Setting Tire Pressure With a Gauge

The quickest job on the bike, and one that changes how it rides more than most upgrades. Every tire has a recommended pressure range printed on its sidewall. Learn which valve your bike has, Presta or Schrader, how to seat the pump head without bending a Presta valve, and how to read a gauge rather than trusting a squeeze of the thumb. Within the printed range, run firmer for smooth pavement and a little softer for rough or wet ground, where extra grip and comfort matter more than speed. Even a sound inner tube loses pressure steadily, so check at least monthly and treat top-ups as normal; a tire that keeps going soft within days is the cue to look for a slow leak.