GCN Tech Clinic: Should my front tyre have lower pressure?

Conor makes a long-awaited return alongside Alex to clear up all of your tech quandaries in this week’s GCN Tech Clinic.

It’s been a long, two-week wait since the last edition and in that time our presenters have been busy catching up on all of the latest tech at the biggest bike show in the world, Eurobike.

In that time we’ve also received plenty of your questions, so let’s take a look at what’s covered in this week’s episode.

How to fix stiff links after waxing a chain?

Starting with stiff chain links after waxing a chain.

Many riders have ditched old-fashioned lube for waxing (our own presenters are big fans), but like anything, it’s not without its downsides. One is the potential for a stiff chain link.

Luckily, there’s an easy cure. If after a bit of riding a link remains stiff, try wiggling it from side to side. If that doesn’t work, Alex suggests using a lighter to slightly melt the wax. He’s tested it and confirms that it works, but just don’t overdo it and melt all of the wax.

How do you keep tan-sidewall tyres clean?

Tan-sidewall tyres are a tongue twister for some (Conor!) but they also look seriously cool. That’s until they get dirty which is visually much more obvious compared to standard black tyres.

So, how do you keep them clean? Unfortunately, it’s one of those occasions when there’s no simple solution. It’s just a matter of applying a little extra elbow grease to scrub them clean.

Try to plan ahead by removing the wheels from your bike before cleaning the chain. This should present any oil stains on the tan sidewalls which can be a nightmare to clean.

How do you keep white shoes clean?

Continuing on the theme of keeping up a sleek appearance, what’s the trick for looking after white shoes?

One of Conor’s top tips is to use a pressure washer. Alex isn’t so sure but luckily he has lots of alternative tips.

If I’m changing to larger chainrings, will I need a longer chain?

Yes, as your current chain is likely to be too short.

Need help finding the correct chain length? Alex has handily pulled together an in-depth guide to help.

Can you ignore the recommended minimum pressure for tubeless tyres?

Moving onto the popular topic of tubeless tyres. They can be run at much lower pressures than a standard tube setup but just how low can you go, and should you stick within the recommended pressure limits?

We’d always recommend sticking within the limits. However, Alex has some extra tips to help you find the perfect tyre pressure for your setup.

Should a front tyre be run at lower pressure than the rear tyre?

As Conor explains, there are a few variables for this one as your weight distribution will vary depending on the type of bike and setup. For example, on a time trial bike where a riding position is very aggressive, the weight distribution will be more even. On a road bike with a more relaxed geometry, a gravel bike or mountain bike, there will be more weight on the rear wheel.

As a general rule of thumb, if there’s more weight on the rear wheel, it’ll need a little more pressure. There are tools out there such as the Silca Pro Tire Pressure Calculator which can help to calculate the perfect pressures for your setup. Or you can follow Alex’s method of simply adding 5 psi extra to the rear tyre.

Shimano 105 Di2 or mechanical Ultegra: which should you choose?

If you’re in the market for a new bike or groupset, you may be torn between Shimano’s electronic 105 Di2 or their higher-end mechanical Ultegra option. Which should you go for?

Imparting all of his racing wisdom - he finished two grand tours let’s not forget (finishing last in one of them) - Conor would opt for the 105 Di2 option as he prefers the slightly crisper shifting.

They’re both great options, though, and you should also take cost into consideration as any extra pennies saved can be used to upgrade other areas of the bike.

That rounds everything up this week. Have a tech question you need answering? Head over to this week’s GCN Tech Clinic video over on the GCN Tech YouTube channel and add your question to the comments along with #ASKGCNTECH.