Help needed regarding inner tube valves

[cvcalhoun]

I got a flat today. And when I went to REI, they said they didn’t have a tube that would fit my wheel. I’m trying therefore to order new tubes online, but am having trouble figuring out exactly what I need.

The problem is that a Presta valve is too small for the hole in the wheel. However, a Schrader valve wrapped in rubber, like the one on the left, is too large. What I need is a plain metal Schrader valve, like the one on the right:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]14350[/ATTACH]

The tube that got a flat–which had the correct type of valve–was a Specialized. But I’m not sure whether all Specialized tubes have that design, or whether there is some particular model I need to ask for. Does anyone know?

Of course, the next question is why someone designs a wheel that only works with a tube you have to special order. But that’s a rant for a different day.

Topic

[dkel]

@cvcalhoun 157530 wrote:

Why would I want Presta tubes?

Shawn and I both misinterpreted your question. The answer is: you wouldn’t.

[cvcalhoun]

@dkel 157542 wrote:

Shawn and I both misinterpreted your question. The answer is: you wouldn’t.

I’m genuinely curious, though–is there a reason why someone would want them? My understanding has been that they are mostly of use if you have a road bike with narrow wheels, because a Schrader hole would just be too wide for the wheel. Is there some other advantage that I’m overlooking?

[peterw_diy]

A few arguments are sprinkled in this thread, though some are not fleshed out well : http://forums.mtbr.com/general-discussion/presta-vs-schrader-why-238970.html

Like : easy to deflate is great for rolling up a tube you just patched so that it takes less space (for those of us who bring a spare and try to do our patching at home).

Simpler, more reliable – no need to worry about air leaking around the valve.

[cvcalhoun]

@peterw_diy 157544 wrote:

A few arguments are sprinkled in this thread, though some are not fleshed out well : http://forums.mtbr.com/general-discussion/presta-vs-schrader-why-238970.html

Like : easy to deflate is great for rolling up a tube you just patched so that it takes less space (for those of us who bring a spare and try to do our patching at home).

Simpler, more reliable – no need to worry about air leaking around the valve.

Thanks!

[vvill]

peterw_diy replied before I saw this.

The other advantage is – it’s universal – as in you can use a Presta tube in a Schrader-drilled rim but not vice versa. Most cyclists who carry a spare tube would carry a Presta, I imagine.

You could still just have your wheel modified and stick with Schrader, but when I first learned about Presta/Schrader I switched to all Presta tubes.

[cvcalhoun]

@vvill 157552 wrote:

peterw_diy replied before I saw this.

The other advantage is – it’s universal – as in you can use a Presta tube in a Schrader-drilled rim but not vice versa. Most cyclists who carry a spare tube would carry a Presta, I imagine.

You could still just have your wheel modified and stick with Schrader, but when I first learned about Presta/Schrader I switched to all Presta tubes.

Have you been using Presta tubes with wheels that have Schrader holds? Or getting wheels with Presta holes? And if the former, are you using grommets with them? I ask because I’m seeing some things online that suggest that using a Presta tube in a Schrader hole without the grommet can lead to either movement of the valve causing the valve to break off, or a “hernia” of the tube through the excess space at high pressure, leading to a blowout. When my tube with the Presta valve had the valve break off only a couple of days after I got it, the bike shop told me that it was the former problem.

I can see advantages to using a tube with a Presta valve if you either had a wheel with a hole the right size, or could use the tube without a grommet. But I’d be concerned if I had to use a grommet that the grommet would roll off and get lost if I had to change a tube by the side of the CCT.

[Harry Meatmotor]

@cvcalhoun 157585 wrote:

Have you been using Presta tubes with wheels that have Schrader holds? Or getting wheels with Presta holes? And if the former, are you using grommets with them? I ask because I’m seeing some things online that suggest that using a Presta tube in a Schrader hole without the grommet can lead to either movement of the valve causing the valve to break off, or a “hernia” of the tube through the excess space at high pressure, leading to a blowout. When my tube with the Presta valve had the valve break off only a couple of days after I got it, the bike shop told me that it was the former problem.

I can see advantages to using a tube with a Presta valve if you either had a wheel with a hole the right size, or could use the tube without a grommet. But I’d be concerned if I had to use a grommet that the grommet would roll off and get lost if I had to change a tube by the side of the CCT.

my advice: use a tube that has a valve stem that matches what the rim is drilled for. using a presta valve tube in a schrader drilled rim isn’t worth the trouble.

[cvcalhoun]

@Harry Meatmotor 157599 wrote:

my advice: use a tube that has a valve stem that matches what the rim is drilled for. using a presta valve tube in a schrader drilled rim isn’t worth the trouble.

That is my inclination, barring some reason not to. But I was wondering why vvil switched, and whether it involved getting whole new wheels.

[vvill]

@cvcalhoun 157585 wrote:

Have you been using Presta tubes with wheels that have Schrader holds? Or getting wheels with Presta holes? And if the former, are you using grommets with them? I ask because I’m seeing some things online that suggest that using a Presta tube in a Schrader hole without the grommet can lead to either movement of the valve causing the valve to break off, or a “hernia” of the tube through the excess space at high pressure, leading to a blowout. When my tube with the Presta valve had the valve break off only a couple of days after I got it, the bike shop told me that it was the former problem.

I can see advantages to using a tube with a Presta valve if you either had a wheel with a hole the right size, or could use the tube without a grommet. But I’d be concerned if I had to use a grommet that the grommet would roll off and get lost if I had to change a tube by the side of the CCT.

I think I had perhaps one or two wheels with Presta tubes in Schrader rims with grommets, but total mileage like that was probably under 2000, maybe a lot less. I don’t remember exactly, sorry! I have quite a few bikes and none of my wheels have Schrader rims anymore.

I believe I switched because I didn’t want to have to buy two different types of tubes. At that point I already had multiple wheelsets.

[cvcalhoun]

@vvill 157603 wrote:

I think I had perhaps one or two wheels with Presta tubes in Schrader rims with grommets, but total mileage like that was probably under 2000, maybe a lot less. I don’t remember exactly, sorry! I have quite a few bikes and none of my wheels have Schrader rims anymore.

I believe I switched because I didn’t want to have to buy two different types of tubes. At that point I already had multiple wheelsets.

Ah, yes, “multiple wheelsets” would not be my situation. I have exactly one wheelset, and it’s attached to the one bicycle.

[Rod Smith]

Running Schrader front, Presta rear on my work bike. 😎

[cvcalhoun]

@Rod Smith 157606 wrote:

Running Schrader front, Presta rear on my work bike. 😎

By preference? Or because that’s the wheels available?

[mstone]

@cvcalhoun 157585 wrote:

I can see advantages to using a tube with a Presta valve if you either had a wheel with a hole the right size, or could use the tube without a grommet. But I’d be concerned if I had to use a grommet that the grommet would roll off and get lost if I had to change a tube by the side of the CCT.

Throw a couple of extra grommets in the bag with the tube? You’d have to be a serious weight weenie to notice the added load.

[Vicegrip]

@cvcalhoun 157604 wrote:

Ah, yes, “multiple wheelsets” would not be my situation. I have exactly one wheelset, and it’s attached to the one bicycle.

:eek:For Dog’s sake this situation has to be fixed and soon!

Around here one bike is like one shoe or one pant leg.

[huskerdont]

Without a spare bike, what do you do when your bike needs fixin’?

[Author]

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