Commuting - New to presta valves

Got my first flat :( -noticed the other day that the rim nut on the presta valve was loose, probably from a nice long (for me) 4th of July ride on the W&OD (http://www.wodfriends.org/) in Northern Virginia.

Didn't think much of it at the time. Just tightened the nut and went on about my business since the tire wasn't flat then.

Next day tire was completely flat due to a tear where valve meets inner tube.
Is it common with presta valves for the nuts to work loose? Just another thing to check before/after rides?

Thanks

I just discard those rim nuts. If you use them and tighten them too much, they will actually cause the valve stem to pull away from the tube. That's what probably caused your flat.

Over-tightening the nut will usually lead to a flat, so the lesson is to not over-tighten the nut ( :rolleyes: ). Some people might even recommend ditching the nut, but in my experience that often leads to annoying noises from the valve stem as it rattles against the rim.

- Wil

Got my first flat :( -noticed the other day that the rim nut on the presta valve was loose, probably from a nice long (for me) 4th of July ride on the W&OD (http://www.wodfriends.org/) in Northern Virginia.

Didn't think much of it at the time. Just tightened the nut and went on about my business since the tire wasn't flat then.

Next day tire was completely flat due to a tear where valve meets inner tube.
Is it common with presta valves for the nuts to work loose? Just another thing to check before/after rides?

Thanks

I just keep them loosely finger-tight - I never use any sort of wrench on the things.

Where on the WO&D were you on the 4th - we might have ridden past each other? The WO&D is also part of my main commuter route...

Ever since I pulled a valve out, I just throw them away.

Went from Rt.28 to Purcellville and back. Nice ride in the a.m., but got a little warm (me and the weather) by the time I got back around 11:30 am.

I figured strong finger tight was sufficient, since carrying pliers to remove would be a pain if it happened again.

Next day tire was completely flat due to a tear where valve meets inner tube.
Is it common with presta valves for the nuts to work loose? Just another thing to check before/after rides?

Thanks
This used to happen often, too often, on my Centurion. I finally got sick of it and I took a dremel tool with a grinding stone and smoothed out the inner part of the "rim hole" where the valves goes into. Presto! Not a flat from a tear where the valve meets the inner tube anymore for the past 9 months.

So make sure to check your rims and see if that hole has corners that are too sharp when they drilled it on the rims.

EDIT: I have performed this on all my rims now. I figured better safe than flat!

I keep two of those nuts on each of my wheels. I finger-tighten the first one, then I back the next one up against it and tighten it really good without twisting the first one. The end result is two nuts holding each other tight so they don't move, while holding the stem in place without it pulling so tight that it causes a flat.

Went from Rt.28 to Purcellville and back. Nice ride in the a.m., but got a little warm (me and the weather) by the time I got back around 11:30 am.

I figured strong finger tight was sufficient, since carrying pliers to remove would be a pain if it happened again.

Awesome! See you on the W&OD sometime.

Incidentally, those little valve nuts shouldn't even be finger tight, IMO. I tore a valve stem like that last month, just finger tightening it.

You don't even need the nut, just throw it away and not be bothered with it being too tight or too loose. And just think of ALL that weight you'll be saving! Whew baby.

Went from Rt.28 to Purcellville and back. Nice ride in the a.m., but got a little warm (me and the weather) by the time I got back around 11:30 am.

I have done that section numerous times - very nice ride. Since I moved to Vienna, I start my rides from home without having to load the bike in the car. I may ride out to Purcellville and back starting from home - I am guessing it would be about 72 miles round trip.

I use the nut to hold the valve in place while inflating a new or newly patched tube. After inflating I toss the nut in my parts bin or seat pack.