Tyre pressures turned my bike into a boneshaker

[GloveMakingMan]

Been having a fairly comfortable ride on my 20" wheels around our country roads. Thought it was about time i checked the tyre pressures, they felt ok but i could push them in a little. Bought three pumps before i found one that worked, what happened to the simple ones i used to use as a lad, just screw on an adaptor and pump... was it just too easy!? Pumped them up to the minimum of 40 psi, the ride suddenly turned to horrendous, like riding a boneshaker with solid tyres, everything shaking and vibrating inc me, it felt like bike was going out of control even on a fairly even road! Put them back down to around 20 psi and ride is much better, back to how it was before. They still feel well inflated at 20 psi, could i have any problems with this pressure seeing as it's only half what they stae as the minimum?

 

[RobF]

Doesn't sound ideal, but to comment we need the exact tyre size, your weight and the make of the bike.

 

[KirstinS]

You can make a rough assumption that having tyres at less than minimum psi will lead to increased chances of pinch flats and the sidewalls of your tyres not lasting as long as they otherwise would.

 

[GloveMakingMan]

Doesn't sound ideal, but to comment we need the exact tyre size, your weight and the make of the bike.

Tyre size Kenda 20 x 2.125 Weight 11 stone. Make - Woosh Zephyr CDN

 

[RobF]

Tyre size Kenda 20 x 2.125 Weight 11 stone. Make - Woosh Zephyr CDN

You are not especially heavy, and the greater the volume of the tyre the lower pressure it can handle.

Two inch plus wide is fairly podgy, and 40psi minimum is about what I would expect as a maker's recommendation.

Your biggest problem is likely to be with the rear wheel, so try that at minimum pressure and see if you can live with it.

 

[Alan Quay]

...or, get yourself some tyres designed to run at low (30psi) pressure......

http://www.schwalbe.com/gb/tour-reader/big-apple.html

 

[GloveMakingMan]

...or, get yourself some tyres designed to run at low (30psi) pressure......

http://www.schwalbe.com/gb/tour-reader/big-apple.html

Now that does sound good, anyone tried them? Thanks for the link.

 

[RobF]

Now that does sound good, anyone tried them? Thanks for the link.

Standard fitting on my AVE, although I run them closer to maximum psi.

I think the bike is surprisingly comfortable for a 20" wheeler, but we are heavily into subjectivity now.

The comfort of my AVE may have something to do with the frame.

Cheap ally frames are notoriously harsh, but the AVE is a near £2K bike and a compliant frame is probably one of the things you pay for.

It may be your woosh will give a relatively hard ride whatever tyres you put on it.

 

[Alan Quay]

If you chuck a pair of Big Apples on it and run them at min pressure I'm sure it will improve.

I use the Fat Franks, but they are supposed to the same tyre underneath. Admittedly, I'm running 26" on the cruiser but the difference in comfort was significant.

 

[Geebee]

Maybe also check your gauge, pump gauges especially vary a lot as in I have seen a 50% out reading.
My 12" tyres (folding ebike) at 40 psi still give a smooth ride so it sounds like something isn't right.

 

[GloveMakingMan]

Maybe also check your gauge, pump gauges especially vary a lot as in I have seen a 50% out reading.
My 12" tyres (folding ebike) at 40 psi still give a smooth ride so it sounds like something isn't right.

Tried 3 pumps with gauges Yes, it's a smooth ride on A roads, it's our rural B roads that's the problem and not just the potholes, the general uneveness causes a reaction when pumped to 40psi, around the back end of the bike. It's like riding with solid tyres or with a puncture, riding on the rims!

 

[KirstinS]

Have you looked a suspension seat posts ? Loads of threads on them

They can make a big difference

 

[GloveMakingMan]

Have you looked a suspension seat posts ? Loads of threads on them

They can make a big difference

Thank you, that's something i've not heard of before, i will take a look, sounds good!

 

[RoadieRoger]

I have a Batribike Quartz Folder with 20x1.95 in. Kenda Tyres and a suspension seat post . The recommended tyre pressures are 40-65 psi and in the 4 years I have had the machine have kept to 40-45 psi . The roads in my area are poor and I find the machine comfortable . A recent trip on my GT Talera mountain bike with 40psi in the tyres made me appreciative of suspension forks and seat , even though `cheap` forks have been criticised on past Forum postings .
The same has been said said of `cheap` Chinese Ebikes , mine is over 4 years old now and has performed faultlessly , new pedals and brake blocks being the only expenditure . The 8 Ah battery still gives me about 18 miles , down from 33 miles when new , As far as performance is concerned , a Woosh Santana with big wheels leaves me standing for top speed and acceleration, as well as performance on throttle alone .

 

[Gringo]

Hi gloveman, I'll refer you to this seat post thread
http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/slung-seat-post.18965/#post-235834

 

[GloveMakingMan]

Hi gloveman, I'll refer you to this seat post thread
http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/slung-seat-post.18965/#post-235834

Thank you for this link. This seat post and a pair of the Big Apples, what a bike i would then have, nice!

 

[OldBob1]

I have a cheap suspension seat post and gel saddle on my folder which makes our roads and lanes just bearable.
I have found if you run the tyres under inflated the range suffers quite a bit.
Dutch style handle bars also makes the rides more enjoyable.

 

[Alan Quay]

Thank you for this link. This seat post and a pair of the Big Apples, what a bike i would then have, nice!

My current setup of Fat Frank's (only cosmetically different from Big Apples) and a Brooks B67 is the most comfortable combination for me.

Gell saddles are over-rated IMHO.

 

[Jonah]

I have Big Apples on my Sahel Compacts but I prefer to run them at 50+ PSI. I find lower pressures make the handling feel a bit 'random' but then I'm a bit heavier than you. If you want to experiment I have a couple of used Big Apples in your size that you could have to try out.

 

[GloveMakingMan]

I have Big Apples on my Sahel Compacts but I prefer to run them at 50+ PSI. I find lower pressures make the handling feel a bit 'random' but then I'm a bit heavier than you. If you want to experiment I have a couple of used Big Apples in your size that you could have to try out.

Thank you Jonah, very kind of you. I really must make an effort to visit you soon, i will contact you first.