The Wonderful World of Tubery
On the scale of sheer production numbers, these rubber balloons may not be as common as they once were. Sometime between the Iron Age and the PVC Age, the tubeless tire concept caught on for automobiles, but what is now considered as technological obsolescence for cars is still going strong in downtown Scooterville. Many scooter enthusiasts and cyclists still prefer the smooth ride that only a pneumatic tube can give. Maybe it is due to their dwindling numbers in the auto world, but it seems that the fine art of properly inflating an inner tube is being slowly forgotten as well.
When inflating your inner tube, please use your best judgment. The recommended inflation pressure is usually molded on the tire's sidewall, and it is sometimes printed on an inner tube as well. Here in the USA, this is usually given in pounds per square inch (PSI).The recommended inflation pressure is just that, a friendly suggestion by the tire or tube manufacturer that gives a general average pressure for the average rider on an average temperature day. The recommended PSI for an inner tube can vary depending on elevation, weather, and air pressure. Because a manufacturer might produce the same tube for a variety of applications, the pressure rating is often a bit optimistic.
To reiterate; these are mere recommendations and should not be taken as an absolute. As an example, an MTB cyclist at a 6200+ Colorado altitude needs a different tire/tube pressure than that which her cousin requires down in his sea level beach town. In addition, a few pounds less pressure on a rainy day will provide you with a lot better traction on wet pavement than you would have if your tubes were filled to the max.
The very best tire gauge is your own sense of touch. A bike or scooter inner tube is best inflated just to the point where it feels right to you, when it offers just the right amount of squeeze resistance -- something halfway between spongy and rock solid. There are still some things that technology just can't improve upon, and experience is always the best teacher.
When Air was Free
Back in the proverbial heyday of pneumatic tubery, you drove up to the gas station's (free) compressor pump, turned a hand-crank until it dialed in the requested air pressure, put brass fitting to your tire's Schrader valve and let it fill until the "ding-ding, ding-ding, ding-ding" ceased. If you needed 36 PSI, the compressor stopped ding-dinging at 36 PSI.
Not so these days. Today you first search around town for a station that actually still has a compressor, then you drop in your four quarters and wait for the pump to run for two or three minutes. Instead of the comforting "ding-ding-dinging" to announce the right pressure, today's pumps make you release a little button and inspect the square brass rod that pops out from the hose end. Hopefully you get all of your tires filled in record time or it's another four quarters into the slot.
The Solution
The answer to this of course is to have your own electric compressor at home or a portable pump like the exceedingly handy & useful Portland Design Works Shiny Object C02 Bike Tire Inflator. A good compressor or bicycle pump is a necessary piece of gear for anyone who rides on pneumatic tires. Today's lightweight pumps and inflators can make a real difference between having a great day and a "we were all having fun until I had a flat" kind of day.
For more information on inner tubes & tires, visit the experts at Monster Scooter Parts.
At Monster Scooter Parts we like to say that we have the parts and the smarts to keep you rolling.
www.monsterscooterparts.com/
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