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Why Tire Pressure Matters for Riding Inside

It doesn’t matter if you're riding outside or in, tire pressure can make a big impact on your ride.

Water? Check.
Towel? Got it.
Trainer-tainment? Oh yeah.
Appropriate tire pressure? Uh oh...

It doesn't matter if you're riding outside or in, tire pressure can make a big impact on your ride. For many of us, checking tire pressure for a ride inside on an indoor bike trainer just doesn't float to the top of the list. If you get a flat, you're already at home and most of us figure that if there's some air in the tire – that's enough.

We turned to our Design Engineer, BJ, for more information on why tire pressure matters for indoor bicycle trainers.

  1. Lower PSI, Lower Watts: Did you know that over the course of a week a tire will typically use about 10 PSI (pounds per square inch)? This daily loss of 1-2 pounds, translates to a loss of about 1-2 watts. Therefore, 10 PSI lost = 10 watts lost – and that will definitely impact your riding.

  2. All About the Clutch Knob: We specifically designed the clutch knob to give the perfect amount of tension every time when the tire is inflated to the correct PSI (pounds per square inch). That means we need your help to keep your training running smoothly and giving you the best true-to-the-road feel time and time again.

  3. Good Bike Habits: Checking your bike's tire pressure is a good practice, period. Whether you're commuting to work every day or riding inside catching up on your favorite shows, it's always good to take a look at your bike to make sure everything is working properly – tire pressure included.

  4. No Slip Zone: A tire with less-than-ideal pressure can make it more prone to "slippage" on the bike trainer's resistance unit during use– and no one wants that.

  5. Prevent Wear & Tear: An under inflated tire can increase the wear on the tire and the trainer. Preventative maintenance, such as using a trainer tire or checking the tire pressure, can go a long way.

When it comes to pounds per square inch (PSI) recommendations, we suggest inflating your tire to the low-to-mid range listed on the tire wall. And if you're running a tubeless set-up, we recommend checking the PSI listings for both the tire and the rims.

Ride on!