stay safe and get the most from your riding. We hope this helps you on the age-old question “What should I run my tire pressure at?” No matter what, be sure to ALWAYS check the tire pressure before a ride as part of a greater checklist. Is it going to be rocky, sandy or more tacky dirt? For flow trails or berm specific/park terrain with a lot of corners, it’s a good idea to increase that pressure.
Last but not least, consider the trail network you’ll be hitting that day. But, if you’re a person that rides more smoothly and always flows through obstacles like water, then it’s possible to ride on a lower tire pressure. If you’re the type of person that points it regardless of terrain, you’ll want to up the tire pressure. Simply put, the softer you can run ‘em, the better you’ll be.Īdditional Things To Consider When Picking Your Mountain Bike Tire Pressureīesides the basics above, there are some other factors to consider as well like rider weight, how aggressive you ride, & the type of terrain you’ll be hitting.
Finally, for those with a Plus bike, you can even go lower with 22 & 18 psi respectively. For a tubeless tire, you can begin with 26 & 22 psi respectively. For those still a bit nervous about how soft to start, we suggest for a 27.5 inch tire with a tube to run 32 psi in the back and 28 psi in the front. more tire pressure in that tire compared to the front. Since most of your weight is near the rear wheel, you’ll want to ride with about 4 lbs. The tire should “wrap” around the obstacle but not to the point that your rim is hitting it. A good way to test if the tire is soft enough is by finding a curb and pushing into it. The goal should be that when you’re on the bike, you want the tire to create a “square” base meaning the entire surface of the rubber is touching the ground. The basic rule of thumb is to ALWAYS ride less than what is written. How To Figure Out The “Right” Tire Pressure For You A softer tire, on the other hand, can wrap around an obstacle or roll over small rocks creating a smoother more consistent ride… hence less effort. In fact, it’s the opposite! A tire that’s inflated too much actually makes pedaling harder on uneven dirt terrain because you’ll be bouncing around. First, you would think a firmer tire would mean less work. Less Is More… Why You Should Run A Low Tire Pressureīefore we go into finding the ideal tire pressure, you need to understand the importance of running a soft tire.
The question is how soft? What’s the perfect mountain bike tire pressure? But just like 4×4 off roading, mountain bikes should be run soft. It’s a good idea to keep the tires on your motorized vehicle within those levels for better gas mileage and handling. We’ve all read the recommended pressure stamped on the sidewalls of tires.