What is the recommended PSI for bicycle tyres?

Look at the side wall of your tyres and you will be able to read the minimum and maximum PSI or Bar you can inflate your tubeless tyres or inner tubes up to.

Try to maintain the correct inflation pressure in your tube to lower the risk of punctures. Pump your tube to the pressure within that range.  If you are aiming for speed, you can inflate your tube right up to the maximum PSI indicated as that will help to reduce the rolling resistance of the tyre.

For better grip, you can let out some air for a more comfortable ride, especially when it is raining. Remember not go below the minimum PSI range recommended as the inner tube can get pinched between the rim and the tyre which can cause punctures. Also, it will be harder to ride a bike when the tyre pressure is too low.

If you enjoy riding your bicycle downhill, during descents, use your brakes in an on-and-off fashion to prevent the rim from been heated up as that could expand the air in your tube and cause a tyre blow-off. That is a good reason not to over inflate your tube.

If you visit Schwalbe’s website, you will find a tyre pressure chart calculated based on body weight and tyre width.

At Silca there is a link to "Tire Pressure Calculator". You can click on it to enter the information required, which includes the terrain you ride on, in order to calculate the PSI you need to inflate your tyres up to.

Some companies supply their pumps with a PSI chart attached. Based on this chart from PumpKing, for tyre size 700X28C, it is safe to pump your tube right up to 73 PSI if you are not able to read the markings on your tyre. 

Over time you will discover the perfect tyre pressure based on your personal experience and adjustment.  To make adjustment, you can start at the lower end of the recommended range and gradually add a few PSI after each ride, up to the maximum PSI recommended.  You can then stick to the inflation that provides you the best comfort and less resistance during rides.

Identifying your bicycle by its serial number

You don’t need a serial number to know what type of bicycle you have.

If you can share a photo of the bicycle, it will be easier for Quorans or members of bicycle related forums to answer you just by looking at it and its parts or just its frame. You can see many types of bicycles available in the market from this image I found at AARP (formerly the American Association of Retired Persons).

Do you see any there that looks like yours? If you do, click on their link to “Different Bikes for Different Cyclists” for the name of the type of bicycle you have.

If you wish to identify its brand or model number, look at its frame. They are either:

-painted or
-embossed or
-printed on a sticker or
-with an emblem attached, as shown below for a Seven Up brand.

If the information you require are lost as the frame is badly rusted or had been painted over, the serial number can be used to identify them based on the format used to build it by its manufacturers. If you are able to decode the format used, you will also be able to discover when and where it was manufactured.

The easy way to do it is do a search for “bike forum serial numbers” which will lead you to forums with members discussing on matters related to serial numbers. By doing that search, I found link to "Serial Number And Date Code Information" at “The Cabe” which is short for “The Classic and Antique Bicycle Exchange”. If you are sure that your bicycle is an antique, you can go through the serial number charts they shared on that link. You can also start a thread there to enquire about your bicycle by sharing its photo and serial number.

Your other option is do a search for “bicycle serial number chart” or “decode bicycle serial number ”. Click on link to “image” to look for chart with serial numbers shared similar to yours.  Once you have found it, you can click on the link to the chart to read details posted about it.

What combinations on a 7x3 would be cross chaining?

You will receive a “Bike Owner's Manual” if you buy bicycles of reputable brands. If you do not have one, just google “Bike Owner's Manual” to find one.

If you take a look at page 6 of “Bike Owner's Manual” supplied by Apollo, you will see a diagram on “Recommended Chainwheel/Rear Sprocket Gear Combinations”


Chain crossing will wear out your chain and damage your drivetrain sooner than it should. So, avoid setting your gears so that your chain sits on the chainring and sprocket as marked “X” on the diagram.

Customers who buy bicycles with gears from Jom Johan will be given a chart to advise how gears should be used for efficient cycling and to prevent drivetrain from being damaged any sooner than it should.