The Accu-Gage is more than just the MTB hipster equivalent of a vinyl record. I’d make a claim that this is the most important tool in my drawers, so to speak. And it’s certainly the most pleasing to use too.
- Brand: Accu-Gage
- Product: 0-30psi gauge
- From: accu-gagecycling.com
- Price: £27.50
- Tested by: Benji for 3 years
Three things I liked
- Accuracy
- No batteries
- Pleasing to use
Three things I’d change
- Nothing really
- Schrader users (all 6 of them) aren’t catered for
- Some will think it expensive
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Chances are, if you’re reading this, you’re a tyre nerd. Specifically, you’re a tyre pressure nerd. Welcome, o’ enlightened one. Read on. For this is the very best cycling product in quite some time.
Available in various different pressure ranges (I’ve got the 0-30psi version), the Accu-Gage is an awesome bit of steampunk brilliance.
Modern mountain bikes then. They have significantly larger volume tyres than they used to have. Even if the actual sidewall-printed tyre volume hasn’t changed that much (2.3 to 2.5in say), the adoption of wider rims has had a big effect on PSI.
Wide rims have made tyre pressures much lower than they used to be, for the same given firmness. Not to mention the general shift to 29in tyres from 26/27.5in tyres. And tyres that have sturdier sidewalls.
A few years ago, I’d be running well over 25psi in my wibbly single-skin 27.5in tyres mounted on to my 25mm internal width rims.
These days, on my thicker sidewalled 29inn tyres mounted on 30mm internal width rims, I’m often found dropping my PSI below 20.
5psi may not sound very much difference but as a percentage my precious pressures these days are between 20-25% lower than they used to be.
And as tyre pressures get lower, single PSI units become more and more larger percentages. Whilst I probably couldn’t tell the difference between single PSI differences, I can often tell when tyres are 2psi different from what they should be (ie. 15psi instead of 17psi)
Track pump pressure gauges just aren’t accurate enough when it comes to assessing sub-roadie rock-hard tyre pressures.
Digital pressure gauges are all well and good. Until they run out of batteries. Or just stop working after a year or two for no apparent reason.
Analogue is where it’s at baby.
The Accu-Gage is chunky brass thing with a tactile rubber surround. The dial and needle are super clear. It’s fast. It’s consistent. It doesn’t cause much air loss in use.
Upon placing on to a valve the needle instantly zips up to the reading. No crawl. No bounce. No droop. If you need to let some air out, pressing the bleed button on the side of the brass barrel lets air out in an appropriate speed. Not too fast as to cause accidental under-inflation, not too slow to be tiresome.
Once removed from the valve, the needle still stays displaying the pressure it’s just measured. Press the bleed button to reset it back to zero, accompanied by a reassuringly tinny little ‘tink’ noise.
Chuck it back in the tool drawer.
Go ride.
Overall
Even the best tyre/rim/sealant/valve set-up in the world loses air over time. Your tyre pressures have changed from last Sunday’s ride. Checking your tyre pressures is a chore and can be a faff. The Accu-Gage makes it almost enjoyable.
