A muddy race in Portland finally made me understand tire pressure

I was working the pit at the Cascade Cross race last fall, and this guy came in with a bike caked in mud... he couldn't get any grip on the off-camber sections. We dropped his pressure from 40 psi to about 25, right there in the rain. The difference was instant, he stopped washing out completely. I used to just go by the sidewall number, but now I always ask about conditions first. What's your go-to method for dialing in CX pressure on the fly?

3 comments

3 Comments

jesse_lopez1424d ago

Ever try to explain tire pressure to someone who only rides on the road? My buddy saw my cross bike after a race and asked why the tires felt so soft. I told him it was for grip in the mud, and he looked at me like I had three heads. He just kept pointing at the sidewall number. Some things you only learn by sliding out a few times. Now I just go by feel and the sound the tires make on the ground.

max_patel124d ago

Yeah, that sidewall number is more of a scary legal thing than a real target. I ran my gravel tires way too high for months because of it, until I washed out on a loose corner. Now I just squeeze the tire before a ride, and if it gives a little, I know I'm good. My roadie friends still think I'm crazy for letting out air on purpose.

the_julia24d ago

Learned that lesson the hard way too!