Growing up close to the birthplace of the inventor of the pneumatic tire, John Boyd Dunlop, has lent me a special interest in tire technology. They may not be the most glamorous component, but tires are the unsung heroes of the bike. That thin piece of rubber and friction is all that stands between you … Read more
Tire pressure is a major factor in both your cycling performance and comfort.
As a professional endurance cyclist competing in races across the globe, as well as a qualified bike fitter and mechanic, I’ve spent countless hours experimenting with bike setups and optimizing hybrid bike tire pressures, and I want to share that experience with you.
Gravel bikes are fairly new to cycling compared to other disciplines. It’s like they came out of nowhere about five years ago, only to be everywhere now.
We get some excellent questions about gravel bikes, but one that always comes up is: “What’s the best gravel bike tire pressure?”
Tire pressure has become a big subject amongst cyclists in the past few years. Some say tire pressure doesn’t make that much difference…
We’re often asked at BikeTips: “How long do bike tires last? And how do you know when to change them?”
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned professional, this is a vital bit of knowledge to learn and understand.
Learning how to change a bike tire is an essential skill every new cyclist should learn.
Functioning tires in good condition are essential for both safety and performance. Whether your tires are worn out, damaged, or you’re just upgrading for a performance boost, knowing how to change a bike tire is a skill you won’t pedal far without.
Patches may seem like old technology in cycling, and not many cyclists carry them anymore – which is a big mistake!
Learning how to patch a bike tire is an essential skill every cyclist should learn that will save you money, reduce waste, and get you out of sticky situations on rides time after time.
700c is the standard road bike wheel size — a 622 mm bead-seat diameter, with tire widths from 23 mm (race) to 50+ mm (gravel). It’s the same wheel size as 28-inch hybrids and most modern gravel bikes. The “c” refers to a French 19th-century tire-width designation that’s largely obsolete today; the 622 mm diameter … Read more
To pump a bike tire: identify the valve type (Schrader = wide car-style; Presta = narrow with a screw-on tip), unscrew the lockring on a Presta or remove the cap on a Schrader, attach the pump head firmly, and inflate to the pressure printed on the tire sidewall (usually 80–100 psi for road, 35–50 psi … Read more
There are three bike tire valve types: Schrader (the wide one used on car tires — common on hybrid, mountain, and kids’ bikes); Presta (the narrow one with a screw-on tip — used on most road and gravel bikes); and Dunlop (mainly European/heritage, looks like a fat Schrader with a Presta-style core). Inner tubes are … Read more
Want to know how to change a bike inner tube?
Not only is it the repair your bike will need the most often, it’s also possible to do at home with a bit of expert advice – saving you costly and unnecessary trips to the mechanic.