As spring approaches and people begin their new lives on bikes, I am often asked,
"What kind of daily maintenance should I do?"
And this is usually followed by,
"Should I just oil it?"
Yes, lubrication is certainly important.
However, when it comes to keeping your bike comfortable to ride, this is by far the most important daily maintenance task.
Managing Tire Pressure
I can say with certainty that this is the most important thing.
The reason why managing tire pressure is paramount is that the most common repair requested at bike shops is for flat tires.
And 80% of those flat tires could have been prevented simply by adding air regularly.
In fact, less than 20% of flats are actually caused by running over something.
That is why daily tire pressure management (pumping up your tires) is the most important thing you can do.
How do you manage tire pressure?
Please prepare a pump that matches the type of valve used on your bicycle.
There are three types of valves.
From the left in the photo, they are Dunlop (English), Presta (French), and Schrader (American).
Since each has a different shape, be sure to have a pump that is compatible with your specific type.
What kind of pump is best?
First, as mentioned, prepare one that matches the valve of your bike. Aside from that, pumps are broadly categorized into floor pumps and portable pumps.
Floor Pump
A pump meant to be left at home rather than carried around.
If you choose one with a gauge, you can manage your tire pressure precisely, and its size makes it easier to inflate tires to high pressures.
Portable Pump
A pump designed for portability.
Because they are intended for roadside repairs, it takes a significant amount of effort to inflate thin, high-pressure tires.
Models without a gauge only provide an estimate, so they are really only for emergency use. Of course, there are also products available with gauges.
For these reasons, I recommend a floor pump for maintenance at home.
How often should I inflate the tires?
If you use your bike for daily commuting to work or school, once every two weeks.
If you use it for recreational rides, always check before you head out.
As long as you keep to this frequency, you should be able to prevent almost all flat tires caused by low pressure.
How much air should I put in?
This is a key part of our topic today, and also a deep one.
Basically, it is best to follow the tire pressure guidelines printed on the tire itself.
However, this tire pressure can be tricky, as most tires have a range between a minimum and maximum limit.
The question is, how much should you put in within that range?
For everyday use, considering maintenance frequency and other factors, I think it is best to keep them inflated to the maximum pressure.
Where it gets complicated is with recreational use.
Depending on the type of bike, intended use, and terrain, the ideal pressure changes. It becomes a matter of personal preference, so I recommend experimenting with different pressures to find what suits you best.
I recently read an article suggesting that inflating to a pressure where the tire deforms by about 15% is good.
Regardless of whether on or off-road, I find that a slightly lower pressure than "rock hard" often leads to a more comfortable ride.
The best shortcut is to pump them up to the maximum pressure first, then lower it little by little until you find your preference.
It may seem like just "pumping air," but doing it diligently will definitely support your cycling life.
Even if you are already good at it, trying a slightly different pressure might open up a whole new experience for you.
First of all, have fun and try various things!