Presta or schrader?

[Pale Rider]

Which do you prefer?

Schrader for me, mostly because I think the little thread on presta valves is too easily bent.

When I was a child, we used to call presta 'high pressure' valves.

I'm not sure if that's right, although if a schrader cannot take higher pressures and you are a 100psi roadie, then there's no choice.

I was glad of schrader after my last puncture which was about five miles into a 50 mile ride.

It was hard work getting decent pressure into the new tube using a hand pump, but I was able to do it by (carefully) using the airline at the next garage we passed.

Although it did cost me 50p.

Despite the occasional on-road pumping expense, it's schrader for me.

What's your preference?

 

[Drago]

Schraeder, although on narrow road bike rims it can be awkward to accommodate the larger hole.

 

[Dec66]

Presta. Because I like 100psi minimum.

 

[si_c]

I prefer presta, I just like them more. Although that's aesthetics rather than a functional preference. As for garage pumps, I keep an adaptor in my saddle bag which would allow me to use one if required. Cost me less than a quid.

 

[ianrauk]

I'm one of those that's not really fussed.
I have 2 bikes with Presta because they are road bikes with narrower rims and tyres. My Hack has Schraeder.

 

[Drago]

I prefer presta, I just like them more. Although that's aesthetics rather than a functional preference. As for garage pumps, I keep an adaptor in my saddle bag which would allow me to use one if required. Cost me less than a quid.

Saddle bag for a quid. Not bad.

 

[I like Skol]

Woods! I still expect the spare new rubber sleeve in a puncture repair kit and can't understand why they stopped putting them in.....

 

[Drago]

Presta. Because I like 100psi minimum.

Depening on the standard of manufacture, Schrader can handle 600 PSI or more. I've not seen any air shocks with Presta lately.

 

[Ian H]

Woods valves are the intended comparison when presta are referred to as 'high-pressure'. I have presta on all the road bikes, but schrader on the mtb (though not for any good reason).

 

[shouldbeinbed]

Don't care tbh. My 2 current bikes both have presta but it's not a consideration when buying.

 

[Dec66]

Depening on the standard of manufacture, Schrader can handle 600 PSI or more. I've not seen any air shocks with Presta lately.

They probably can. But I can't afford those tubes

 

[mjr]

Neither. Woods whenever possible - preferably with ball-bearing valve rather than the old-fashioned rubber tube. The only thing against it IMO is it's as wide as Schrader, so not suitable for narrow rims. It's the most elegant engineering solution: no bits that are easily bent, capable of high enough pressures, air goes in and out by different routes so it holds pressure very well (like 2 weeks without topping up), and it can be deflated a bit without even taking the valve cap off but requires a very deliberate action to do so:

(source)

Oh and if you ride Presta-valve road bikes sometimes, you just use the same pump head on everything. No flipping adaptors.

 

[Brains]

Presta
If only because it's compatible with car pumps, which means lots more places available to fill up tyres to a decent pressure without using a little bike pump.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I'm going for Woods. Not that I actually use them, and I don't think I've even seen one for decades, but just to be awkward.

 

[xxDarkRiderxx]

As a roadie I wish I could use Schrader as I regularly pump to 110 120psi. On the morning of the etape du tour many years ago, the top of the Presta valve simply sheared off, but did not deflate so I risked it.

Presta all the way.