The new and the old.
Lezyne offers a digital pump gauge retrofit that I couldn’t resist. For $35 US one can pry out the old and thread in the new. The primary benefit for me was reading a digital scale rather than a needle on a gauge, way down there. Yes, I’m old. The new gauge reads out in single digits. The old needle gauge reads out depending on one’s eyesight and ability to see where the needle stops relative to the 2 psi marks. Houston, we have improvement.
The new Lezyne gauge also goes to 300 psi (20.6 bar)! FFS, who cares? This is a bike pump, who needs the 150 psi to 300 psi pressure? The Park and Silca both go up to 220 psi (15.2 bar) which is still 100 psi more than even track racers use. I dare a pump manufacturer to make a road pump that goes from 50 psi to 150 psi. Frank could use it as it still goes up to 150 psi and everyone else might have much more accuracy from the dial. I kid Frank.
The Lezyne digital gauge also claims a maximum 3% error which I assume means plus or minus 1.5 psi at 100 psi. Everything and I mean everything has an error associated with it and I appreciate knowing this error. Nothing is absolute, not even death. I’m not dead yet. The real question is what happens when one hooks all three of these pumps to one manifold. The Silca and the Lezyne were only off by 2 psi but I would not have been surprised to to see them off by 10. The Park and Leyzne were spot on which is reassuring because the Park gauge looks to be a very professional piece of work. Anything is accurate until one has two or more of them for comparison.
Yes, I know this last paragraph will be ignored and I should move it to the top. Should you care more about tire inflation? Yes, you should. Since not one person clicked on this link in my post about chains (yes I’m watching all of you, Google analytics knows everything), the take home message was this: Aero wheels do make a real difference in speed and tire pressure is the biggest (only?) influence on perceived “vertical compliance”/ride stiffness/road feel/comfort. With 25mm tires, one can experiment with lower pressure and not flirt too much with pinch flats. It’s just air; a very cheap way to dial in your ride.
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Rolling out tonight with whatever is in the tyres... usually 6.5 Bar. We'll see how that goes.
For all you OCD types, a pump gauge is never going to be as accurate as a stand-alone gauge, applied directly to the valve. Overinflate a little based on the pump gauge, then fine tune by letting out a little air in conjunction with the handheld gauge.
I just clicked the link! An interesting article on peoples perceptions.
BTW my bike has a 130mm stem and it seemed to long, especially when I compare it to modern bikes, which seem to have quite short stems (and perhaps that makes them feel more lively). However I got my bike back after a service and the mechanic adjusted the angle of the handle bars (they had twisted down quite a bit and I hadn't noticed) upwards, and the bike felt totally different and the stem didnt seem so long.
@gianni- The Park and Silca only go 50psi too much for me...I run my track tires from 150 to 170psi depending on which wheels/tires I am running. Those guys at Track Worlds...they are pushing 200-210psi in their tires.
Is not a digital gauge the equivalent of a Smartphone on the handlebars? How much accuracy does one need here? 100 psi plus or minus a couple and you're going to tell me your butt can tell? Back in the day we used the "Cat 2" pressure gauge, a pinch and a thumb press. In fact, most of the dumb Pro/Am riders I knew thought this was good enough, maybe that's why team mechanics exist!
25mm Conti's @ 95psi - thats how Im rolling @Gianni.
However, reading above, maybe its not 95 at all.
@Gianni that infernal link demystifies everything we do here, tantamount to pulling back the curtain on Oz. It is abominable and the fact that no one looked at it is a testament to the strength of our collective belief. Bah!
@Nate
Au contraire, my take on the article is that the psychological image of the bike is more important than the form, and by meditating upon, and applying, the rules a rider is freed to apply the V, firm in the knowledge that the bike is willing and only the flesh is weak.
Additionally the fact even the pro's cant pick weight/flex/etc. means a properly prepared Tiagra equipped aluminium framed barely above BSO bike can beat a carbon fibre Super Record Pinarello if you free your mind and just apply V. Its only your mind holding you back, probably the ultimate application of the rules. Just don't tell the VMH.
@Roobar
You mean, the famous quote by a little green bloke rings true ?
" Do, or do not, there is no try !"
@Barracuda
Or maybe the quote by a somewhat larger Belgian bloke?
"Don't buy upgrades. Ride up grades."