Why presta valves

Also, because the rim has a smaller hole for the valve this makes the rim stronger overall. Some riders are real weight weenies on the trails. They want to have their bike as light as possible. Presta valves are lighter than Schradar valves.

The difference is not very much 1 gram or 2, but some riders feel mentally more confident when they know their bike is as light as they can make it. Cross country riders like to go as fast as possible so they take any advantage they can.

Some use deep section wheels or aero rims. These rims are thicker so they have a longer valve. Presta valves are made longer for this type of wheel. Presta valves are easier to inflate because the valve head closes immediately after you stop inflating.

Air does not escape out when you remove the nozzle of the inflator. This helps to inflate the tire more accurately. This is especially useful when you are using a floor pump because there is a pause between pumps.

The valve head closes every time you release the pressure. You will not lose any air when you release the pressure in order to re-pump the floor pump. Depending on where you are riding you might want more traction. An easy way to get more traction is to deflate your tires a little bit.

Presta valves allows you to deflate your tire a little bit at a time. All you need to do is tap your finger on the valve head quickly and a little bit of air will escape. It has not been proven, but it has been said that each time you tap the Presta valve 2 psi of air is released.

Many riders pump their tires using a hand pump. Presta valves are more durable in this situation because the valve can move from side to side inside the hole. If you must install a Presta tube in a Schrader rim to get home, use the valve nut to secure it close to the rim. A Presta-only pump has a rubber gasket in the head, or chuck, that will fit snugly around a Presta valve but not a Schrader. One side is narrower for Presta valves. Simply unscrew the chuck cap, flip the gasket to the side that matches the valve, and screw the cap back on.

Just press the head firmly onto the valve, flip the lever to secure, and start pumping. And suspension pumps are so small that it would take forever to inflate a Schrader tire. Most valves are already attached to tubes, so swapping one means replacing the whole tube.

However, there are two scenarios that may require a valve replacement:. Most local bike shops have replacement cores for sale.

Bikes and Gear. United States. Type keyword s to search. Today's Top Stories. This isn't a problem unless you ride with low air pressures as some off-ride cyclists like to. In that case, the Presta valve may creep as the tube shifts inside the tire.

This can lead to a bent or broken valve over time. To prevent this miscue, install rim grommets, O-ring-like rubber washers that fit in the valve hole reducing its diameter to match the Presta's. Protect The Valve When Pumping An important tip about valves is that they're not indestructible and they're at the most risk when you're pumping up the tire using your frame-mounted pump.

To protect the valve, always support it by holding the end of the pump that's on the valve in such a way that you can hook a thumb or finger over the tire. That way, as you push to inflate the tire, you're pushing against your hand and not the valve, which will bend or break if you push against it alone.

Valve Nuts A common question with Presta valves is whether or not it's important to install the valve nuts knurled metal rings that are used with threaded valves. Not all Presta valves are threaded from top to bottom.

But, if yours are threaded, there's a good chance that there are valve nuts on them. These can make it easier to inflate the tire because they hold the valve proud of the rim making it easier to get the pump head on them. Be sure not to tighten them too much, however, or they'll be difficult to remove by hand when you have to fix a flat on the road or trail. Dealing With Slow Leaks One final tip: when you're searching for a slow leak, don't ignore the valve.

Sometimes valves fail and air seeps out. To check, put a little spit on the end of the valve and stare at it for a few seconds. If the valve is leaking, a bubble will form. Often you can tighten the valve and the leaking will cease. If this doesn't do the trick on a Schrader valve, try removing the valve core, putting a drop of oil on the spring and reinstalling the core.

Your email address will not be published. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Our cycling expert editors and writers choose every product we review.

We may earn an affiliate commission if you buy from one of our product links, at no extra cost to you. This income supports our site.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Footer Affiliate Disclosure Our cycling expert editors and writers choose every product we review.