Reading PinkBike's bike checks from some of the Leadville racers over the weekend and I was surprised at how low some of them were running their tires. The bike check for Dylan Johnson [link] shows him running 29×2.35 tires at 15-16psi. Maybe I need more experience with 29ers, but even on a tire that big, that seems REALLY low. How is that not sloppy on downhills and noodly when climbing out of the saddle? I mean, it's gotta work since the people who do this for a living are doing it, but it doesn't make sense to my monkey brain.
by NeverEnoughInk
7 Comments
Honestly it is pretty low. He’s a super skinny dude though so maybe it’s not so crazy
He probably doesn’t weigh “much” and can run lower pressure with less consequence. It’s not obscenely low. Consider that people drive 4x4s in the desert running like 10psi and lower, though their contact patch is much larger
That’s pretty much a gravel race and he’s so light.
With inserts on a 27.5 bike I used to ride at around 18 psi at around 180 pounds riding weight. Only burped a tire once and it felt stable to me.
I’m 5’8″ 125 lbs and run 15f/17r psi for my steep/rocky trail riding with similar tires. Never had a flat and doesn’t feel remotely sloppy. No inserts either, but tubeless.
I think having the weight of a child certainly helps lol
According to a CO bike shop owner I spoke with The Leadville 100 used to be a race where 50% of the people didn’t finish and it was mostly all single track. Pretty cool.
Now, it’s owned by Lifetime Fitness, mostly gravel with like 1/4 mile of true single track and designed so that most people finish. Financially, this makes sense to bring more people in but goes the way of everything becoming so “family friendly” and losing it’s authenticity.
All that to say, if it truly is mostly gravel, and they’re tubeless with inserts – that’s a pretty normal psi depending on their weight. Could be muddy, too. We’ve had a ton of rain lately.
75kg / 165lb here and run 16-17/18-19 F/R depending on tire with inserts and had one issue when i was a doofus. Dont find any sloppiness or issue climbing. XC guy, desert loose over hard.