Bike Upkeep
I’m not good about keeping air in my bicycle tires. It’s true. And, well, I got scolded by the bike mechanic in the family. Turns out, it is his pet peeve. I’m grateful though, that the tire inflation situation was corrected…. and I have turned from my evil ways.
Air in the tires is all important, Brig!
1.) Properly inflated tires gives you less resistance, allowing you to ride faster with less energy.
2.) Over-inflated tire not only make the ride bumpier because it transfers road shocks more to your spine, they don’t have as much traction on the road and you also greatly increase the chance of a blowout when hitting a curb.
3.) Under-inflated tires not only waste precious leg energy as you try to overcome the squishiness; that same squishiness also “rolls” air in the tires as you ride and increase the temperature of the air inside the tires, which along with the movement of the inner tube rubber and cause it to suddenly “catch” itself as it overlaps on the inside, which suddenly pulls itself apart. (It’s this action that causes those spectacular blow outs on the 18-wheelers tires.)
Keep that tire pressure at its proper level!
That’s it… I’m going to go get a bike tire gauge pressure-measuring device right away… Thanks for the lesson, Pete.
I think I’ll stick to walking… 😛
I love bicycling, but I live in a hilly part of town and have to hook up the rack, drive to the beach (the greatest place to ride), unhook the bike, ride, drink coffee, ride some more, walk in the surf, ride, hook up the bike, drive home, unhook everything… or do the internet time sink all day. Guess which wins most days.
Pete’s right. In hundreds of miles of bicycling, most of the time the only reason I get a flat is because I let the tires get just a little too low. I’ve taken to keeping a bike patch kit and floor pump in my car for the random stranded cyclists I come across in our area every now and then. 🙂
*points at Shelby* Proof positive that the milk of human kindness has not yet curdled. Kudos to you! *applause*