Originally Posted by
ThermionicScott
+1. I pinch my tires before every ride. It's not a very precise check, but it's enough to alert me if the tires are squishier enough than usual to warrant pumping (and the pump has a gauge.)
I suspect that if you do the pinch check regularly it might be as good or better a method than a cheapish gauge. I know how my tire must feel when pinched for it to have the optimum ride, but I've forgotten what pressure reading that corresponds to, since it's been a while I used a pump with a gauge.