Comments on: How NOT to Inflate Your Tires http://transabled.org/thoughts/other-thoughts/chloes-thoughts/how-not-to-inflate-your-tires.htm Talking about Body Integrity Identity Disorder - Just another disability! Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:54:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7-beta2 hourly 1 By: Sean http://transabled.org/thoughts/other-thoughts/chloes-thoughts/how-not-to-inflate-your-tires.htm/comment-page-1#comment-18397 Sean Fri, 19 Jun 2009 06:32:01 +0000 http://transabled.org/?p=2549#comment-18397 @Chloe, you're quite welcome. Just wait 'till you get the bill in the mail before you thank us ;) @Chloe, you’re quite welcome. Just wait ’till you get the bill in the mail before you thank us ;)

]]> By: Chloe http://transabled.org/thoughts/other-thoughts/chloes-thoughts/how-not-to-inflate-your-tires.htm/comment-page-1#comment-18396 Chloe Fri, 19 Jun 2009 04:11:52 +0000 http://transabled.org/?p=2549#comment-18396 The local petrol station air pump does go up past 75 psi, but it costs 75 cents. We found that we had one of those pumps that plugs into the car cigarette lighter. Alicia showed me how to use it. Umm, yeah, you probably figured out by now that I'm not brilliant at car mechanics. Anyway it was absolutely perfect for the job! Thank you so much for helping me out. The local petrol station air pump does go up past 75 psi, but it costs 75 cents.

We found that we had one of those pumps that plugs into the car cigarette lighter. Alicia showed me how to use it. Umm, yeah, you probably figured out by now that I’m not brilliant at car mechanics. Anyway it was absolutely perfect for the job!

Thank you so much for helping me out.

]]> By: Sean http://transabled.org/thoughts/other-thoughts/chloes-thoughts/how-not-to-inflate-your-tires.htm/comment-page-1#comment-18341 Sean Fri, 12 Jun 2009 05:12:23 +0000 http://transabled.org/?p=2549#comment-18341 @Ronald, most wheelchair tyres are not really compatible with bicycle tyres. Oddballs indeed. the usual WC tyre is 24"x1"3/8. I use 25-590 on my current chair. Other thing is that most bike tyres will mark surfaces, whereas wheelchair tyres are safer, especially on polished surfaces, wood, etc. Not all are pneumatic, but those are most comfortable ride. Solid tyres are better on chairs that stay indoor on thick carpets. @Ronald, most wheelchair tyres are not really compatible with bicycle tyres. Oddballs indeed. the usual WC tyre is 24″x1″3/8. I use 25-590 on my current chair. Other thing is that most bike tyres will mark surfaces, whereas wheelchair tyres are safer, especially on polished surfaces, wood, etc. Not all are pneumatic, but those are most comfortable ride. Solid tyres are better on chairs that stay indoor on thick carpets.

]]> By: Ronald http://transabled.org/thoughts/other-thoughts/chloes-thoughts/how-not-to-inflate-your-tires.htm/comment-page-1#comment-18340 Ronald Fri, 12 Jun 2009 00:12:04 +0000 http://transabled.org/?p=2549#comment-18340 Be careful of the old school air pumps at filling stations, the ones that "ding". They can easily over inflate and pop this type of tire before the pump can start to regulate to the selected pressure. There are plenty of small scale air compressors available at the large hardware stores, but check to see if the cut off pressure of the pump can be set to the maximum rating of the tire, this would avoid overinflating. Otherwise, you have to shoot a little air in at a time and check the pressure with a guage until you get the hang of it. Might be a bit expensive investment to only use a few times a year, unless you are really into adjusting to optimal tire pressure for the temperature and surface you are on. The automotive type tire inflators are likely the cheapest, but you have to plug into a 12 volt source (cigarette lighter) to run it. Better ones have a pressure guage and an adjustment to shut the unit off once the desired pressure is reached. Most should be able to give 60 psi. No danger of popping the tires with these as they pump air so slowly that you have plenty of time to shut if off as you near the desired pressure. BTW are wheelchair tires available in the common bike tire sizes and are they interchangeable? Or are they some oddball size you can only get from certain retailers? Are they all pneumatic? Be careful of the old school air pumps at filling stations, the ones that “ding”. They can easily over inflate and pop this type of tire before the pump can start to regulate to the selected pressure. There are plenty of small scale air compressors available at the large hardware stores, but check to see if the cut off pressure of the pump can be set to the maximum rating of the tire, this would avoid overinflating. Otherwise, you have to shoot a little air in at a time and check the pressure with a guage until you get the hang of it.

Might be a bit expensive investment to only use a few times a year, unless you are really into adjusting to optimal tire pressure for the temperature and surface you are on.

The automotive type tire inflators are likely the cheapest, but you have to plug into a 12 volt source (cigarette lighter) to run it. Better ones have a pressure guage and an adjustment to shut the unit off once the desired pressure is reached. Most should be able to give 60 psi. No danger of popping the tires with these as they pump air so slowly that you have plenty of time to shut if off as you near the desired pressure.

BTW are wheelchair tires available in the common bike tire sizes and are they interchangeable? Or are they some oddball size you can only get from certain retailers? Are they all pneumatic?

]]> By: Cath http://transabled.org/thoughts/other-thoughts/chloes-thoughts/how-not-to-inflate-your-tires.htm/comment-page-1#comment-18310 Cath Tue, 09 Jun 2009 18:20:11 +0000 http://transabled.org/?p=2549#comment-18310 My tyre pump attaches directly to the cigarette lighter in my car and runs off the car battery. It's just the job. Can you not find something similar, Chloe? My tyre pump attaches directly to the cigarette lighter in my car and runs off the car battery. It’s just the job. Can you not find something similar, Chloe?

]]> By: Sophie http://transabled.org/thoughts/other-thoughts/chloes-thoughts/how-not-to-inflate-your-tires.htm/comment-page-1#comment-18302 Sophie Tue, 09 Jun 2009 01:02:36 +0000 http://transabled.org/?p=2549#comment-18302 I guess I'm lucky in that regard, a lot of the petrol stations I went to were older buildings with relatively simple air pumps that they never replace. I guess I’m lucky in that regard, a lot of the petrol stations I went to were older buildings with relatively simple air pumps that they never replace.

]]> By: Sean http://transabled.org/thoughts/other-thoughts/chloes-thoughts/how-not-to-inflate-your-tires.htm/comment-page-1#comment-18298 Sean Mon, 08 Jun 2009 20:41:36 +0000 http://transabled.org/?p=2549#comment-18298 Many petrol stations now don't offer air pumps, or their pumps are limited to ~40psi, because they don't put more in car tyres. If you're lucky, you might find the right pump nearby. Another solution is to go to a bicycle shop and ask them to pump you up. They always seem interested by the chairs. Another solution yet is to acquire a little compressor specifically for that purpose. They sell them relatively inexpensive, and you can put up to 120psi. I haven't spent the money on such a compressor yet, so often go visit the bike shop. My tyres ask for ~110psi. They rarely are pumped that high, usualy about 100psi. By now I know the feel when they get to about 75psi (they are squishy to pressure between thumb and tyre, they squeal a lot on polished surface, and it's harder to push, though the ride's more comfortable). The rate at which they deflate depends on the kind of riding I've been doing and how hot/cold it's been. Many petrol stations now don’t offer air pumps, or their pumps are limited to ~40psi, because they don’t put more in car tyres. If you’re lucky, you might find the right pump nearby. Another solution is to go to a bicycle shop and ask them to pump you up. They always seem interested by the chairs. Another solution yet is to acquire a little compressor specifically for that purpose. They sell them relatively inexpensive, and you can put up to 120psi. I haven’t spent the money on such a compressor yet, so often go visit the bike shop. My tyres ask for ~110psi. They rarely are pumped that high, usualy about 100psi. By now I know the feel when they get to about 75psi (they are squishy to pressure between thumb and tyre, they squeal a lot on polished surface, and it’s harder to push, though the ride’s more comfortable). The rate at which they deflate depends on the kind of riding I’ve been doing and how hot/cold it’s been.

]]> By: Sophie http://transabled.org/thoughts/other-thoughts/chloes-thoughts/how-not-to-inflate-your-tires.htm/comment-page-1#comment-18297 Sophie Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:54:55 +0000 http://transabled.org/?p=2549#comment-18297 Drive down to the local petrol station and use their air pump generator thingy to pump your tires up to the exact psi you need. No fuss and no guessing games. Drive down to the local petrol station and use their air pump generator thingy to pump your tires up to the exact psi you need. No fuss and no guessing games.

]]>