Wife and pumping tires...

[Samster]

My wife claims she simply can't pump her tires to 120 psi. We've (she's) tried different pumps, using her whole weight, etc... She says that she only weighs 105 and that's why she can't fill her tires to 120. I weigh 130 and have no problem getting up to 120, or even 140.

Is she valid in saying her weight is the holdback?

thanks,
--sam

[Ken Robb]

she's saying she'd rather you pumped her tires for her, you big, strong, he-man!

FWIW, I think 120 psi is too high for a 105 lb. rider.

[Johny]

you don't believe what your spouse says?

[Louis]

Sam,

Assuming your floor pump does not provide any mechanical advantage the force required to pump to a given pressure is just the pressure (pounds / square inch) x the area of the piston.

So, if the radius of your piston is 0.5 inches (a guess) you have

Area = pi r^2 = 3.1416 x (1/2)^2 = 0.785 in^2

Force = 120 * 0.785 = 94 lbs which is approaching her weight. If your floor pump is a bit bigger than I assumed I can see how she might have problems.

Louis

[dirtdigger88]

ASK her to ride at 100 psi and both will be much happier

Jason

[bcm119]

Or even 90-95 psi.

[William]

Sam,

Assuming your floor pump does not provide any mechanical advantage the force required to pump to a given pressure is just the pressure (pounds / square inch) x the area of the piston.

So, if the radius of your piston is 0.5 inches (a guess) you have

Area = pi r^2 = 3.1416 x (1/2)^2 = 0.785 in^2

Force = 120 * 0.785 = 94 lbs which is approaching her weight. If your floor pump is a bit bigger than I assumed I can see how she might have problems.

Louis

Louis,
You're making my head hurt.......OWWW!


William ;)

[Sandy]

Weak William is only strong enough to pump his tires to 75 psi. His Bassett does the rest.

Kevan is only strong enough to pump his tires to 55 psi. Pug number one gets it to 57 psi. Pug number two gets it to 59 psi. His kids get it to 65 psi, and his wife does the rest.

My dog, Darby the Wonder Dog, anticipates when I am going to ride and pumps the front to 115 psi and the rear 120 psi, each and every time!! :banana:

Airhead Sandy

[Kevan]

I get the old widow from across the street to pump up my tires for me. It does my heart good seeing her get out from her house once in a while. Course, nothing's totally perfect; it takes her 30 minutes just to cross the street.

[Sandy]

I get the old widow from across the street to pump up my tires for me. It does my heart good seeing her get out from her house once in a while. Course, nothing's totally perfect; it takes her 30 minutes just to cross the street.

Just like you on your Calfee. :)


Snail Slow Sandy

[Kevan]

I hold her cane while she's pumping. I'm always the gentleman.

[darylb]

ASK her to ride at 100 psi and both will be much happier

Jason


Spoken exactly like a married guy.

Some beat me to it but I was wondering why she wanted to 120. I'm 205lbs and I dont ride 120. (Even though I most certainly could pump them that high :banana: )

[kenyee]

get an electric pump if it bothers her that much. You can even use it to pump up the tires on your car :-)

[Ginger]

Um...she's only 105 lbs and you're having her pump her tires to 120? WHY? How wide are the tires? She's not going to deflect that tire very much at all...even if she only pumps it to 100psi. She'd probably be a touch more comfortable too.

Heck, I'm 145 and I only pump my tires to 110. Never pinch flat, seldom get other flats; and I ride in Michigan, home of crappy roads. Actually...I haven't gotten a flat on my road bike since TdFL...isn't that funny? I just cursed myself didn't I... I could probably get away with only 95-100 psi...but 110 is just a habit.

[David Kirk]

Am I missing something? Why not just do it for her?

Dave

[dirtdigger88]

by the way sam-

the ruffy tuffys I use when we ride- 85 psi front 90 rear

Jason

[Ginger]

(Dave...I was wondering that very same thing.)

[CalfeeFly]

You probably have her using your old basketball pump with an adaptor. :) Break down and buy her a Silca...it pumps to whatever her heart desires easily if not quickly. :bike:

[jckid]

I am also a 105 lb. female, and I have no problem pumping my tires to 120psi with a good floor pump. I agree with some of the others--I don't think she needs 120psi. I would think 100-105psi should be fine. That's what I typically run.

[RichMc]

Mine keeps wanting to help out with the bike (bless her heart). I said OK one day and told her to go ahead and pump up a flat that I fixed. She made it to about 50 psi and then couldn't push the pump anymore. She's pretty strong some ways but there was no way that Silca handle was going down anymore. Lightweight I guess. :p

[Fixed]

Am I missing something? Why not just do it for her?

DaveBro I am with you, you guys should be happy that you can share this great lifestyle with someone you love .i.m.h.o. cheers :beer:

[Dekonick]

Or get a Joe Blow - large diameter barrel should help!

Worst case get a small plug in compressor and add a presta chuck - I have one on my bench and it is useful from time to time....

Sam,

Assuming your floor pump does not provide any mechanical advantage the force required to pump to a given pressure is just the pressure (pounds / square inch) x the area of the piston.

So, if the radius of your piston is 0.5 inches (a guess) you have

Area = pi r^2 = 3.1416 x (1/2)^2 = 0.785 in^2

Force = 120 * 0.785 = 94 lbs which is approaching her weight. If your floor pump is a bit bigger than I assumed I can see how she might have problems.

Louis