Seth prefers Schrader valves

Mr. Coffee said:
Also a good idea to put valve caps on any valve, no matter what the Cool Kids say or do.
Click to expand...

I bought these valve caps with a built-in valve core tool,..

Screenshot_20250325-102412_AliExpress.jpg


They've got a seal inside too,..

20250325_102832.jpg
 
Better valve core caps, and in cool colors:

www.performancebike.com

Granite-Design Juicy Nipples Presta Valve Core Remover Caps (Blue) (2)

Granite-Design Juicy Nipple. Features: A stylish valve cap that also functions as a valve stem tool Available in various colors Specifications: ... GVC18-10
www.performancebike.com www.performancebike.com

Yeah, the plastic ones break but they are cheap and you can always carry spares. You probably should because you'll tend to lose them anyway. I find that the metal ones stick and tend to unscrew the valve from its lock nut and cause problems.
 
Mike TowpathTraveler said:
I really, really seriously doubt I am getting through to those MTB'ers and Fat Tired Bikers who venture off into deep sand...... or get outside with 4-6 inches of snow on the ground; but here goes:

An added bonus of a Presta tubed or Presta-tubeless set up is that the actual tire valve is held dead-center in the rim's valve stem hole. FYI: Going off road in deep sand or snow means "airing" down your tire pressure from say, 20 psi (hard road tire pressure) to anywhere from 4-9 psi off road. Those lower tire pressures present more of a tire patch in that deep stuff as well as allowing you to somewhat "float" on top of the deep sand.

If you lower tire pressure that much on a schrader, chances are real good the tube and valve can shift within the tire. And then you will have to get that valve stem centered back in the rim hole. And you know what that means, right? Trailside disassembly of the tire and tube! On the Presta tube, the valve stem is held right in the center by the locking nut. Winner winner, chicken dinner!

I've been reading Bicycling magazine since the 70's. Touring for about the same length of time. Bought the books on touring and bike set-up. With the advent of the internet, I've gone through most every site there is, from this one, to Bike Forums. Bike Packing. And others. This site here is the only one where I've come across possibly the last hard-core group of people who think schrader is the end-all, be all.

But as I said in my last post, to each, their own. But do read up a bit on why Presta has been around for so long in the bicycle world.
Click to expand...
Very interesting, Mike. I haven’t lowered my pressure that much as it hasn’t been necessary (yet), but thanks for the heads up. Makes sense. Besides what you’re saying, I’ve always felt Schrader is just fine… But, again, that makes sense.
 
Chargeride said:
I hope they're not a let down.
Click to expand...
Same here. I decided to try them because about 50% of the time I have to use a tool to loosen the Presta valve top. I never over-tighten them, I just do it finger tight.
That said they are often way too tight or stuck to loosen by hand.
They're coming by snail mail, but will report back after install.
 
PCeBiker said:
I had never seen a Presta valve until I bought my Raleigh 10-speed ~1982.
Click to expand...
Chargeride said:
He's not wrong, I don't like them at all, the nut seizes up and then when you try a bit more force the valve unscrews.
Click to expand...

I never had the valve unscrew on my Raleigh, and I still had the bike until a few years ago when I gave it away.

I didn't think it even had a valve core?
I thought it was all one piece, and if the valve leaked or broke, you replaced the whole inner tube?

I watched the video and realized that I didn't know how to say Schwalbe.
I think It's a German word too, so I need to say it with a Colonel Klink accent. 😂
 
This is what I'm remembering,..

Screenshot_20250325-181943_DuckDuckGo.jpg



Is that not a Presta valve without a valve core ??

The top of the valve stem is peened so the nut can't unthread to let the valve fall into the tube.
 
The other thing is..undo it , put pump on..solid, unscrew bit more..loads of hissing trying to get seal as you struggle with the lock lever.
 
I had good luck filling up at the gas station.
It took forever to wind up the dial to Maximum. 😂
The hook for the hose was spring loaded and the pump would turn on when you lifted the hose off.
I remember trying to fill up at one of those pumps and the pin in the air chuck to push the valve core was too long. It deflated my tire and I couldn't put any air in. 😂


Screenshot_20250325-190522_DuckDuckGo.jpg


My hand pump at home threaded on and I'd lose half the air trying to disconnect it.
I finally bought a hand pump with a quick release.
 
Last edited:
Mike TowpathTraveler said:
If you lower tire pressure that much on a schrader, chances are real good the tube and valve can shift within the tire. And then you will have to get that valve stem centered back in the rim hole. And you know what that means, right? Trailside disassembly of the tire and tube! On the Presta tube, the valve stem is held right in the center by the locking nut. Winner winner, chicken dinner!

But as I said in my last post, to each, their own. But do read up a bit on why Presta has been around for so long in the bicycle world.
Click to expand...
All my motorcycles had externally threaded metal Schrader stems. I put tubes like that on one e-bike. To me, the advantage is that it's easier to press on a chuck when the tube is deflated.

The other day, after mowing on an old rider, I noticed that the rubber Schrader stem on a front wheel was bent. That meant pressure was so low that the tire had slipped on the rim. The tire is stiff enough that I hadn't noticed. Before inflating, I unscrewed the core to straighten the stem by moving the tire around the rim. That's an advantage to an unthreaded valve stem. It can tip to alert you that the tube is pulling on it.

If I had nuts on my valve stems and I lowered pressure, I'd loosen the nuts so the stems would tip to let me know if the tube was pulling on them. I believe tubeless tires work better at very low pressure.
 
PCeBiker said:
This is what I'm remembering,..

View attachment 191204


Is that not a Presta valve without a valve core ??
Click to expand...
No, the brass-colored part at the top is the valve core. You undo the top nut a bit to let air in and out of the tire, because when it is in that position the valve is locked and can't leak (or admit) air. That whole assembly is simultaneously the greatest thing about Presta valves and their biggest weakness. If you look carefully at the inner part of the valve core it is flat on two sides, which lets you use a valve core tool to remove the whole assembly.
 
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