What's so great about presta valves?

[Ming the Merciless]

There was a time when the only important cycling question was Shimano or Campagnolo....

The only important question was which playing cards to affix your bike for thaaat sound as they flicked through the spokes.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Suntour FTW!

Now we're talking!

 

[Dadam]

Faff? What faff? It is merely a different type of valve.

Faff getting used to something I’m not used to that’s all. Fiddling with my pump in an unfamiliar way. Oo-er!

 

[classic33]

There was a time when the only important cycling question was Shimano or Campagnolo....

Reynolds or Columbus.

 

[CharleyFarley]

So why in the name of sanity are presta valves so common? I don't get it. They're fiddly and delicate, and seem to me to offer no advantages over schraders.

I don't like Presta even a little bit. I have them on my fat bike, and Schrader on my cruiser. You have to remember to screw the Presta valves closed after inflating the tires. I forgot to do that, one time, and the next morning both tires were almost flat. It's no fun pumping up fat tires.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Reynolds or Columbus.

Don't start!

 

[Illaveago]

I prefer Presta valves although the Aldi pump that I got with some lights doesn't like them .
What niggles me with Schrader valves is to do with the pump connector ! If it is a clip on type they can be a right 5od to get on and off without letting your tyre back down again.The screw on type is much better but can be a bit fiddly on some wheels where you haven't got much space. The wheels on my daughter's wheelchair. Presta valves can be a pain when you discover that your electric pump only has a Schrader valve connector !

 

[Andy in Germany]

I prefer Presta valves although the Aldi pump that I got with some lights doesn't like them .
What niggles me with Schrader valves is to do with the pump connector ! If it is a clip on type they can be a right 5od to get on and off without letting your tyre back down again.The screw on type is much better but can be a bit fiddly on some wheels where you haven't got much space. The wheels on my daughter's wheelchair. Presta valves can be a pain when you discover that your electric pump only has a Schrader valve connector !

Adaptors are available; I have one permanently on my cimmuter bike in case I have a puncture and only Schraeder pumps can be found.

 

[rogerzilla]

ICBA to read the entire thread but Presta is better for narrow rims as the smaller hole weakens them less. With the current trend (or fad) for wider and wider rims, the need for Presta has gone away.

Presta can be a little easier to inflate because of the lack of spring, but you'd probably never notice.

 

[mustang1]

From a practical standpoint, I see OP is new with presta valves. Some things I've learned about filling air into presta valves tubes are:

1.
If the tyre is completely flat, then you have to attach the air pump, pump it up to about 20psi, then remove and re-attach the air pump and continue pumping to higher air pressures.

2.
When you unwind the valve to open it up, be careful you don't unwind the (I think it's called...) the core.

3. Before attaching the air pump to the presta valve, press the valve to allow some air out (unless the tyre is completely flat as in point number 1.

CAVEAT: idk if the above is true, but that's how I pump the tyres and they have been fine ever since.

Oh yeah: and it's better to have a flexible tube that goes from the airpump to the valve as opposed to the portable air pumps where the air pump attached directly to the valve. These are ok too, but you just have to ensure the valve doesn't wiggle side to side as you pump the airpump's handle.

 

[youngoldbloke]

Adaptors are available; I have one permanently on my cimmuter bike in case I have a puncture and only Schraeder pumps can be found.

I prefer Presta valves although the Aldi pump that I got with some lights doesn't like them .
What niggles me with Schrader valves is to do with the pump connector ! If it is a clip on type they can be a right 5od to get on and off without letting your tyre back down again.The screw on type is much better but can be a bit fiddly on some wheels where you haven't got much space. The wheels on my daughter's wheelchair. Presta valves can be a pain when you discover that your electric pump only has a Schrader valve connector !

Adapters for Schrader valve to Presta pump-head are also available, but take a lot of searching for. I use A JoeBlow pump with a Presta chuck for bikes, car tyres and the tyres on my wife's wheelchair, and a wheelbarrow! All our wheeled devices in fact! For wheels with difficult access to the valve get an angled valve stem adaptor to angle the Schrader valve. https://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/g/4gAAAOSwtVhiOqDV/s-l200.jpg

 

[Poacher]

The only important question was which playing cards to affix your bike for thaaat sound as they flicked through the spokes.

and what are you going to do when you don't have a pump and the badly mounted playing card has unscrewed the Woods valve!
DAHIKT

Edit: thinking about it, it was probably a lollipop stick rather than a playing card - rather more hardcore.

 

[GuyBoden]

If you prefer Schrader valves, file the valve hole in wheel rim slightly bigger with a round file until the Schrader valve fits. Obviously, this isn't a great idea if you have very narrow wheel rims.

 

[neil_merseyside]

by sucking the remaining air out.

Did that once and got a mouth/throat/lung full of talc, dirty knows what affect that may have had. Just press the valve and roll.

 

[Dadam]

If you prefer Schrader valves, file the valve hole in wheel rim slightly bigger with a round file until the Schrader valve fits. Obviously, this isn't a great idea if you have very narrow wheel rims.

A 6mm hand reamer would make a neater job and take a fraction of the time.